Phrase in 30 Seconds
Acknowledge someone's superior skill or talent by metaphorically giving them a head start in a game.
- Means: To recognize and respect someone's superior ability.
- Used in: Workplace evaluations, sports commentary, or praising a talented peer.
- Don't confuse: It's not just 'liking' someone; it's admitting they are better than you.
适合你水平的解释：
意思
To recognize and respect someone's abilities or standing.
文化背景
The game of Go ({囲碁|いご}) has been a symbol of high-level strategy and intellectualism in Japan for over a millennium. Using a Go metaphor to describe respect shows how deeply the game is embedded in the Japanese psyche. In Japanese companies, 'Ichimoku oku' is a way to acknowledge merit without disrupting the harmony ({和|わ}) of the group. It allows for a 'silent' ranking of skill. Similar to Go, martial arts like Kendo or Judo value the recognition of a 'master'. Admitting someone is better is seen as a step toward one's own improvement. Manga and Anime often use this phrase when a rival character finally admits the protagonist is strong.
Use the Passive Form
In 80% of cases, you will hear this as '{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれている'. It's the most natural way to describe someone's reputation.
Particle 'Ni' is Key
Never use 'wo' for the person you respect. It's always 'Person に {一目|いちもく}{置|お}く'.
Use the Passive Form
In 80% of cases, you will hear this as '{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれている'. It's the most natural way to describe someone's reputation.
Particle 'Ni' is Key
Never use 'wo' for the person you respect. It's always 'Person に {一目|いちもく}{置|お}く'.
The 'Go' Connection
Mentioning you know this comes from Go will impress Japanese speakers and show you understand the culture.
自我测试
Fill in the correct particle and verb form.
{彼|かれ}の{才能|さいのう}（ ）みんな（ ）いる。
The person/thing respected takes 'ni', and the idiom is 'ichimoku oku'.
Which situation is the most natural for using '{一目|いちもく}{置|お}く'?
Select the best context:
The phrase is specifically about recognizing skill or ability.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {新|あたら}しい{部長|ぶちょう}、どう？ B: すごいよ。あのベテランの{佐藤|さとう}さんでさえ、（ ）。
B is explaining that even a veteran respects the new manager.
🎉 得分： /3
视觉学习工具
练习题库
4 练习{彼|かれ}の{才能|さいのう}（ ）みんな（ ）いる。
The person/thing respected takes 'ni', and the idiom is 'ichimoku oku'.
Select the best context:
The phrase is specifically about recognizing skill or ability.
A: {新|あたら}しい{部長|ぶちょう}、どう？ B: すごいよ。あのベテランの{佐藤|さとう}さんでさえ、（ ）。
B is explaining that even a veteran respects the new manager.
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
5 个问题No, it's fine for friends if you are talking about someone's serious skill, like 'He's a pro-level gamer.'
Usually no. It's for skills, knowledge, or character, not just physical appearance.
'Sonkei' is general respect/admiration. 'Ichimoku oku' is specifically acknowledging someone is better than you in a certain area.
It's better to use it *about* your boss to others, rather than *to* your boss directly.
No, the idiom is fixed at 'one stone' (ichimoku).
相关表达
{脱帽|だつぼう}する
synonymTo take off one's hat.
{兜|かぶと}を{脱|ぬ}ぐ
similarTo take off one's helmet.
{一目散|いちもくさん}に
contrastAt full speed / scurrying away.
{敬意|けいい}を{払|はら}う
similarTo pay respect.
在哪里用
Office Promotion
Colleague A: {田中|たなか}さん、また{昇進|しょうしん}したらしいよ。
Colleague B: やっぱりね。{彼|かれ}の{営業|えいぎょう}{成績|せいせき}には、みんな{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いているからね。
Sports Commentary
Announcer: この{若|わか}い{選手|せんしゅ}、どう{見|み}ますか？
Expert: {対戦|たいせん}{相手|あいて}のベテランたちも、{彼|かれ}のスピードには{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いていますよ。
School Club
Student A: {部長|ぶちょう}の{絵|え}、すごすぎない？
Student B: うん、{他|ほか}の{学校|がっこう}の{美術|びじゅつ}{部|ぶ}からも{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれてるらしいよ。
Job Interview
Interviewer: あなたの{強|つよ}みは何ですか？
Candidate: {前職|ぜんしょく}では、データの{分析|ぶんせき}{能力|のうりょく}でチームから{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれていました。
Gaming Community
Gamer A: あのプレイヤー、チーターじゃない？
Gamer B: いや、ガチだよ。プロからも{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれてる有名人だよ。
Cooking Class
Student: {先生|せんせい}、この{味付|あじつ}けどうですか？
Teacher: 素晴らしい！あなたのセンスには{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かざるを{得|え}ませんね。
记住它
记忆技巧
Imagine placing a single black Go stone on a board to say 'You're so good, I'll give you a head start.'
视觉联想
A wooden Go board with one stone placed in the corner. A person is bowing slightly to the stone, acknowledging the skill of the person who owns it.
Rhyme
Ichimoku oku, respect the 'Go' look.
Story
You are playing a game of Go against a grandmaster. Before you even start, you place one stone down to admit they are better. This 'one stone' (Ichimoku) you 'place' (oku) is your sign of respect for their mastery.
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'to tip one's hat' or 'to give credit where credit is due.' In Korean, there is a similar concept of 'folding a move' (han su jeobeojuda) in games.
Word Web
挑战
Identify one person in your life whose skills you truly respect. Write a sentence in Japanese explaining why you '{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いている' regarding them.
Think of the Go board every time you see someone do something impressively skillful.
发音
Pronounced with a flat pitch on 'moku'.
Standard verb 'to put'.
正式程度
{皆様|みなさま}、{彼|かれ}の{才能|さいのう}には{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いておられます。 (Discussing a talented person)
みんな、{彼|かれ}の{才能|さいのう}には{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いている。 (Discussing a talented person)
{彼|かれ}の{才能|さいのう}、みんな{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いてるよね。 (Discussing a talented person)
あいつの{才能|さいのう}、マジで{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれてるわ。 (Discussing a talented person)
Derived from the handicap system in the game of Go (Igo).
趣味小知识
Even though 'Ichimoku' means 'one eye', in Go terminology, it refers to a single point or stone on the board.
文化笔记
The game of Go ({囲碁|いご}) has been a symbol of high-level strategy and intellectualism in Japan for over a millennium. Using a Go metaphor to describe respect shows how deeply the game is embedded in the Japanese psyche.
“Professional Go players are often treated with the same respect as high-ranking scholars.”
In Japanese companies, 'Ichimoku oku' is a way to acknowledge merit without disrupting the harmony ({和|わ}) of the group. It allows for a 'silent' ranking of skill.
“A junior employee might be 'ichimoku okareru' for their IT skills, giving them informal power.”
Similar to Go, martial arts like Kendo or Judo value the recognition of a 'master'. Admitting someone is better is seen as a step toward one's own improvement.
“A student must 'ichimoku oku' toward their sensei's technique.”
Manga and Anime often use this phrase when a rival character finally admits the protagonist is strong.
“In sports manga, the 'king' of the court might finally 'ichimoku oku' for the rookie hero.”
对话开场白
あなたの{周|まわ}りで、みんなが{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いている{人|ひと}はだれですか？
あなたが{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれたいスキルは何ですか？
{仕事|しごと}で{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれるためには、何が一番{大切|たいせつ}だと{思|おも}いますか？
常见错误
{彼|かれ}を{一目|いちもく}{置|お}く
{彼|かれ}に{一目|いちもく}{置|お}く
L1 Interference
{自分|じぶん}に{一目|いちもく}{置|お}く
{自分|じぶん}は{一目|いちもく}{置|お}かれている
L1 Interference
{一目|いちもく}{立|た}てる
{一目|いちもく}{置|お}く
L1 Interference
{一目|いちもく}{置|お}く (using it for 'looking at someone once')
{一瞥|いちべつ}する
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
To tip one's hat to someone
English focuses on the moment of achievement, while Japanese focuses on the established skill level.
Quitarse el sombrero
Spanish is often used for a single impressive act, whereas Japanese implies a more permanent status.
Tirer son chapeau
French can sometimes feel slightly more formal or old-fashioned than the Japanese idiom.
Jemandem Anerkennung zollen
The 'Anerkennung zollen' version is much more formal and less metaphorical than the Go-based Japanese version.
يقدر (Yuqaddir)
Lacks the specific 'game' or 'handicap' metaphor found in Japanese.
另眼相看 (Lìngyǎn xiāngkàn)
Chinese emphasizes the *change* in perception, while Japanese emphasizes the *admission* of superior skill.
한 수 접어주다 (Han su jeobeojuda)
Extremely similar; both share the same cultural and ludic origins.
Tirar o chapéu
Common in both Brazil and Portugal, often used in sports and professional contexts.
Spotted in the Real World
“{彼|かれ}の{打|う}ち{筋|すじ}には、プロも{一目|いちもく}{置|お}いている。”
Discussing the protagonist's mysterious and powerful Go moves.
“{世界|せかい}の{投資家|とうしか}が{日本|にほん}の{半導体|はんどうたい}メーカーに{一目|いちもく}{置|お}き{始|はじ}めている。”
An article about the resurgence of the Japanese chip industry.
容易混淆
Both start with '{一目|いちもく}'.
Ichimokubore is 'love at first sight'. Ichimoku oku is 'respect for skill'.
Both use '{一目|いちもく}'.
Ichimoku ryōzen means 'obvious at a glance'.
常见问题 (5)
No, it's fine for friends if you are talking about someone's serious skill, like 'He's a pro-level gamer.'
usage contextsUsually no. It's for skills, knowledge, or character, not just physical appearance.
basic understanding'Sonkei' is general respect/admiration. 'Ichimoku oku' is specifically acknowledging someone is better than you in a certain area.
comparisonsIt's better to use it *about* your boss to others, rather than *to* your boss directly.
cultural usageNo, the idiom is fixed at 'one stone' (ichimoku).
grammar mechanics
