Yabu Kara Bou (A Stick From Shrubs)
Yabu Kara Bou
藪から棒
Today, I will talk about the Japanese “yabu kara bou,” whose literal meaning is “a stick from shrubs.”
今日は「藪から棒」という日本語を紹介します。
This is the abbreviation for “yabu kara bou o tsukidasu” (to poke a stick out from shrubs), and means that something happens or doing something suddenly without any warning.
「藪から棒を突き出す」を略した言葉で、何の前触れもなく唐突に何かが起こること、何かをすることを表します。
The etymology is very simple: it’s because if a stick is poke out from shrubs, you will be surprised.
語源はとても単純で、草木で中がよく見えない藪から、急に棒が出てくると驚くためです。
Some people say “yabu kara hebi,” whose literal meaning is “a snake from shrubs,” but this usage is wrong.
たまに「藪から蛇」と言う人もいますが、これは間違いです。
It is thought that this abuse comes from the word “yabu hebi.”
これは「藪蛇」という言葉と勘違いしたものと思われます。
“Yabu hebi” is the abbreviation for “yabu o tsutsuite hebi o dasu,” which means that “to lead bad consewuences by doing unnecessary things.”
「藪蛇」は「藪をつついて蛇を出す」を略したもので、「余計なことをして悪い結果を招く」ことを表します。
