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【No. 1092】Mi kara deta Sabi (身から出た錆 - You Asked for It)

Dec 14, 2017 10:44
Have you ever suffered from a bad deed that you did?

Getting into such a situation can be expressed using the Japanese proverb "mi kara deta sabi" (身から出た錆).

Here, the "mi" (身) means "sword blade" and the "sabi" (錆) means "rust," so the literal meaning of this term is "rust generated from a sword blade."

If you neglect to take care of your sword, rust will be generated from the blade, and you may lose your life in a critical moment.

Because of this, "mi kara deta sabi" has come to be used to mean to suffering from your own bad act.
身から出た錆

自分の犯した悪行の結果、自分自身が苦しんだことはありますか?

そのような状況になることを、日本語で「身から出た錆」と言います。

ここで「身」は 、刀の「刀身」のことを意味しています。

刀の手入れを怠ると、刀身(および刀自身)から錆が出てしまい、いざというときに使い物にならず、命を落としてしまうかもしれません。

このことから「身から出た錆」は、自身が原因で自ら受ける災禍・苦しみを表すようになりました。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 xMichaelx
  • Mi kara deta Sabi (身から出た錆 - You Asked for It)
  • Mi kara deta Sabi (身から出た錆 - You Were Asking for It)
  • Have you ever suffered from a bad deed that you did?
  • Have you ever suffered the consequences of your own bad deed?
  • Here, the "mi" (身) means "sword blade" and the "sabi" (錆) means "rust," so the literal meaning of this term is "rust generated from a sword blade."
  • Here, the "mi" (身) means "sword blade," and the "sabi" (錆) means "rust," so the literal meaning of this term is "rust generated from a sword blade."
  • If you neglect to take care of your sword, rust will be generated from the blade, and you may lose your life in a critical moment.
  • If you neglect to take care of your sword, rust will form/gather on the blade, and you may lose your life in a critical moment.
  • Because of this, "mi kara deta sabi" has come to be used to mean to suffering from your own bad act.
  • Because of this, "mi kara deta sabi" has come to be used to mean to suffer because of one's own bad deeds.
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
Sorry for the late reply.
xMichaelx
You're welcome.
It's fine.

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