Proverb / Kotowaza
万人受け
Being liked by everyone or having universal appeal.
Being received by ten thousand people
Quick Answer
Being liked by everyone or having universal appeal.
- Literal Image
- Being received by ten thousand people
- Closest Equivalent
- Popular with everyone
- How to Use It
- Applied when describing products, entertainment, or designs that aim for or achieve broad acceptance across different demographics.
Meaning
Describes a state where something is welcomed by a broad audience without provoking criticism or dislike. It indicates that an item, person, or work is accepted by people of all ages and backgrounds rather than a specific niche.
Literal Image
Being received by ten thousand people
Equivalent Proverbs
Popular with everyone
Direct meaning.
Universal appeal
Professional nuance.
How to Use It
Applied when describing products, entertainment, or designs that aim for or achieve broad acceptance across different demographics.
Tone
Neutral register.
Examples
この映画はアクションと感動のバランスが絶妙で、まさに万人受けする作品だ。
This movie has an exquisite balance of action and emotion; it is truly a work with universal appeal.
個性を出しすぎるとターゲットが絞られるが、万人受けを狙うとどこか平凡なデザインになりがちだ。
If you express too much individuality, your target audience narrows, but if you aim for universal appeal, the design tends to become somewhat mediocre.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses familiar words like 'ten thousand' and 'receive', but the combination is an idiomatic term used in professional and media contexts.
万人
ばんにん / bannin
all people; ten thousand people
受け
うけ / uke
reception; reputation; response
Usage Profile
Usage note: In creative contexts, it can imply a lack of unique character or being too safe.
Misread Risk
Do not assume it only refers to individual people liking something; it refers to broad, collective public reception.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The term combines 'bannin' (all people) and 'uke' (public reputation or reaction). It originally served as a technical term in theater and entertainment to describe a performance that received a positive response from the entire audience. Over time, it evolved to describe any state of being accepted by all people, regardless of age or gender.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.