逆げき鱗りん

noun

one's superior's anger; imperial wrath

Idiomatic expression originating from a Chinese legend about a dragon's reverse scale that, when touched, enrages the dragon. In modern Japanese, it refers to provoking the anger of a superior or powerful person. Often used in the phrase 逆鱗に触れる (to incur someone's wrath).

See also: 逆鱗に触れる

• 社しゃ長ちょうの逆げき鱗りんに触ふれて、プロジェクトが中ちゅう止しになった。

  I incurred the president's wrath and the project was canceled.

• 彼かれは上じょう司しの逆げき鱗りんに触ふれるような発はつ言げんをした。

  He made a remark that touched his boss's reverse scale.

noun

imperial wrath (original meaning)

Original meaning from the Chinese legend, specifically referring to the anger of an emperor or sovereign. Rarely used independently in modern Japanese; the idiomatic sense is dominant.

• 「逆げき鱗りん」はもともと天てん子しの怒いかりを指さす言こと葉ばだった。

  Originally, 'gekirin' referred to the anger of the emperor.