Skip to content

【No. 2159】Onaji Ana no Mujina (同じ穴の狢 - Birds of a Feather)

Sep 19, 2023 12:48
Onaji Ana no Mujina

Even if people seem unrelated, they can sometimes be kindred spirits with the same nature.

In such situations, the Japanese proverb, onazi ana no mujina (同じ穴の狢), can be used.

Onaji (同じ) means "same," ana (穴) means "hole," and mujina (狢) refers to either tanuki (タヌキ - "raccoon dog") or anaguma (アナグマ - "badger"). Therefore, the literal meaning of this proverb is "badgers in the same hole."

While badgers dig holes to live in, other badgers or raccoon dogs sometimes begin to live in the same hole without permission.

This is why onazi ana no mujina came to have its current meaning.

Note that this proverb is usually used in a negative context related to bad behavior.
同じ穴の狢

一見すると関係がない者のようであっても、実は同類であることがあります。

そのようなとき、「同じ穴の狢」ということわざを使えます。

「同じ」は "same"、「穴」は "hole"、「狢」はタヌキやアナグマの別称であるため、「同じ穴の狢」の文字どおりの意味は "badgers in the same hole" となります。

アナグマは穴を掘って暮らす動物ですが、掘った穴に別のアナグマやタヌキが住み着くことがあります。

このことから、「同じ穴の狢」は「実は同類・仲間」の意味を持つようになったとされています。

多くの場合、「悪者の仲間」の意味で使われることに注意してください。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 O-Star
  • Onaji Ana no Mujina (同じ穴の狢 - Birds of a Feather)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Onaji Ana no Mujina
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Even if people seem unrelated, they can sometimes be kindred spirits with the same nature.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In such situations, the Japanese proverb, 'onazi ana no mujina' (同じ穴の狢), can be used.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • 'Onaji' (同じ) means "same," 'ana' (穴) means "hole," and 'mujina' (狢) refers to either 'tanuki' (タヌキ - "raccoon dog") or 'anaguma' (アナグマ - "badger").
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Therefore, the literal meaning of this proverb is "badgers in the same hole."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • While badgers dig holes to live in, other badgers or raccoon dogs sometimes begin to live in the same hole without permission.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • This is why 'onazi ana no mujina' came to have its current meaning.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Note that this proverb is usually used in a negative context related to bad behavior.
  • Note that this proverb is usually used in a negative context when referring to bad behavior.
Toru
Thank you for the correction!
O-Star
You're welcome.

Comments