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【No. 1785】Takara no Mochigusare (宝の持ち腐れ - Better Spent Than Spared)

Mar 16, 2021 10:56
Takara no Mochigusare

I splashed out and bought a new car about a year ago.

However, COVID-19 has become pandemic since immediately after that, so I could rarely use the car.

I think that I have used my new car only about 10 times in the past year.

Such a situation can be described as takara no motigusare (宝の持ち腐れ).

Since takar (宝) means "treasure," mochi (持ち) means "have," and gusare/kusare (腐れ) means "rot," so takara no motigusare means "The treasure you have is rotting."

It implies that if one does not use something useful or talented that the one has, it will be a waste.
宝の持ち腐れ

私は約1年前、思い切って車を購入しました。

しかしその直後、新型コロナウィルスが流行したため、ほとんど外出することができませんでした。

この1年で新車に乗った回数は、10回くらいだと思います。

このような状況を、「宝の持ち腐れ」と表現することがあります。

「宝」は "treasure"、「持ち」は "have"、「腐れ」は "rot" を意味するので、「宝の持ち腐れ」は "The treasure you have is rotting" という意味になります。

役に立つものや、才能などを持っていながら、それを活用しないでいると、腐ってしまうということです。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 Amop567
  • Takara no Mochigusare (宝の持ち腐れ - Better Spent Than Spared)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • I splashed out and bought a new car about a year ago.
  • I splurged and bought a new car about a year ago.

    Suggestion. I've never heard the phrase "splash out"

  • However, COVID-19 has become pandemic since immediately after that, so I could rarely use the car.
  • However, the COVID-19 pandemic began immediately after that, so I could rarely use the car.

    tenses

  • I think that I have used my new car only about 10 times in the past year.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Such a situation can be described as 'takara no motigusare' (宝の持ち腐れ).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since 'takar' (宝) means "treasure," 'mochi' (持ち) means "have," and 'gusare/kusare' (腐れ) means "rot," so 'takara no motigusare' means "The treasure you have is rotting."
  • Since 'takara' (宝) means "treasure," 'mochi' (持ち) means "have," and 'gusare/kusare' (腐れ) means "rot," so 'takara no mochigusare' means "The treasure you have is rotting."

    You can use "since" or "so" but not both.

  • It implies that if one does not use something useful or talented that the one has, it will be a waste.
  • It implies that if one does not use something useful or a talent that they have talented that the one has, it will be a waste.

    The red part didn't make sense

Good example!

Toru
Thank you for the correction! (^^)

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