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【No. 0663】Toudai moto Kurashi (Under the Toudai is Dark)

Oct 11, 2016 00:07
Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb "toudai moto kurashi."

The literal meaning is "under the toudai is dark," and it expresses "
it's difficult to take account of the closest things."

"Toudai", which is also called "toushokudai", means a stand for placing a plate of oil, and is used for brightening the room by setting fire.

Although the toudai can brighten the surroundings of itself, under the stand becomes shaded and very dark.

From this fact, "toudai moto kurashi" came to mean "it's difficult to take account of the closest things or things about yourself."

By the way, there is another proverb that has the similar meaning: "Chikakute mienu wa matsuge," the literal meaning of which is "What you can't see because of the closeness is your eyelash."
灯台下暗し

今日は「灯台下暗し」という日本のことわざを紹介します。

「灯台下暗し」の文字通りの訳は "under the toudai is dark" であり、「身近なことはかえって気が付きにくい」ことを意味します。

「灯台」(「灯明台」とも)は、油を入れた皿を乗せて火をともす台のことで、かつて部屋を明るくするために使われていました。

周囲を明るくすることはできますが、台の下の部分は影になり、暗くなってしまいます。

こてが転じて、身近なことには気が付きにくいという意味で使われるようになりました。

また、同じような意味を持つことわざとして、「近くて見えぬは睫」があります。

Corrections (2)

No. 1 Abrielia
  • Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb "toudai moto kurashi."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The literal meaning is "under the toudai is dark," and it expresses "
  • The literal meaning is "under the toudai is dark," and it expresses "it's difficult to take account of the closest things."
  • "Toudai", which is also called "toushokudai", means a stand for placing a plate of oil, and is used for brightening the room by setting fire.
  • "Toudai", which is also called "toushokudai", is a stand for placing a plate of oil, and it is used for brightening the room by lighting the oil.

    "setting fire" suggests that you are setting the whole room on fire.

  • Although the toudai can brighten the surroundings of itself, under the stand becomes shaded and very dark.
  • Although the toudai can brighten it's surroundings, under the stand itself becomes shaded and very dark.
  • From this fact, "toudai moto kurashi" came to mean "it's difficult to take account of the closest things or things about yourself."
  • From this fact, "toudai moto kurashi" came to mean "it's difficult to take account of the closest things or things about yourself."
  • By the way, there is another proverb that has the similar meaning: "Chikakute mienu wa matsuge," the literal meaning of which is "What you can't see because of the closeness is your eyelash."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)
No. 2 シャル❇️
  • Although the toudai can brighten the surroundings of itself, under the stand becomes shaded and very dark.
  • Although the toudai can brighten it's surroundings, the area under the stand becomes shaded and very dark.
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! :)

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