【No. 2287】Manaita no Koi (また板の鯉 - Someone Doomed to Their Fate)
Jan 25, 2024 18:26
The Japanese idiom manaita no koi (まな板の鯉) describes a situation where one cannot do anything and is completely at the mercy of others.
・Manaita (まな板) means "cutting board."
・Koi (鯉) means "carp."
Therefore, the literal meaning of manaita no koi is "carp on a cutting board."
If you put live carp placed on a cutting board, it will leap around.
However, the carp can easily faint by stroking its lateral line with a knife or tapping between its eyes.
The carp looks as if it has accepted its inevitable death, leading to the current meaning of this idiom.
・Manaita (まな板) means "cutting board."
・Koi (鯉) means "carp."
Therefore, the literal meaning of manaita no koi is "carp on a cutting board."
If you put live carp placed on a cutting board, it will leap around.
However, the carp can easily faint by stroking its lateral line with a knife or tapping between its eyes.
The carp looks as if it has accepted its inevitable death, leading to the current meaning of this idiom.
まな板の鯉
自分の力ではどうしようもなく、相手のなすがままになるしかない状態のことを、「まな板の鯉」と言います。
「まな板」・・・ "cutting board"
「鯉」・・・ "carp"
そのため「まな板の鯉」の文字どおりの意味は "carp on a cutting board" となります。
生きた鯉を調理しようとまな板に乗せると、暴れてしまいます。
しかし鯉は、包丁で側線を撫でたり、眉間を叩くことで、簡単に気絶するそうです。
この鯉の様子が、死を覚悟しているかのように見え、現在の意味に転じたというわけです。
自分の力ではどうしようもなく、相手のなすがままになるしかない状態のことを、「まな板の鯉」と言います。
「まな板」・・・ "cutting board"
「鯉」・・・ "carp"
そのため「まな板の鯉」の文字どおりの意味は "carp on a cutting board" となります。
生きた鯉を調理しようとまな板に乗せると、暴れてしまいます。
しかし鯉は、包丁で側線を撫でたり、眉間を叩くことで、簡単に気絶するそうです。
この鯉の様子が、死を覚悟しているかのように見え、現在の意味に転じたというわけです。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 O-Star
- Manaita no Koi (また板の鯉 - Someone Doomed to Their Fate)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- The Japanese idiom 'manaita no koi' (まな板の鯉) describes a situation where one cannot do anything and is completely at the mercy of others.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- ・'Manaita' (まな板) means "cutting board."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- ・'Koi' (鯉) means "carp."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Therefore, the literal meaning of 'manaita no koi' is "carp on a cutting board."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- If you put live carp placed on a cutting board, it will leap around.
- If you place/put live carp placed on a cutting board, it will leap around.
- However, the carp can easily faint by stroking its lateral line with a knife or tapping between its eyes.
- However, the carp can easily faint if you stroke its lateral line with a knife or tapping between its eyes.
- The carp looks as if it has accepted its inevitable death, leading to the current meaning of this idiom.
- It looks as if it has accepted its inevitable death, leading to the current meaning of this idiom.
Toru
Thank you for the corrections!
Thank you for the corrections!
O-Star
You're welcome!
You're welcome!