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【No. 0880】Uma no Hone (Person from Nowhere)

May 16, 2017 10:23
Today I will talk about the term "uma no hone."

"Uma" means "horse," "hone" means "bones," and "uma no hone" refers to a person from nowhere or an incapable person.

This term comes from the fact that Chinese said "firstly chicken ribs, secondly horse bones" as examples of useless things.

Chicken ribs are too small to be useful.

Horse bones are also useless, furthermore, it's difficult to dispose of them.

It's said that because of this, "uma no hone" has come to the current meanings described above.

In Japan, the phrase "どこの馬の骨ともわからんやつにうちの娘はやれん," which means "I never give my daughter to a man from nowhere (such as you)" is really famous.
馬の骨

今日は「馬の骨」という言葉を紹介します。

「馬の骨」は、素性の知れない者や、役に立たない者を意味します。

この言葉は、中国で役に立たないものを例えて「一に鶏肋、二に馬骨」と言っていたことに由来します。

「鶏肋」はニワトリの肋骨のことで、小さすぎて役に立ちません。

一方で「馬骨」は、役に立たないことに加えて大きすぎて処分にも困ります。

このことから、「馬の骨」は現在の意味を持つようになりました。

日本では、「どこの馬の骨ともわからんやつにうちの娘はやれん」というフレーズがとても有名です。

Corrections (2)

No. 1 Hugh
  • This term comes from the fact that Chinese said "firstly chicken ribs, secondly horse bones" as examples of useless things.
  • This term comes from the Chinese proverb which lists "firstly chicken ribs, secondly horse bones" as examples of useless things.
  • It's said that because of this, "uma no hone" has come to the current meanings described above.
  • It's said that because of this, "uma no hone" has developed the current meanings described above.
  • In Japan, the phrase "どこの馬の骨ともわからんやつにうちの娘はやれん," which means "I never give my daughter to a man from nowhere (such as you)" is really famous.
  • In Japan, the phrase "どこの馬の骨ともわからんやつにうちの娘はやれん," which means, "I would never give my daughter to a man from nowhere (such as you)" is really famous.
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! :)
No. 2 David
  • Today I will talk about the term "uma no hone."
  • Today I will talk about the term "uma no hone."

    Your sentence is fine as written.

    Instead of using term you might take a look at the word idiom. I think that idiom would be a choice.

  • "Uma" means "horse," "hone" means "bones," and "uma no hone" refers to a person from nowhere or an incapable person.
  • "Uma" means "horse," "hone" means "bones," and "uma no hone" refers to a person from nowhere or an incapable person.

    You're sentence is fine.

    I'm going to change my opinion on using quotes again. There are just too many in this sentence.

    What are your thoughts on this?

    "Uma" means horse, "hone" means bones, and (")uma no hone(") refers to a person from nowhere or an incapable person.

    Quoting the Japanese words the first time makes sense. I placed optional quotes around the full Japanese idiom. I could make arguments either way on using quotes here. I think that after this sentence you've introduced the Japanese words and idiom so you wouldn't really need to quote them in the remainder of the piece.

    Thoughts?

  • This term comes from the fact that Chinese said "firstly chicken ribs, secondly horse bones" as examples of useless things.
  • This idiom comes from the fact that Chinese said "firstly chicken ribs, secondly horse bones" as examples of useless things.

    Just substituted idiom.

  • Chicken ribs are too small to be useful.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Horse bones are also useless, furthermore, it's difficult to dispose of them.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It's said that because of this, "uma no hone" has come to the current meanings described above.
  • It's said that because of this, (")uma no hone(") has come to the current meanings described above.

    Sentence is fine. Again optional quotes.

    You might consider "has acquired the current meanings described above".

  • In Japan, the phrase "どこの馬の骨ともわからんやつにうちの娘はやれん," which means "I never give my daughter to a man from nowhere (such as you)" is really famous.
  • In Japan, the phrase "どこの馬の骨ともわからんやつにうちの娘はやれん," which means "I never give my daughter to a man from nowhere (such as you)" is really famous.

    Your sentence is fine but it bothers me. If i wanted to use the idiom in an actual conversation I could see myself using three variations depending on the circumstances. Here are the three, in most common to least common change of saying it, order

    I would never give...
    I will never give...
    I never give

    I hope this makes sense. Which one would you use ?

Toru
Thank you so much always for correcting my post!

> I could make arguments either way on using quotes here. I think that after this sentence you've introduced the Japanese words and idiom so you wouldn't really need to quote them in the remainder of the piece.

Actually, the reason why I continued to use quotes in the remainder parts is because I thought that "no" and "hone" of "uma no hone" are common English words, so it might be confusing witought quites. However, I also think that you have a valid point.

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