痛いところを突かれる (Itai tokoro wo tsukareru): When you're ‘hit where it hurts’ 🎯

Surely everyone has experienced this feeling: you're confidently presenting a plan, an argument, or simply 'justifying' something, when suddenly someone asks a question that 'hits the nail on the head', pointing out the very fatal flaw you were trying to hide or hadn't thought of.

The feeling of being 'stunned', breaking into a sweat, and only being able to think "Oh no, I've been found out!". That's the moment you've been 痛いところを突かれる (itai tokoro wo tsukareru).

Quick Analysis 🧐

• 痛い (itai): Painful
• ところ (tokoro): Place, point
• 突く (tsuku): To poke, to thrust, to touch

➡️ The literal meaning is “to be poked in a sore spot”. And the Japanese have used this image to brilliantly describe being called out on a weakness, a flaw, an undeniable truth in one's argument or plan.

How is it different from 「耳が痛い」? 🤔

Both have the word “painful” (痛い), but their nuances are very different:

• 耳が痛い (mimi ga itai): Used when you hear someone talk about one of your own shortcomings and you have to admit it's true. It's more about self-reflection.

  Example: Your mom says, “You've been too lazy to clean your room lately!”. You feel a sting because it's so true. → 「うっ、耳が痛い…」 (Ouch, that hits too close to home…)

• 痛いところを突かれる: Used when someone points out a flaw in your argument or plan, or an issue you're avoiding. It has a more 'attacking', sharp, and unexpected feel. 💥

See the examples to ‘get it’ right away!

Scenario 1: In a meeting 💼

You: 「この企画で、売り上げを20%アップさせます！」(With this plan, we will increase sales by 20%!) Boss: 「うん、でもこの計画だと広告費がかなりかかるけど、その点はどう考えてるの？」(Hmm, but this plan requires significant advertising costs, have you thought about that point?) You (thinking to yourself): 「うわ、痛いところを突かれた…！」(Ah, he hit me right where it hurts…!)

Scenario 2: Chatting with friends 🍻

A: 「よし！今日から本気でダイエットするぞ！」(Alright! I'm going on a serious diet starting today!) B: 「へえ、じゃあ昨日ネットでポチった限定ケーキはどうするの？」(Oh really, so what about the limited edition cake you ordered online yesterday?) A: 「あちゃー、痛いところを突いてくるね…」(Ouch, you really know how to hit a sore spot…)

The Bottom Line ✍️

痛いところを突かれる is one of the most ‘real-life’ and accurate emotional expressions you'll often hear in discussions in Japan.

It's not just about being criticized, but about having a weakness pointed out sharply and irrefutably. Next time you're in this ‘awkward’ situation, you'll know how to name it in a proper Japanese way! 😉