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【No. 1174】Shinogi wo Kezuru (しのぎを削る - Going Head-to-Head)

Mar 6, 2018 10:23
When you engage in fierce competition, we describe it as しのぎを削る (shinogi wo kezuru) in Japanese.

しのぎ (shinogi) means a ridge between 刃 (ha - edge) and 峰 (mine - blunt edge) of a Japanese sword, and 削る (kezuru) means to scrape something.

Therefore, the literal meaning of "shinogi wo kezuru" is to scrape a ridge of a sword.

In a normal sword fight, "shinogi" (ridge) of a sword would not be scraped, so scraping "shinogi" implies that it is a very fierce fight.

Originally, this term was used for a sword fight, but it has come to be used for various fierce fight or competition.
しのぎを削る

両者が互いに力を出し、激しく争うことを、日本語で「しのぎを削る」と言います。

「しのぎ」は、刀の刃と峰の中間部分の、少し盛り上がっているところを指します。

この部分が削り取られるということは、よほど激しく刀をぶつけて切り合っているということです。

もともとは刀を使った争いに対して使われた言葉でしたが、後に意味が広がり、さまざまな激しい争いに対しても使われるようになりました。

Corrections (2)

No. 1 axiomizer
  • Shinogi wo Kezuru (しのぎを削る - Going Head-to-Head)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • When you engage in fierce competition, we describe it as しのぎを削る (shinogi wo kezuru) in Japanese.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • しのぎ (shinogi) means a ridge between 刃 (ha - edge) and 峰 (mine - blunt edge) of a Japanese sword, and 削る (kezuru) means to scrape something.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Therefore, the literal meaning of "shinogi wo kezuru" is to scrape a ridge of a sword.
  • Therefore, the literal meaning of "shinogi wo kezuru" is to scrape the ridge of a sword.
  • In a normal sword fight, "shinogi" (ridge) of a sword would not be scraped, so scraping "shinogi" implies that it is a very fierce fight.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Originally, this term was used for a sword fight, but it has come to be used for various fierce fight or competition.
  • Originally, this term was used for a sword fight, but it has come to be used for various fierce fights or competitions.
Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections! :)
No. 2 klegrant
  • しのぎ (shinogi) means a ridge between 刃 (ha - edge) and 峰 (mine - blunt edge) of a Japanese sword, and 削る (kezuru) means to scrape something.
  • しのぎ (shinogi) refers to the ridge between the sharp edged blade (刃 ie ha) and the blunt edge (峰 ie mine) of a Japanese sword, and 削る (kezuru) means to scrape (or narrowly miss) something.
  • Therefore, the literal meaning of "shinogi wo kezuru" is to scrape a ridge of a sword.
  • Therefore, the literal meaning of "shinogi wo kezuru" is to scrape (or narrowly miss) the ridge between the sharp and blunt edges on the blade of a sword.

Hello....After looking at the Japanese, I just thought I would try to improve that one sentence and try to make it a little more accurate.....I would appreciate your comments as to whether you think I am accurate or not. Nice Japanese expression by the way.

Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
I think that your sentence is exactly what I wanted to say. However, I don't know whether or not "narrowly miss" is appropriate as a translation of 削る (kezuru). The meaning of "kezuru" is explained in the following URL:
http://www.romajidesu.com/dictionary/meaning-of-%E5%89%8A%E3%82%8B.html
Among them, I thought that "to scrape off" is suitable in my essay.

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