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I see characters making this motion frequently in anime. They pull one (or
sometimes both) eyelid down, and stick out their tongue. What does that mean?
Where does the gesture originate and what's the history behind it?

![eyelid 1](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mpXq1.jpg) ![eyelid
2](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tXaB1.jpg) ![eyelid
3](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Miik1.png) ![eyelid
4](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1wU4S.jpg)


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2013-07-31T16:57:20.593
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2013-07-31T17:48:17.013
2013-07-31T17:31:11.110
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tropes
Why do characters often pull down one eyelid and stick out their tongue?


This is the [Eyelid Pull
Taunt](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EyelidPullTaunt)

> This is the act of pulling down one lower eyelid and sticking out the tongue
> and saying "Beh-da!" (Japanese) or "Nyaaaah!" (English dub). _**A highly
> ritualized expression of disdain or disapproval**_ , used exclusively by
> children and immature adults. Basically the same as the Western act of
> sticking out the tongue, cranked up a few notches, though definitely not
> profane gesture.
>
> In Japan this is referred to as _**akanbe**_ (a corruption of _akai me_ ,
> "red eye"), and it's called mon oeil ("my eye") in France and Quebec. This
> is in fact a Franco-Japanese cultural trope, but you'll see it everywhere in
> anime.

I could not find a satisfying or credible enough link as to its origin(s) but
from the [akanbe wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akanbe) it seems to date
back as far as the 20th century:

> The use of the term was first mentioned by early 20th century author Katai
> Tayama, in his 1909 story Inaka Kyōshi (田舎教師 Rural Teacher), as a gesture
> used by the male students in the story.


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2013-07-31T17:22:34.697
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2020-06-17T09:17:53.303
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