ななめうえ

Japanese

Alternative spelling
斜め上

Etymology

From 斜(なな)め (naname, “diagonal”) + 上(うえ) (ue, “up”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [na̠na̠me̞ɯ̟ᵝe̞]

Noun

ななめうえ • (nanameue) 

1. (slang) out of bounds realm (in regards to what is expected)

   予(よ)想(そう)の斜(なな)め上(うえ)

   yosō no nanameue

   unexpected

   (literally, “diagonal-top from expectations”)

   （予(よ)想(そう)の）斜(なな)め上(うえ)を行(ゆ)く展(てん)開(かい)

   (yosō no) nanameue o yuku tenkai

   unexpected story progression

   (literally, “progression that heads towards diagonal-top (from expectations)”)