いなせ

い

な

せ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Describes a young man who is stylish, spirited, and gallant, often with a slightly old-fashioned or Edo-period flavor. Commonly used in the phrase いなせな若者.

彼かれはいなせな着き物もの姿すがたで祭まつりに現あらわれた。
He appeared at the festival in a dashing kimono.
あの俳はい優ゆうは若わかい頃ころ、いなせな二に枚まい目めとして人にん気きだった。
That actor was popular as a dashing young leading man in his youth.

Kanji

鯔mullet (fish)
背stature, height, back

Related words

粋いき
いき refers to refined, chic, or stylish taste, often with a sense of understated elegance, while いなせ emphasizes a more spirited, gallant, and youthful dash.
二に枚まい目め
二枚目 means a handsome young man or a romantic lead, focusing on looks and role, whereas いなせ describes a dashing, stylish character and manner.

Built from

鯔いな+背せ

Written forms

いなせUsage96%
Usually written in kana; the kanji form 鯔背 is rare and mainly of historical interest.
イナセUsage4%
鯔背いなせ
Ateji spelling; rarely used in modern writing.

Etymology

Usually associated with 鯔背, literally “mullet back,” the name of an Edo-period hairstyle resembling the back of a young mullet and favored by fashionable young fishmongers. The word consequently developed the sense “dashing; stylish.”