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【No. 1825】Me no Ue no Kobu (目の上の瘤 - A Thorn in One’s Side)

Apr 25, 2021 15:04
Me no Ue no Kobu

There are people and things called me no ue no kobu (目の上の瘤) in human society.

Me (目) means "eye," ue (上) means "upper," and kobu (瘤) means "bump," so the literal meaning of me no ue no kobu is "a bump on the upper side of one's eye."

If a bump is on the upper side of your eye, it will always in your sight and interfere with your work.

Because of this, me no ue no kobu refers to people or things that are disturbing.

In addition, since the bump in this idiom is the upper side of one's eye, it is often used for superiors, elders, and betters.
目の上の瘤

社会には、「目の上の瘤」と呼ばれる人やものが存在します。

「目」は "eye"、「上」は "upper"、「瘤」は "bump" を意味するので、「目の上の瘤」の文字どおりの意味は "a bump on the upper side of one's eye" となります。

目の上に瘤があると、いつでも視界に入り、何をするにしても邪魔になります。

このことから「目の上の瘤」は、邪魔であったり目障りである人やもののことを指します。

上側の瘤であることから、自分よりも地位が上の人に対して使われることが多いです。

また、「瘤」の代わりに「たんこぶ」とが使われることもあります。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 DanielC54
  • Me no Ue no Kobu
  • Me No Ue No Kobu

    Most words in a title in English should be capitalized (except for the article 'a')

  • There are people and things called 'me no ue no kobu' (目の上の瘤) in human society.
  • In Japanese society / culture, there are people and things called 'me no ue no kobu'. (目の上の瘤) in human society.
  • 'Me' (目) means "eye," 'ue' (上) means "upper," and 'kobu' (瘤) means "bump," so the literal meaning of 'me no ue no kobu' is "a bump on the upper side of one's eye."
  • 'Me' (目) means "eye," 'ue' (上) means "upper," and 'kobu' (瘤) means "bump". So, the literal meaning of 'me no ue no kobu' is "a bump on the upper side of one's eye."

    This was a run-on sentence, so I broke it up into two. Also, I'm not entirely sure where you're referring to. Do you mean that the bump is on their eyelid?

  • If a bump is on the upper side of your eye, it will always in your sight and interfere with your work.
  • If there is a bump is on the upper side* of your eye, it will always be in your line of sight and interfere with your work.

    *Like the above statement, I'm not entirely sure where this is referring to. So, please get back to me with you can about this bump's location (ie. on the eyelid?) and I'll fix it as soon as possible. :)

  • Because of this, 'me no ue no kobu' refers to people or things that are disturbing.
  • Because of this, For this reason, 'me no ue no kobu' refers to people or things that are disturbing.

    *I was taught in school to never write a sentence with the word 'because' (although it's perfectly fine in spoken English).

  • In addition, since the bump in this idiom is the upper side of one's eye, it is often used for superiors, elders, and betters.
  • In addition, since the bump in this idiom is referring to the upper side* of one's eye, it is often used for superiors and elders.**

    *Awaiting your clarification. :)
    **I want to clarify. Does this mean that people find superiors and elders disturbing / annoying?

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