A2 Collocation Neutre 1 min de lecture

汚い手

kitanai te

Dirty hands

Entraîne-toi

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Literally 'dirty hands,' this phrase is used metaphorically to describe dishonest, unfair, or corrupt methods.

  • Means: Dishonest or underhanded tactics used to achieve a goal.
  • Used in: Business, sports, or political contexts to describe cheating.
  • Don't confuse: Literal dirt on hands with metaphorical corruption.
Dirt + Hand = Unfair play

Explication à ton niveau :

This phrase means your hands are dirty with mud. You can also use it to say someone is cheating in a game.
In Japanese, 'kitanai te' literally means dirty hands. We use it metaphorically to describe people who use unfair or dishonest ways to get what they want. It is common in sports or work.
The phrase '{汚い|きたない}{手|て}' functions as a collocation for unethical behavior. While the literal sense refers to hygiene, the figurative sense is a powerful accusation of corruption or manipulation. It is frequently used in competitive environments where someone has bypassed rules to gain an advantage.
This idiom serves as an evocative metaphor for moral compromise. By labeling an action as '{汚い|きたない}{手|て}', the speaker highlights the 'stain' left on the perpetrator's reputation. It is a culturally loaded term that emphasizes the importance of transparency and fairness in Japanese social interactions, often used to condemn those who prioritize results over ethical conduct.
The collocation '{汚い|きたない}{手|て}' represents a classic instance of conceptual metaphor, where the physical domain of 'dirt' is mapped onto the abstract domain of 'dishonesty.' Linguistically, it functions as an accusatory predicate. Its usage is highly register-dependent; while the literal meaning is neutral, the figurative application carries a strong pejorative weight, signaling a breach of social contract.
From a cognitive linguistics perspective, '{汚い|きたない}{手|て}' exemplifies the 'immorality is filth' metaphor. This phrase is deeply embedded in the Japanese cultural ethos, where the concept of 'cleanliness' (kirei) is synonymous with moral rectitude. By invoking this phrase, a speaker is not merely describing a tactical choice but is making a moral judgment, positioning the subject as fundamentally 'soiled' by their lack of integrity. It is a potent tool for social policing in competitive contexts.

Signification

Hands that are soiled or unclean.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Emphasis on transparency.

💡

Context is key

Always check if you mean physical or metaphorical.

💡

Context is key

Always check if you mean physical or metaphorical.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank.

彼はいつも＿＿＿＿＿を使う。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 汚い手

The idiom is 'kitanai te' (dirty hands/tactics).

🎉 Score : /1

Banque d exercices

2 exercices
Choisis la bonne réponse Fill Blank

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
Fill in the blank. Fill Blank A2

彼はいつも＿＿＿＿＿を使う。

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : 汚い手

The idiom is 'kitanai te' (dirty hands/tactics).

🎉 Score : /2

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Yes, it is an accusation.

Expressions liées

🔄

{卑怯|ひきょう}な{手段|しゅだん}

synonym

Cowardly methods

Où l'utiliser

⚽

Sports cheating

Player A: Did you see that? He used dirty tactics!

informal

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a person trying to wash their hands, but the 'mud' is actually their bad reputation.

Association visuelle

A person in a suit shaking hands, but their hand is covered in black ink.

Story

Ken wanted to win the race. He tripped his friend. Everyone saw his 'dirty hands'. Now nobody trusts him.

In Other Languages

English has 'dirty tricks' or 'dirty hands'. It is a very common cross-linguistic metaphor.

Word Web

{不正|ふせい}{卑怯|ひきょう}{ずるい}{汚|きたな}い{手段|しゅだん}{裏|うら}

Défi

Write three sentences using the phrase in different contexts.

Review in 1, 3, 7, and 14 days.

Prononciation

Accent Flat

Standard Japanese pronunciation.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
彼は不正な手段を用いました。

彼は不正な手段を用いました。 (Describing someone's actions)

Neutre
彼は汚い手を使いました。

彼は汚い手を使いました。 (Describing someone's actions)

Informel
彼は汚い手を使ったよ。

彼は汚い手を使ったよ。 (Describing someone's actions)

Argot
あいつ、汚い手使いやがった。

あいつ、汚い手使いやがった。 (Describing someone's actions)

Derived from the physical act of soiling one's hands with labor or mud.

Edo:

Le savais-tu ?

It is a universal metaphor.

Notes culturelles

Emphasis on transparency.

“Fair play is key.”

Amorces de conversation

“

Have you ever seen someone use dirty tactics?

Erreurs courantes

✗

{汚い|きたない}やり方を使う

✓

{汚い|きたない}{手|て}を使う

wrong context
While 'yarikata' is correct, 'te' is the specific idiomatic collocation.

L1 Interference

0

In Other Languages

Spanish Very Similar

Jugar sucio

Spanish focuses on the 'play' aspect, Japanese on the 'hand' aspect.

French moderate

Coup bas

The imagery differs but the meaning is identical.

German Very Similar

Ein schmutziges Spiel

German focuses on the 'game', Japanese on the 'hand'.

Japanese n/a

{汚い|きたない}{手|て}

N/A

Arabic Very Similar

لعب قذر

Focuses on the act of playing.

Chinese moderate

手段卑鄙

Less reliance on the 'dirt' metaphor.

Korean Very Similar

더러운 수법

Very similar cultural usage.

Portuguese Very Similar

Jogo sujo

Focuses on the game.

Spotted in the Real World

🎬

(2020)

“He used dirty hands.”

Sports movie.

Facile à confondre

汚い手 vs {汚|きたな}い{仕事|しごと}

Sounds like dirty work.

Dirty work is a job, dirty hands is a method.

Questions fréquentes (1)

Yes, it is an accusation.

usage contexts

Learning Path

Prerequisites

C'tait utile ?

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