【No. 0967】Hara ga Kuroi (腹が黒い - Scheming/Black Heart)
Aug 11, 2017 12:00
The other day, I wrote that most Japanese idioms about "hara" (腹 - stomach) is related to "kokoro" (心 - heart).
For example, there is the idiom "hara ga kuroi / haraguro" (腹が黒い / 腹黒), the literal meaning of which is "one's stomach is black," and it means people who have bad heart.
Some say that this idiom comes from the fact that halfbeak has black stomach, but I think that the black stomach of halfbeak don't related to a bad heart.
Also, there is another theory that it comes from the Japanese myth -- the bad God called "izanami" has black thunder around his belly.
However, in my opinion, it just comes from the fact that stomachs and hearts have close relationship in Japan.
For example, there is the idiom "hara ga kuroi / haraguro" (腹が黒い / 腹黒), the literal meaning of which is "one's stomach is black," and it means people who have bad heart.
Some say that this idiom comes from the fact that halfbeak has black stomach, but I think that the black stomach of halfbeak don't related to a bad heart.
Also, there is another theory that it comes from the Japanese myth -- the bad God called "izanami" has black thunder around his belly.
However, in my opinion, it just comes from the fact that stomachs and hearts have close relationship in Japan.
腹が黒い
先日私は、「腹」に関する慣用句は「心」に関係するものが多いと言いました。
その例として、心の中で何か悪いことを考えているさまを表す「腹が黒い」という慣用句があります。
サヨリという魚のお腹の内側が黒いことに由来するという説がありますが、「お腹が黒いこと」が「悪事を考えていること」の理由になっていないと思います。
また、日本神話の悪い神様「イザナミ」のお腹には黒い雷がまとわりついていたことに由来するとする説があります。
ただ、私の個人的な考えでは、日本では「腹」と「心」は密接な関係にあるため、単に「腹が黒い」ことは「心が黒い」ことであり、それは「悪い性格」ということなのではないかと思います。
先日私は、「腹」に関する慣用句は「心」に関係するものが多いと言いました。
その例として、心の中で何か悪いことを考えているさまを表す「腹が黒い」という慣用句があります。
サヨリという魚のお腹の内側が黒いことに由来するという説がありますが、「お腹が黒いこと」が「悪事を考えていること」の理由になっていないと思います。
また、日本神話の悪い神様「イザナミ」のお腹には黒い雷がまとわりついていたことに由来するとする説があります。
ただ、私の個人的な考えでは、日本では「腹」と「心」は密接な関係にあるため、単に「腹が黒い」ことは「心が黒い」ことであり、それは「悪い性格」ということなのではないかと思います。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 friendfromfaraway
- The other day, I wrote that most Japanese idioms about "hara" (腹 - stomach) is related to "kokoro" (心 - heart).
- The other day, I wrote that most Japanese idioms about "hara" (腹 - stomach) are related to "kokoro" (心 - heart).
- For example, there is the idiom "hara ga kuroi / haraguro" (腹が黒い / 腹黒), the literal meaning of which is "one's stomach is black," and it means people who have bad heart.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Some say that this idiom comes from the fact that halfbeak has black stomach, but I think that the black stomach of halfbeak don't related to a bad heart.
-
Some say that this idiom comes from the fact that a halfbeak has black stomach, but I think that the black stomach of halfbeak doesn't relate to a bad heart.
doesn't = does + not
- Also, there is another theory that it comes from the Japanese myth -- the bad God called "izanami" has black thunder around his belly.
- Also, there is another theory that it comes from the Japanese myth -- the evil God called "Izanami" has black thunder around his（her?) belly.
- However, in my opinion, it just comes from the fact that stomachs and hearts have close relationship in Japan.
- However, in my opinion, it just comes from the fact that stomachs and hearts have a close relationship in Japan.
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post! (^^)
Thank you so much for correcting my post! (^^)