けしからん

け

し

か

ら

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

expression

outrageous; scandalous; inexcusable; rude; unreasonable

usually written using kana alone

A strong, somewhat old-fashioned exclamation expressing moral indignation. Often used when scolding someone for improper behavior or an unacceptable situation. Can sound a bit dramatic or dated in casual conversation.

こんなに遅ち刻こくするとはけしからん！
It's inexcusable to be this late!

あの政せい治じ家かの態たい度どはまったくけしからん。

That politician's attitude is absolutely disgraceful.

Written forms

けしからんUsage100%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 怪しからん is rare.
怪けしからん
Rare kanji spelling; the kana form is strongly preferred in modern usage.

Kanji

怪suspicious, mystery, apparition

Similar words

とんでもない
とんでもない is a more common and versatile expression for 'outrageous' or 'absurd', used in both casual and formal settings. けしからん is stronger in moral condemnation and feels more old-fashioned.
許ゆるせない
許せない means 'unforgivable' and focuses on personal inability to forgive. けしからん is a broader judgment of impropriety or scandalousness.

Etymology

Derived from the classical Japanese adjective 怪し (けし, 'strange, suspicious') with the negative auxiliary からん (archaic form of からぬ), literally meaning 'not strange' but used ironically to mean 'outrageous' or 'unacceptable'. The exact semantic shift is uncertain.