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【No. 2095】Chō yo Hana yo (蝶よ花よ - Bringing up with Affection)

Jul 17, 2023 09:55
Chō yo Hana yo

The Japanese phrase, chō yo hana yo (蝶よ花よ), can express a situation where parents raise their children with great care.

Since chō (蝶) means "butterfly," and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of chō yo hana yo is "(you are) a butterfly, a flower."

In Japan, both the terms "butterfly" and "flower" are used as metaphors for something delicate and beautiful, and they also carry the meaning of something to be cherished with great care.

As you can easily imagine, this phrase is usually used for daughters.
蝶よ花よ

親が子どもをとても大切に育てることを、「蝶よ花よ」と表現することがあります。

「蝶」は "batterfly"、「花」は "flower" を意味するので、「蝶よ花よ」の文字どおりの意味は "(you are) a butterfly, a flower" となります。

「蝶」も「花」も、可憐で美しいもののたとえとして使われる言葉であり、慈しむ対象としての意味も持つというわけです。

この言葉はご想像のとおり、女児に対して用いられることが多いです。

Corrections (3)

No. 1 Jen
  • Chō yo Hana yo (蝶よ花よ - Bringing up with Affection)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The Japanese phrase, 'chō yo hana yo' (蝶よ花よ), can express a situation where parents raise their children with great care.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In Japan, both the terms "butterfly" and "flower" are used as metaphors for something delicate and beautiful, and they also carry the meaning of something to be cherished with great care.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • As you can easily imagine, this phrase is usually used for daughters.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for checking my entry!
No. 2 O-Star
  • Chō yo Hana yo
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The Japanese phrase, 'chō yo hana yo' (蝶よ花よ), can express a situation where parents raise their children with great care.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since 'chō' (蝶) means "butterfly," and 'hana' (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of 'chō yo hana yo' is "(you are) a butterfly, a flower."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In Japan, both the terms "butterfly" and "flower" are used as metaphors for something delicate and beautiful, and they also carry the meaning of something to be cherished with great care.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • As you can easily imagine, this phrase is usually used for daughters.
  • As you can easily imagine, this phrase is typically/usually used for daughters.
Toru
Thank you for the correction!
O-Star
You're welcome!
No. 3 Amy

This is interesting. I’d never heard of it. Can you use it about お坊ちゃん boys?

Toru
Thank you for the comment!
Yes, you can use this phrase for little boys who are being cherished (お坊ちゃん)!

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