逆鱗

Japanese

Kanji in this term
逆	鱗
げき Grade: 5	りん Jinmeiyō
on'yomi

Etymology

From the legend in Han Feizi of a scale (鱗) under a dragon's chin that grows backwards (逆) and causes the dragon to enter a fit of rage if touched.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) げきりん [gèkíríń] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɡe̞kʲiɾʲĩɴ]

Noun

逆(げき)鱗(りん) • (gekirin) 

1. the anger of a superior

Idioms

• 逆鱗(げきりん)に触(ふ)れる (gekirin ni fureru)