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Akanbe


Akanbe (あかんべえ Akanbee?), also spelled Akkanbee (あっかんべー, アッカンベー?), is a Japanese facial gesture indicating crazy sarcasm, also known in France as mon œil. It consists of someone pulling down one's lower eyelid to expose the red underside towards someone, often accompanied by the person sticking their tongue out. It is considered an immature taunting gesture.

The use of the term was first mentioned by early 20th century author Katai Tayama, in his 1909 story Inaka Kyōshi (田舎教師?, "Rural Teacher"), as a gesture used by the male students in the story. In the story, it gives the etymology as a corruption of akai me (赤い目?, "red eye").

In France, the gesture of pulling down one's lower eyelid and saying mon œil, or "my eye", is an expression of disdainful, dismissive disbelief.

The statement "my eye" is also an archaic term of disbelief in English, though without the physical gesture. One may respond to an incredible claim of "That was an accident" with "Accident, my eye!".


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