男伊達おとこだて

noun

chivalrous spirit; chivalrous man; knight in shining armor

Refers to a man who acts with chivalry, defending the weak and upholding justice, often in a somewhat old-fashioned or romanticized way. Can also denote the spirit itself.

• 彼かれは困こまっている人ひとを見みると放ほうっておけない、まさに男伊達おとこだてだ。

  He can't ignore people in trouble; he's a true knight in shining armor.

• 男伊達おとこだてを気き取どって、彼かの女じょを助たすけた。

  Acting the chivalrous man, he helped her.

noun

ruffian pretending to be chivalrous

A less common, somewhat dated usage for a rough person who puts on a show of chivalry, often with an underlying selfish or violent nature.

• あの男おとこは男伊達おとこだてを装よそおっているが、実じつはただの乱らん暴ぼう者ものだ。

  That man pretends to be chivalrous, but he's really just a ruffian.