Definition
色眼鏡(いろめがね, “iro megane”) is a Japanese idiomatic expression that literally means “coloured glasses”. It is usually used as “…を色眼鏡で見(み)る” (look at … through coloured glasses) and that figuratively means “have a prejudiced and specific view about someone (due to their nationality, educational background, etc)”. For instance, some people in Japan (and many other countries) see foreigners through “coloured glasses”, expecting that they would behave how they are often stereotyped in the media.
* In English, there is a similar expression “rose-coloured glasses” meaning “optimistic eyes”, but the Japanese phrase is used to illustrate a distorted and prejudiced view rather than an embellished one.
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