【No. 1278】Ni no Ashi wo Fumu (二の足を踏む)
Jun 18, 2018 20:11
Have you ever hesitated or been reluctant to do something?
Such an action is called "ni no ashi wo fumu" (二の足を踏む) in Japanese.
Ni (二) means two/second, ashi (足) means foot, and fumu (踏む) means 'to step.'
Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- it will become just stamping your feet.
The thing is, this idiom represents such a situation.
However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to take the first step.
Such an action is called "ni no ashi wo fumu" (二の足を踏む) in Japanese.
Ni (二) means two/second, ashi (足) means foot, and fumu (踏む) means 'to step.'
Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- it will become just stamping your feet.
The thing is, this idiom represents such a situation.
However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to take the first step.
二の足を踏む
何かをするのに躊躇したり、尻込みしたことはありますか？
そのようなことを、日本語で「二の足を踏む」と言います。
「ニ」は ‘two/second,’ 「足」は ‘foot,’ 「踏む」は ‘to step’ を意味します。
もし一歩目を踏み出しても、尻込みしてしまうと二歩目を踏み出すことができず、その場での足踏みとなってしまいます。
この言葉はそのような状況を表しているというわけです。
個人的には、一歩目を踏み出すことが最も大切なことだと思います。
何かをするのに躊躇したり、尻込みしたことはありますか？
そのようなことを、日本語で「二の足を踏む」と言います。
「ニ」は ‘two/second,’ 「足」は ‘foot,’ 「踏む」は ‘to step’ を意味します。
もし一歩目を踏み出しても、尻込みしてしまうと二歩目を踏み出すことができず、その場での足踏みとなってしまいます。
この言葉はそのような状況を表しているというわけです。
個人的には、一歩目を踏み出すことが最も大切なことだと思います。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 _SoySauce
- Have you ever hesitated or been reluctant to do something?
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Such an action is called "ni no ashi wo fumu" (二の足を踏む) in Japanese.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Ni (二) means 'two/second,' ashi (足) means 'foot,' and fumu (踏む) means 'to step.'
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- it will become just stamping your feet.
-
Even if you take the first step in doing something, if you are reluctant, you can't take the second step -- you will just be stamping your feet in place.
"...in place" means in one spot. For example, "walking in place" is walking without moving anywhere.
- The thing is, this idiom represents such a situation.
-
This idiom represents such a situation.
"The thing is..." is often used to present context into unclear situations.
A: "Why can't we start a fire? It's cold!"
B: "We can, but the thing is, this forest has a history of forest fires; it's too dangerous."
In this case, we already have the context (sentence 2).
- However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to take the first step.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
I agree, but recklessness can be even worse in some situations.
Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections and comments!
Yes, I think that courage and recklessness are different.
Thank you so much for the corrections and comments!
Yes, I think that courage and recklessness are different.