【No. 0660】Uri Futatsu (Two Melons)
Oct 8, 2016 10:17
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "uri futatsu."
The literal translation is "two melons," and it means that brothers or parent and child are very similar to each other.
This word comes from the fact that when you cut a melon in two, these cross sectional shapes are very similar.
However, the same is true for many other vegetables and fruits.
Although it's not fully reliable, it could come from the fact that a cross section of a melon was compared to a face of a beautiful woman in Japan.
By the way, there is a similar expression in English: "as like as two eggs."
The literal translation is "two melons," and it means that brothers or parent and child are very similar to each other.
This word comes from the fact that when you cut a melon in two, these cross sectional shapes are very similar.
However, the same is true for many other vegetables and fruits.
Although it's not fully reliable, it could come from the fact that a cross section of a melon was compared to a face of a beautiful woman in Japan.
By the way, there is a similar expression in English: "as like as two eggs."
瓜二つ
今日は「瓜二つ」という日本語を紹介します。
「瓜二つ」とは、兄弟や親子などがよく似ていることを表す言葉です。
瓜を二つに切ったとき、二つの切り口がとてもよく似ていることに由来します。
しかし、このことはほとんどの野菜や果物に対しても言えます。
瓜が選ばれた理由は定かではありませんが、瓜の断面が美人の顔の形に例えられていること（瓜実顔）と関係しているかもしれません。
ちなみに英語では、「よく似た二つの卵」(as like as two eggs) のように、卵を用いた表現があります。
今日は「瓜二つ」という日本語を紹介します。
「瓜二つ」とは、兄弟や親子などがよく似ていることを表す言葉です。
瓜を二つに切ったとき、二つの切り口がとてもよく似ていることに由来します。
しかし、このことはほとんどの野菜や果物に対しても言えます。
瓜が選ばれた理由は定かではありませんが、瓜の断面が美人の顔の形に例えられていること（瓜実顔）と関係しているかもしれません。
ちなみに英語では、「よく似た二つの卵」(as like as two eggs) のように、卵を用いた表現があります。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 tony
- Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "uri futatsu."
-
Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "uri futatsu."
It is a phrase consisting of two separate words.
- The literal translation is "two melons," and it means that brothers or parent and child are very similar to each other.
- The literal translation is "two melons," and it refers to a situation where siblings or a parent and child are very similar to each other.
- This word comes from the fact that when you cut a melon in two, these cross sectional shapes are very similar.
-
This phrase comes from the fact that when you cut a melon in two, their cross sectional shapes are very similar.
That would be two halves of a melon, wouldn't it? I don't find this explanation very convincing.
- Although it's not fully reliable, it could come from the fact that a cross section of a melon was compared to a face of a beautiful woman in Japan.
-
Although it's not fully reliable, it could come from the fact that a cross section of a melon was compared to a face of a beautiful woman in Japan.
This seems even less likely.
- By the way, there is a similar expression in English: "as like as two eggs."
-
By the way, there is a similar expression in English: "as like as two peas."
A variant is "like two peas in a pod".
I have never heard "as like as two eggs".
tony
言葉についての言葉 (Words about words)
http://lang-8.com/48539/journals/37200805217087214663204364461030726284
言葉についての言葉 (Words about words)
http://lang-8.com/48539/journals/37200805217087214663204364461030726284
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
I learned something new :)
> That would be two halves of a melon, wouldn't it?
Yes, I wanted to say that two halves of a melon have the almost same cross sectional surfaces.
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
I learned something new :)
> That would be two halves of a melon, wouldn't it?
Yes, I wanted to say that two halves of a melon have the almost same cross sectional surfaces.
tony
いいえ、どういたしまして。
いいえ、どういたしまして。