白
Meanings
Prefix meaning 'white' or 'pure white', used in compounds like 白波 (しらなみ, whitecaps) or 白鳥 (しらとり, swan).
I was looking at the sea with whitecaps.
unseasoned; undyed; unaltered
Prefix indicating something in its natural, unprocessed state, such as unseasoned food or undyed fabric. Common in words like 白木 (しらき, unfinished wood) or 白焼き (しらやき, grilled without sauce).
Unseasoned grilled fish lets you enjoy the natural flavor of the ingredients.
Intensifying prefix, often used in older or literary expressions. Seen in words like 白々明け (しらじらあけ, the first light of dawn) or 白々しい (しらじらしい, blatant).
The 白 in 白々しい is a prefix that emphasizes blatantness.
playing dumb
Prefix used in the verb しらばくれる (to play dumb, to feign ignorance). Rare and limited to this specific compound.
See also: しらばっくれる
He knew perfectly well, but he played dumb and acted innocent.
Noun or adjectival noun meaning sincere, honest, or diligent. Often used in the phrase 白を切る (しらをきる, to feign innocence) or 白々しい (しらじらしい, transparently false).
I was disgusted by his transparently false excuse.
Expressions
- 白河夜船fast asleep and unaware of surroundings · know-it-all attitude; pretending to know everything