判官びいき

ほうがんびいき
Alternative readings: はんがんびいき
Alternative writings: 判官贔屓
Frequency:
1

Sympathy for an underdog or someone in an unfavorable position; rooting for the tragic hero.

NounYojijukugo

Examples

彼は最後まで負けている選手を応援する、いわゆる判官びいきの人だ。

He tends to cheer for the losing competitor until the end — a classic case of rooting for the underdog.

この映画は主人公が不遇な扱いを受けるため、観客の判官びいきを誘う。

Because the protagonist is treated unfairly, the film invites the audience's sympathy for the underdog.

歴史的小説では敗者に共感する判官びいきの視点がよく見られる。

Historical novels often show a viewpoint that sympathizes with the defeated — a tendency to root for the underdog.