【No. 1632】Tōge wo Kosu (峠を越す - Getting over the Hump)
Jun 7, 2019 14:29
Tōge wo Kosu
Three days ago, I introduced the Japanese word tōge (峠), which means 'mountain pass."
There is an idiom that uses this word -- it is tōge wo kosu (峠を越す).
Since kosu (越す) means "over," the literal meaning of tōge wo kosu is "(cross) over a mountain pass."
Of course, this idiom can be used to express its literal meaning.
In addition, since tōge implies a crisis, tōge wo kosu can also mean to get over or pass a crisis term/status/situation.
You can translate it into English as "get over the hump."
Three days ago, I introduced the Japanese word tōge (峠), which means 'mountain pass."
There is an idiom that uses this word -- it is tōge wo kosu (峠を越す).
Since kosu (越す) means "over," the literal meaning of tōge wo kosu is "(cross) over a mountain pass."
Of course, this idiom can be used to express its literal meaning.
In addition, since tōge implies a crisis, tōge wo kosu can also mean to get over or pass a crisis term/status/situation.
You can translate it into English as "get over the hump."
峠を越す
三日前、私は "mountain pass" を意味する「峠」という言葉を紹介しました。
「峠」を使った慣用句に、「峠を越す」があります。
「越す」は "over" を意味するので、「峠を越す」の文字どおりの意味は "over a mountain pass" となります。
この慣用句は、もちろん文字どおりの意味を表すこともあります。
加えて、「峠」は危険な状況を示唆することから、「峠を越す」は危険な時期や状態を乗り越えることも意味します。
英語では、"get over the hump" のように訳されます。
三日前、私は "mountain pass" を意味する「峠」という言葉を紹介しました。
「峠」を使った慣用句に、「峠を越す」があります。
「越す」は "over" を意味するので、「峠を越す」の文字どおりの意味は "over a mountain pass" となります。
この慣用句は、もちろん文字どおりの意味を表すこともあります。
加えて、「峠」は危険な状況を示唆することから、「峠を越す」は危険な時期や状態を乗り越えることも意味します。
英語では、"get over the hump" のように訳されます。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 dec
- You can translate it into English as "get over the hump."
-
You can translate it into English as "get over the hump."
"hump" also has other meanings, eg:
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/12/10-common-british-expressions-baffle-americans
It also appears in expressions of a sexual nature.
Personally, I would translate 峠を越える as "to be/get over the worst of it" (最悪のところを後にする) or something like that ("we've weathered the worst of it" by analogy with 漕ぎ着ける).
dec
You can also refer to the 峠 indirectly with the expression "it's all downhill from here," which means that the difficult part is behind you.
You can also refer to the 峠 indirectly with the expression "it's all downhill from here," which means that the difficult part is behind you.
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post and letting me know that!
I learned something new! :)
Thank you so much for correcting my post and letting me know that!
I learned something new! :)