【No. 1312】Choromakasu (ちょろまかす - Sneaking)
Jul 22, 2018 15:37
Choromakasu
To steal something surreptitiously or to cheat on someone's money is called choromakasu (ちょろまかす) in Japanese.
There are two major theories about the etymology of this term.
One is that it was made by combining two words: choro (ちょろ), meaning to be quick, and makasu (まかす), which is short for gomakasu (ごまかす - covering up).
The other one is related to small boats used in the Edo period.
These small boats were called choro (ちょろ). Also, makasu (負かす) means to defeat something. That is to say, choromakasu could originally to imply that someone is quick enough to defeat 'choro.'
To steal something surreptitiously or to cheat on someone's money is called choromakasu (ちょろまかす) in Japanese.
There are two major theories about the etymology of this term.
One is that it was made by combining two words: choro (ちょろ), meaning to be quick, and makasu (まかす), which is short for gomakasu (ごまかす - covering up).
The other one is related to small boats used in the Edo period.
These small boats were called choro (ちょろ). Also, makasu (負かす) means to defeat something. That is to say, choromakasu could originally to imply that someone is quick enough to defeat 'choro.'
ちょろまかす
人の目をごまかして何かを盗むことや、金銭などをごまかすことを、「ちょろまかす」と言います。
この言葉の語源は、大きく2つの説があります。
一つは、「素早いさま」を表す「ちょろ」に、「ごまかす」の「まかす」を繋げて「ちょろまかす」となったというものです。
もう一つは、江戸時代に使われた小型の船に関係したものです。
この小型で速い船は「ちょろ」と呼ばれ、この「ちょろ」を「負かす」ほど早く動くという意味で「ちょろまかす」というわけです。
人の目をごまかして何かを盗むことや、金銭などをごまかすことを、「ちょろまかす」と言います。
この言葉の語源は、大きく2つの説があります。
一つは、「素早いさま」を表す「ちょろ」に、「ごまかす」の「まかす」を繋げて「ちょろまかす」となったというものです。
もう一つは、江戸時代に使われた小型の船に関係したものです。
この小型で速い船は「ちょろ」と呼ばれ、この「ちょろ」を「負かす」ほど早く動くという意味で「ちょろまかす」というわけです。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 David
- To steal something surreptitiously or to cheat on someone's money is called 'choromakasu' (ちょろまかす) in Japanese.
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To steal something surreptitiously or to cheat on someone's money is called 'choromakasu' (ちょろまかす) in Japanese.
Your sentence is fine but a bit puzzling.
"To cheat on someone's money" is a little fuzzy. To cheat someone out of money?
- There are two major theories about the etymology of this term.
-
There are two major theories about the etymology of this term.
Your sentence is fine.
"Concerning" is a commonly used alternative. "About" has a more casual feeling.
- These other one is related to small boats used in the Edo period.
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The other one is related to small boats used in the Edo period.
These --> The
Toru
Thank you so much for the corrections. :)
> To cheat someone out of money?
Probably it means something like that, but the expression may be too strong.
My dictionary also says 「人のお金をごまかす」 is "to play with someone's money."
Thank you so much for the corrections. :)
> To cheat someone out of money?
Probably it means something like that, but the expression may be too strong.
My dictionary also says 「人のお金をごまかす」 is "to play with someone's money."