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【No. 0719】Hobo wo Kamu (To Bite a Belly Button)

Dec 6, 2016 11:57
Today I will talk about the idiom "hozo wo kamu."

"Hozo" means "a belly button" ("hozo" is commonly said as "heso" in Japan), "kamu" means "to bite", and "hozo wo kamu" describes to bitterly regret or to cry over split milk.

This idiom comes from the fact that even if you try to bite your belly button, your mouth would never reach it.

It has been confirmed that this idiom had been used in ancient Chinese stories during the Chunqiu period.

By the way, although both "heso" and "hozo" have the same meaning "a belly button" and the same kanji character "臍", "heso wo kamu" is regarded as a wrong usage.
ほぞを噛む

今日は「ほぞを噛む」という慣用句を紹介します。

「ほぞ」とは「へそ」のことであり、「ほぞを噛む」はひどく後悔することや、取り返しのつかないことを悔やむことを意味します。

この慣用句は、自分のへそを噛もうとしても口が届かないことに由来します。

春秋時代の中国の故事で使用されていることが確認されています。

ちなみに、「へそ」と「ほぞ」は同じ意味と漢字を持ちますが、「へそを噛む」は誤りとされています。

Corrections (2)

No. 1 W14
  • Today I will talk about the idiom "hozo wo kamu."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • "Hozo" means "a belly button" ("hozo" is commonly said as "heso" in Japan), "kamu" means "to bite", and "hozo wo kamu" describes to bitterly regret or to cry over split milk.
  • "Hozo" means "a belly button" ("hozo" is commonly said as "heso" in Japan), "kamu" means "to bite", and "hozo wo kamu" means "to bitterly regret or to cry over split milk".
  • This idiom comes from the fact that even if you try to bite your belly button, your mouth would never reach it.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It has been confirmed that this idiom had been used in ancient Chinese stories during the Chunqiu period.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • By the way, although both "heso" and "hozo" have the same meaning "a belly button" and the same kanji character "臍", "heso wo kamu" is regarded as a wrong usage.
  • By the way, although both "heso" and "hozo" have the same meaning "a belly button", and the same kanji character "臍", "heso wo kamu" is regarded as a wrong usage.

Nice writing! :)

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! (^^)
W14
You're always welcome! :)
No. 2 magnolia8

This is so funny! Yes, you'll never be able to reach the belly button xD

Toru
Thank you for the comment! :)
Yes, it's obvious, haha.

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