1.
sophistication, polish, refined elegance
A polished, sophisticated quality that shows good taste and urban elegance. Often describes someone who has shed unsophisticated qualities to become stylish and worldly.
垢抜けした人
a sophisticated person
東京に出てから、彼女は垢抜けた。
She became more sophisticated after moving to Tokyo.
久しぶりに会った友人は、垢抜けた雰囲気になっていた。
The friend I met after a long time had acquired a polished air.
VERB FORM: Most commonly used as the verb 垢抜ける (to become sophisticated) or in its past form 垢抜けた (sophisticated).
ETYMOLOGY: Literally "shedding grime/dirt (垢)" - the idea of removing the rough, unsophisticated qualities.
NUANCE: 垢抜け implies a transformation from rustic or unsophisticated to stylish and urbane. It often has positive connotations but can sometimes suggest someone trying too hard to seem sophisticated.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 垢抜けた人 (sophisticated person)
- 垢抜けない (unsophisticated, unpolished)
- 垢抜けた雰囲気 (polished atmosphere)
RELATED WORDS:
- 洗練された (refined, sophisticated)
- 都会的 (urban, metropolitan)
- 野暮ったい (unfashionable, tacky - opposite)