【No. 2138】Takane no Hana (高嶺の花 - Out of One's League)
Aug 29, 2023 09:58
Takane no Hana
An attractive person (especially a woman) whom one cannot reach and can only admire from afar is called takane no hana (高嶺の花) in Japanese.
Since taka/takai (高/高い) means "high," ne (嶺) means "peak," and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of takane no hana is "a flower on a high peak."
Even if a beautiful flower blooming on a high peak can be admired from afar, it is not easy to go and pick it.
In other words, this idiom is a metaphor for a woman whose character and appearance are too outstanding to be approachable, just like a flower on a high peak that is difficult to reach.
An attractive person (especially a woman) whom one cannot reach and can only admire from afar is called takane no hana (高嶺の花) in Japanese.
Since taka/takai (高/高い) means "high," ne (嶺) means "peak," and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of takane no hana is "a flower on a high peak."
Even if a beautiful flower blooming on a high peak can be admired from afar, it is not easy to go and pick it.
In other words, this idiom is a metaphor for a woman whose character and appearance are too outstanding to be approachable, just like a flower on a high peak that is difficult to reach.
高嶺の花
遠くから眺めることが精一杯で、手に入れることのできない魅力的な人（特に女性）のことを、日本語で「高嶺の花」と言います。
「高」は "high"、「嶺」は "peak"、「花」は "flower" を意味するので、「高嶺の花」の文字どおりの意味は "a flower on a high peak" となります。
高嶺に咲く美しい花は、遠くから眺めることはできても、なかなか採りにいくことができません。
性格や容姿が優れ過ぎていて近寄りがたい女性を、採りに行くことが難しい高嶺に咲く花に喩えているというわけです。
遠くから眺めることが精一杯で、手に入れることのできない魅力的な人（特に女性）のことを、日本語で「高嶺の花」と言います。
「高」は "high"、「嶺」は "peak"、「花」は "flower" を意味するので、「高嶺の花」の文字どおりの意味は "a flower on a high peak" となります。
高嶺に咲く美しい花は、遠くから眺めることはできても、なかなか採りにいくことができません。
性格や容姿が優れ過ぎていて近寄りがたい女性を、採りに行くことが難しい高嶺に咲く花に喩えているというわけです。
Corrections (3)
No. 1 Edelstein1849
- Takane no Hana (高嶺の花 - Out of One's League)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Takane no Hana
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- An attractive person (especially a woman) whom one cannot reach and can only admire from afar is called 'takane no hana' (高嶺の花) in Japanese.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Since 'taka/takai' (高/高い) means "high," 'ne' (嶺) means "peak," and 'hana' (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of 'takane no hana' is "a flower on a high peak."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Even if a beautiful flower blooming on a high peak can be admired from afar, it is not easy to go and pick it.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- In other words, this idiom is a metaphor for a woman whose character and appearance are too outstanding to be approachable, just like a flower on a high peak that is difficult to reach.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
素晴らしい英語です！
Toru
Thank you for your comment! :)
Thank you for your comment! :)
No. 2 Ana
- In other words, this idiom is a metaphor for a woman whose character and appearance are too outstanding to be approachable, just like a flower on a high peak that is difficult to reach.
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In other words, this idiom is a metaphor for a woman whose character and appearance are too outstanding to be approached, just like a flower on a high peak that is difficult to reach.
I think there's a difference in nuance between "approached" and "approachable." To me, (and full disclaimer, others may feel differently) "approachable" says something about the woman's character. Perhaps she is cold or standoffish. "Approached" says less about the woman and more about the feelings of the person thinking about her.
勉強になりました。It sounds like it can be used similarly to "to be out of my league"?
Toru
Thank you for the correction and detailed explanation! I understand the nuances well. :)
> It sounds like it can be used similarly to "to be out of my league"?
Yes! In most cases, I think 'takane no hana' (高嶺の花) can be translated to "to be out of one's league" in English.
Thank you for the correction and detailed explanation! I understand the nuances well. :)
> It sounds like it can be used similarly to "to be out of my league"?
Yes! In most cases, I think 'takane no hana' (高嶺の花) can be translated to "to be out of one's league" in English.
No. 3 O-Star
- Takane no Hana (高嶺の花 - Out of One's League)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Takane no Hana
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- An attractive person (especially a woman) whom one cannot reach and can only admire from afar is called 'takane no hana' (高嶺の花) in Japanese.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Since 'taka/takai' (高/高い) means "high," 'ne' (嶺) means "peak," and 'hana' (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of 'takane no hana' is "a flower on a high peak."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Even if a beautiful flower blooming on a high peak can be admired from afar, it is not easy to go and pick it.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- In other words, this idiom is a metaphor for a woman whose character and appearance are too outstanding to be approachable, just like a flower on a high peak that is difficult to reach.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for checking my entry!
Thank you for checking my entry!
O-Star
You're welcome!
You're welcome!