【No. 0926】Setogiwa (瀬戸際 - Brink)
Jul 1, 2017 17:24
Have you ever teetered on the brink of life-or-death or win-or-lose.
Such a situation is called "setogiwa" (瀬戸際) in Japan.
"Seto" (瀬戸) of setogiwa means a strait that is narrowed by two land masses, and "giwa" (際) means a boundary.
That is to say, the original meaning of setogiwa is a boundary between a strait and sea.
By extension, setogiwa has come to refer to an important branch point in our lives.
In English, it seems to be expressed as "brink" or "edge" -- I think that the etymology of setogiwa is almost same as these words.
Such a situation is called "setogiwa" (瀬戸際) in Japan.
"Seto" (瀬戸) of setogiwa means a strait that is narrowed by two land masses, and "giwa" (際) means a boundary.
That is to say, the original meaning of setogiwa is a boundary between a strait and sea.
By extension, setogiwa has come to refer to an important branch point in our lives.
In English, it seems to be expressed as "brink" or "edge" -- I think that the etymology of setogiwa is almost same as these words.
瀬戸際
あなたは勝つか負けるか、生きるか死ぬかなど、運命の分かれ目に立ったことはありますか？
日本ではこのような状況を「瀬戸際」と言います。
「瀬戸」は陸地が接近して海が狭くなっている所を意味し、「際」は境界を意味します。
すなわち「瀬戸際」は、「狭い海峡と海の境目」ということを意味します。
これが転じて、重要な分岐点などを瀬戸際と表現するようになりました。
英語では "brink" や "edge" などと表現するようですが、日本語の語源とほぼ同じように思います。
あなたは勝つか負けるか、生きるか死ぬかなど、運命の分かれ目に立ったことはありますか？
日本ではこのような状況を「瀬戸際」と言います。
「瀬戸」は陸地が接近して海が狭くなっている所を意味し、「際」は境界を意味します。
すなわち「瀬戸際」は、「狭い海峡と海の境目」ということを意味します。
これが転じて、重要な分岐点などを瀬戸際と表現するようになりました。
英語では "brink" や "edge" などと表現するようですが、日本語の語源とほぼ同じように思います。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 stvbaleno
- Have you ever teetered on the brink of life-or-death or win-or-lose.
- Have you ever teetered on the brink of life-or-death or win-or-lose?
- "Seto" (瀬戸) of setogiwa means a strait that is narrowed by two land masses, and "giwa" (際) means a boundary.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- By extension, setogiwa has come to refer to an important branch point in our lives.
-
By extension, setogiwa has come to refer to an important crossroads in our lives.
「branch point」はちょっと変です。「crossroads」の方が自然だと思います。
- In English, it seems to be expressed as "brink" or "edge" -- I think that the etymology of setogiwa is almost same as these words.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! (^^)
Thank you so much for correcting my post! (^^)