胸きょう襟きん

きょ

う

き

ん

Meanings

Literary and somewhat formal; often used in expressions like 胸襟を開く (to open one's heart) or 胸襟を披く (to bare one's heart). Not used for the physical organ.

彼かれは胸きょう襟きんを開ひらいて本ほん音ねを語かたった。
He opened his heart and spoke his true feelings.
胸きょう襟きんを披ひらいて話はなし合あうことが大たい切せつだ。
It is important to have a heart-to-heart talk, baring one's true feelings.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

胸きょう襟きんを開ひらいて〈動どう詞し〉to do something openly and frankly, with one's heart bared
二人ふたりは胸きょう襟きんを開ひらいて話はなし合あった。
The two of them talked frankly, opening up to each other.

Expressions

胸きょう襟きんを開ひらくbe frank; speak one's mind; have a heart-to-heart talk

Kanji

胸bosom, breast, chest
襟collar, neck, lapel

Related words

本ほん音ねN2
本音 refers to one's real intention or true feelings in a specific situation, while 胸襟 is a literary metaphor for the heart where such feelings are kept.
心しん中ちゅうN1
心中 is a formal word for what is in one's heart at a given moment, while 胸襟 specifically evokes the image of opening or baring that heart to another person.
内ない心しんN1
内心 refers to one's private inner thoughts or feelings, while 胸襟 emphasizes the act of revealing those feelings to someone else.
心しん情じょうN1
心情 is a neutral, formal term for one's emotional state, while 胸襟 carries a literary, almost poetic connotation of the heart as something to be opened.
心こころN5
心 is the everyday word for heart or mind, while 胸襟 is a formal literary term used mainly in set phrases like 胸襟を開く.

Don't confuse with

胸きょう中ちゅう
胸中 describes what is currently in one's heart or mind, whereas 胸襟 is used specifically in phrases about opening one's heart to another person.

Etymology

Compound of 胸 (chest, heart) and 襟 (collar, neck). Figuratively refers to the area near the heart, symbolizing one's inner thoughts and feelings.