肝きもいり

き

も

い

り

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

Refers to the support, patronage, or behind-the-scenes help provided by an influential person or organization. Often used in phrases like 肝いりで (under the auspices of) or 肝いりの事業 (a project backed by someone).

このイベントは市し長ちょうの肝きもいりで実じつ現げんした。
This event was realized under the auspices of the mayor.
彼かれの肝きもいりのプロジェクトがついに始はじまった。
His pet project, which he had been backing, finally got underway.

noun

village official (Edo period)

historical term

Historical term for a local official who acted as an intermediary between the village and the authorities during the Edo period. Not used in modern contexts.

江え戸ど時じ代だいの肝きも煎いりは村むらの代だい表ひょうとして重じゅう要ような役やく割わりを果はたした。
During the Edo period, the village official played an important role as the representative of the village.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

肝liver, pluck, nerve
煎broil, parch, roast
入enter, insert

Related words

後こう援えん
後援 is a more formal and general term for support or backing, often used for organizations or public figures. 肝いり implies a more personal, behind-the-scenes involvement by a specific influential person.
名な主ぬし
名主 was another type of village headman during the Edo period, but with slightly different responsibilities depending on the region. 肝煎り is more specific to certain areas and roles.

Written forms

肝きもいりUsage24%
Most common spelling for the modern sense of sponsorship or backing.
肝きも煎いりUsage35%
Abbreviated historical spelling; mainly seen in older texts.
肝きも煎いりUsage23%
Historical spelling associated with the Edo-period village official sense.
肝きも入いりUsage15%
Alternate kanji spelling; less common than 肝いり but still seen.
キモイリUsage3%

Etymology

From 肝を煎る, “take pains; be solicitous,” it came to mean mediation or sponsorship. 肝煎り was also used as a title for local officials and other people responsible for managing a group’s affairs.