Chiya-hoya
Today I will talk about the Japanese term “chiya-hoya.”
ちやほや
“Chiya-hoya” means that someone is payed attention or is treated indulgently.
今日は「ちやほや」という言葉を紹介します。
This term is derived from the idiom “choyo hanayo,” the literal meaning of which is “as with a butterfly or a flower,” and it means that someone is pampered and spoiled.
「ちやほや」は、相手の機嫌をとったり、甘やかしたりするさまを表します。
The reason why “choyo hanayo” expresses the meaning is because both butterflies and flowers are beautiful and are nurtured carefully.
この言葉は、親が子どもを大切に育てることを表す「蝶よ花よ」という慣用句に由来します。
Originally, it was “hanaya choya,” and it changed to “choya hanaya,” finally “choyo hanayo.”
「蝶よ花よ」は、「蝶」も「花」も可憐で美しく、大事に育てられることに由来します。
As you can image, “choya hanaya” in the process of the change became “chiya hoya” for short.
もともとは「花や蝶や」だったのが「蝶や花や」、「蝶よ花よ」と変化し、この過程の「蝶や花や」が短縮されたものが「ちやほや」だとされています。
