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【No. 1481】Namahanka (生半可 - Half-Hearted)

Jan 7, 2019 10:44
Namahanka

If you want to change yourself, you must not have an attitude of namahanka (生半可).

Namahanka means that someone/something is halfway, half-hearted, or lukewarm.

In the Edo period, people who displayed a know-it-all attitude about fashion or play were called hankatsū (半可通) with contempt.

Han (半) means "half," ka (可) means "possible," and tsū (通) means "acquainted/familiar."

Later, it changed to hanka (半可) by removing tsū, then the term namahanka was made by adding nama (生), which means "immature" or "halfway."
生半可

自分自身を変えたいなら、「生半可」な気持ちで臨んではいけません。

「生半可」とは、中途半端なことや、不十分であることを表す言葉です。

江戸時代、おしゃれや遊びについて知ったかぶる人のことを、軽蔑の意味を込めて「半可通」と呼んでいました。

「半」は "half"、「可」は "possible"、「通」は "acquainted/familiar" を意味します。

この「通」が省略されて「半可」となり、「未熟」や「不十分」などの意味を持つ「生」がついて「生半可」になったというわけです。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 neal
  • Namahanka (生半可 - Half-Hearted)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Namahanka
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • If you want to change yourself, you must not have an attitude of 'namahanka' (生半可).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • 'Namahanka' means that someone/something is halfway, half-hearted, or lukewarm.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In the Edo period, people who displayed a know-it-all attitude about fashion or play were called 'hankatsū' (半可通) with contempt.
  • In the Edo period, people who displayed a know-it-all attitude about fashion or plays were called 'hankatsū' (半可通) with contempt.
  • 'Han' (半) means "half," 'ka' (可) means "possible," and 'tsū' (通) means "acquainted/familiar."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Later, it changed to 'hanka' (半可) by removing 'tsū', then the term 'namahanka' was made by adding 'nama' (生), which means "immature" or "halfway."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Well done!! :D

Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! :)

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