skinny man; shabby-looking man
Describes a man who is thin and often unkempt or worn-out in appearance. Can carry a slightly negative or pitiful nuance.
That skinny man always wears the same clothes.
A shabby-looking man was standing in the alley.
Noh mask of a male ghost
A specific Noh mask representing the spirit of a thin, suffering man. Used in classical Japanese theater.
The 痩せ男 mask used in Noh theater represents the ghost of an emaciated man.
Standard kanji spelling for 'skinny man' and the Noh mask sense.
Alternate kanji spelling using 疲 (tired), suggesting a worn-out appearance; less common than 痩せ男.
Compound of 痩せ (yase, 'thinness') and 男 (otoko, 'man'). The alternate spelling 疲男 uses 疲 (tsukare, 'fatigue'), emphasizing a worn-out look.