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公然の秘密 (こうぜんのひみつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

公こう然ぜんの秘ひ密みつ

こ

う

ぜ

ん

の

ひ

み

つ

Meanings

1

expression, noun

open secret

Refers to something that is officially secret but widely known or obvious to many people.

彼かれの退たい職しょくは公こう然ぜんの秘ひ密みつだった。
His resignation was an open secret.

その会かい社しゃの不ふ正せいは業ぎょう界かいでは公こう然ぜんの秘ひ密みつだ。

The company's misconduct is an open secret in the industry.

Kanji

公public, prince, official
然sort of thing, so, if so
秘secret, conceal
密secrecy, density (pop), minuteness

Built from

公こう然ぜん+秘ひ密みつ

Etymology

A set phrase composed of 公然 (open, public) and 秘密 (secret), literally 'open secret'. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a calque from English or other European languages.