単刀直入

たんとうちょくにゅう

Also written 短刀直入

Meanings

1. な-adjective, の-adjective, Noun straight to the point; point-blank; frank; direct

Kanji

• 単 single. Read as タン.
• 刀 katana. Read as トウ.
• 直 straight. Read as チョク.
• 入 enter. Read as ニュウ.

Example sentences

• もっと単刀直入に言ってくれないかな。隔靴掻痒の感なきにしもあらずだよ。
  You don't have to leave me hanging like this. Why don't you just come out and tell it to me straight?
• 彼はそれについて単刀直入だ。
  He is very direct about it.
• 単刀直入に尋ねたよ。
  I asked him point-blank.
• 私は単刀直入なんです。
  I'm direct.
• 相変わらず、単刀直入だね。
  As usual, you get straight to the point.

Word lists

• Yojijukugo (四字熟語)

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists