一石六斗

Japanese

Kanji in this term
一	石	六	斗
いち > いっ Grade: 1	こく Grade: 1	ろく Grade: 1	と Grade: S
on’yomi

Etymology

Based on a pun on the term はっと (hatto, “startled, surprised”) written using the ateji (当て字) of 八斗 (hatto, “eight to”, where to is a traditional Japanese unit of volume). Literally, the phrase means “one koku (石) and six to”, a measure of volume roughly equivalent to 288 liters and equal to 16 to.

Figuratively, refers to seeing something once, being happily surprised and saying はっと (hatto), and then seeing it again and saying はっと once more in disappointment. はっと twice would be 8 to + 8 to = 16 to, or 1 koku and 6 to.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ik̚ko̞kɯ̟̊ᵝ ɾo̞kɯ̟̊ᵝto̞]

Noun

一(いっ)石(こく)六(ろく)斗(と) • (ikkoku rokuto) 

1. (obsolete) being surprised twice
2. (obsolete) more specifically, describes the appearance of a woman who has a beautiful figure from behind but has an ugly face

   Synonym: バックシャン (bakkushan)

References

• Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shōgakukan, 2000-2002