【No. 1876】Karitekita Neko (借りてきた猫 - Much Quieter than Usual)
Jun 15, 2021 22:45
Karitekita Neko
Someone who is much quieter and meeker than usual can be described as karitekita neko (借りてきた猫) in Japanese.
Since karitekita (借りてきた) means "borrowed" amd neko (猫) means "cat," the literal meaning of karitekita neko is "borrowed cat."
In the past, Japanese people often kept cats to catch mice.
However, even if you borrowed a cat from another house to catch mice, the cat would not do its job well in a strange house.
Because of this, the phrase karitekita neko came to have the above meaning.
Someone who is much quieter and meeker than usual can be described as karitekita neko (借りてきた猫) in Japanese.
Since karitekita (借りてきた) means "borrowed" amd neko (猫) means "cat," the literal meaning of karitekita neko is "borrowed cat."
In the past, Japanese people often kept cats to catch mice.
However, even if you borrowed a cat from another house to catch mice, the cat would not do its job well in a strange house.
Because of this, the phrase karitekita neko came to have the above meaning.
借りてきた猫
普段とは違って非常におとなしいさまを、「借りてきた猫」と形容することがあります。
「借りてきた」は "borrowed"、「猫」は "cat" を意味するので、「借りてきた猫」の文字どおりの意味は "borrowed cat" となります。
かつて日本では、猫はよくネズミを退治するために飼われていました。
しかし、ネズミを退治してもらうために他の家から猫を借りてきても、猫は知らない家ではうまく働いてくれません。
このことから、「借りてきた猫」は現在の意味を持つようになったというわけです。
普段とは違って非常におとなしいさまを、「借りてきた猫」と形容することがあります。
「借りてきた」は "borrowed"、「猫」は "cat" を意味するので、「借りてきた猫」の文字どおりの意味は "borrowed cat" となります。
かつて日本では、猫はよくネズミを退治するために飼われていました。
しかし、ネズミを退治してもらうために他の家から猫を借りてきても、猫は知らない家ではうまく働いてくれません。
このことから、「借りてきた猫」は現在の意味を持つようになったというわけです。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 hakuame
- Karitekita Neko (借りてきた猫 - Much Quieter than Usual)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Karitekita Neko
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Someone who is much quieter and meeker than usual can be described as 'karitekita neko' (借りてきた猫) in Japanese.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Since 'karitekita' (借りてきた) means "borrowed" amd 'neko' (猫) means "cat," the literal meaning of 'karitekita neko' is "borrowed cat."
- Since 'karitekita' (借りてきた) means "borrowed" and 'neko' (猫) means "cat," the literal meaning of 'karitekita neko' is "borrowed cat."
- In the past, Japanese people often kept cats to catch mice.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- However, even if you borrowed a cat from another house to catch mice, the cat would not do its job well in a strange house.
- However, even if you borrowed a cat from another house to catch mice, the cat would not do its job well in a strange house.
- Because of this, the phrase 'karitekita neko' came to have the above meaning.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for always correcting me! (^^)
Thank you for always correcting me! (^^)
hakuame
You are welcome! Thank you for sharing about Japanese expressions that are not usually found in textbooks!
You are welcome! Thank you for sharing about Japanese expressions that are not usually found in textbooks!