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【No. 2139】Hana wa Oritashi Kozue wa Takashi (花は折りたし梢は高し - So Near and yet So Far)

Aug 30, 2023 13:04
Hana wa Oritashi Kozue wa Takashi

The Japanese phrase, hana wa oritashi kozue wa takashi (花は折りたし梢は高し), can describe a situation where you want something but have no way to get it or things are not going your way.

Since hana (花) means "flower," ori/oru (折り/折る) means "to break," tashi/tai (たし/たい) means "want," kozue (梢) means "treetop," and takashi/takai (高し/高い) means "high," the literal meaning of this phrase is "want to break (a branch with) a flower, but the treetop is high."

It means you want to break and pick the branch with a flower, but the treetop is too high to reach.

This phrase carries a similar meaning to takane no hana (高嶺の花 - meaning "out of one's league"), which was introduced yesterday.
花は折りたし梢は高し

欲しいけれど手に入れる方法がないことや、思うようにいかないことを、「花は折りたし梢は高し」と言うことができます。

「花」は "flower"、「折り/折る」は "to break"、「たし/たい」は "want"、「梢」は "treetop"、「高し/高い」は "hight" を意味するので、「花は折りたし梢は高し」の文字どおりの意味は "want to break (a branch with) a flower, but the treetop is high" となります。

花の咲いている枝をとりたいけれど、梢が高くて手が届かないというわけです。

昨日紹介した、「手が届かないような魅力的な女性」を意味する「高嶺の花」と似た意味を持ちます。

Corrections (2)

No. 1 Amop567
  • The Japanese phrase, 'hana wa oritashi kozue wa takashi' (花は折りたし梢は高し), can describe a situation where you want something but have no way to get it or things are not going your way.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since 'hana' (花) means "flower," 'ori/oru' (折り/折る) means "to break," 'tashi/tai' (たし/たい) means "want," 'kozue' (梢) means "treetop," and 'takashi/takai' (高し/高い) means "high," the literal meaning of this phrase is "want to break (a branch with) a flower, but the treetop is high."
  • 'Hana' (花) means "flower," 'ori/oru' (折り/折る) means "to break," 'tashi/tai' (たし/たい) means "want," 'kozue' (梢) means "treetop," and 'takashi/takai' (高し/高い) means "high," making literal meaning of this phrase "want to break (a branch with) a flower, but the treetop is high."

    Easier to read. Too many words between "Since..." and "the literal meaning of this phrase is..."

  • It means you want to break and pick the branch with a flower, but the treetop is too high to reach.
  • It means you want to break and pick/break off a branch (at the top of a tree) with a flower (growing from it), but the treetop is too high to reach.

    "break off" is implied by the word "pick." Choose one or the other.

  • This phrase carries a similar meaning to 'takane no hana' (高嶺の花 - meaning "out of one's league"), which was introduced yesterday.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Informative as always.

Toru
Thank you for the corrections!
I learned something new. :)
No. 2 O-Star
  • Hana wa Oritashi Kozue wa Takashi (花を折りたし梢は高し - So Near and yet So Far)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Hana wa Oritashi Kozue wa Takashi
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The Japanese phrase, 'hana wa oritashi kozue wa takashi' (花は折りたし梢は高し), can describe a situation where you want something but have no way to get it or things are not going your way.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since 'hana' (花) means "flower," 'ori/oru' (折り/折る) means "to break," 'tashi/tai' (たし/たい) means "want," 'kozue' (梢) means "treetop," and 'takashi/takai' (高し/高い) means "high," the literal meaning of this phrase is "want to break (a branch with) a flower, but the treetop is high."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It means you want to break and pick the branch with a flower, but the treetop is too high to reach.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • This phrase carries a similar meaning to 'takane no hana' (高嶺の花 - meaning "out of one's league"), which was introduced yesterday.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for checking me entry!
O-Star
You're welcome!

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