【No. 0806】Kubi (Dismissal)

Mar 3, 2017 11:44

Today I will talk about the slang term "クビ (kubi)."

"クビ" is Katakana form of a kanji character "首," which means "neck," and if you write the kanji in Katakana or Hiragana, it often means "dismissal/displacement."

For example:
"Kubi ni natta." (This literal meaning is "I became a neck," and it expressed "I was fired.")

"Kimi wa kubi da." (This literal meaning is "You are a neck," and it expressed "You're fired.")

In the Edo period in Japan, criminals were cut their necks using Japanese swords.

By identifying such executions with displacements, "kubi wo kiru" (to cut a neck) came to mean to dismiss someone.

Furthermore, just "kubi" (neck) came to mean "dismissal."

I think that these terms are similar to "get axed" or "get the ax" in English.

クビ

今日は「クビ」という俗語を紹介します。

「クビ」は「首」という漢字をカタカナで書いたものですが、このように書くと、「解雇」を意味することが多いです。

例えば、「クビになった（解雇された）」「君はクビだ（君は解雇だ）」などと使います。

江戸時代の日本において、罪人は首を日本刀で切断することで処刑されました。

この処刑を解雇に喩えて、解雇することを「首を切る」と言うようになり、「クビ」だけでも解雇を意味するようになりました。

英語では "get axed" や "get the ax" とう表現がありますが、これに近いと思います。

Corrections (2)

No. 1　Chris

• Today I will talk about the slang term "クビ (kubi)."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• "クビ" is Katakana form of a kanji character "首," which means "neck," and if you write the kanji in Katakana or Hiragana, it often means "dismissal/displacement."
• "クビ" is the Katakana form of the kanji character "首," which means "neck," and if you write the kanji in Katakana or Hiragana, it often means "dismissal/displacement."

• "Kubi ni natta." (This literal meaning is "I became a neck," and it expressed "I was fired.")
• "Kubi ni natta." (This literal meaning is "I became a neck," and it means "I was fired.")

• "Kimi wa kubi da." (This literal meaning is "You are a neck," and it expressed "You're fired.")
• "Kimi wa kubi da." (This literal meaning is "You are a neck," and it expresses "You're fired.")

  I think "means" instead of "expresses" is more natural, but it still gets the point across.
  When I think of "expresses", I think of something emotional.
  For instance, "Hopper's art expresses the everyday loneliness of the American people" or something like that.

• In the Edo period in Japan, criminals were cut their necks using Japanese swords.
• In the Edo period in Japan, criminals were cut at their necks using Japanese swords.

  Or:
  In the Edo period of Japan, criminals had their necks cut (by (Japanese) swords).

• By identifying such executions with displacements, "kubi wo kiru" (to cut a neck) came to mean to dismiss someone.
• By replacing executions with dismissals/firings, "kubi wo kiru" (to cut a neck) came to mean to dismiss someone.

  'Displacement' doesn't fit but I can't exactly explain why..

• Furthermore, just "kubi" (neck) came to mean "dismissal."
• Furthermore, just "kubi" (neck) came to mean "dismissal."

• I think that these terms are similar to "get axed" or "get the ax" in English.
• I think that these terms are similar to "get axed" or "get the ax" in English.

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)

No. 2　JayfeatherRex

• Kubi (Dismissal)
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Today I will talk about the slang term "クビ (kubi)."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• For example:
• For example,:

  Colons are used a bit differently. "For example" is normally followed by a comma.
  I can't explain it very well so I've found a site for you to reference: http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/colons.asp

• I think that these terms are similar to "get axed" or "get the ax" in English.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Toru
Thank you so much always for correcting my post! (^^)

JayfeatherRex
No problem!

Comments