圭角
け
い
か
く
Meanings
1
rough edges; abrasiveness; harshness
Used for a person's character, words, or attitude that is sharp, unpolished, or lacking smoothness. Often appears in negative expressions like 圭角がない (lacking rough edges, mild-mannered).
He had rough edges when he was young, but he has mellowed now.
His way of speaking has no sharpness, so he gets along well with everyone.
2
edges of a gem
Original literal meaning referring to the cut edges or facets of a gemstone. Rarely used in modern Japanese outside of literary or technical contexts.
This gem has sharp edges and reflects light beautifully.