Saba wo Yomu (Fudge the Number)

Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese word "saba wo yomu," which means "to fudge the number/count to advantage."

This phrase is often used for one's age, height, or weight.

The literal meaning of "saba wo yomu" is "to count chub mackerel," and there are several theories as the etymology.

One is that we count chub mackerel quickly and roughly because they are caught in large numbers and are perishable.

In addition, some says it comes from "魚市場読み (izana-yomi)," which means to count fish with a fast mouth at a fish market, and others say it's because we treat two piece of sashimi (sliced row fish) of chub mackerel as one piece.

By the way, to fudge the number/count to disadvantage is called "gyaku saba" (reverse chub mackerel).

サバを読む

今日は、「都合の良いように数字をごまかす」という意味の日本語である「サバを読む」を紹介します。

この言葉は、よく年齢や体のサイズ（身長、体重）に対して用いられます。

「サバを読む」の語源としては、幾つかの説があります。

一つは、サバは大量に捕れて傷みやすいので、急いでいい加減に数を数えていたという説です。

他には、小魚を早口で数える「魚市場読み（いざばよみ）」から来たという説や、刺鯖を2切重ねて1つとして扱っていたことから来たという説などがあります。

ちなみに、「都合の悪いように数字をごまかす」ことは、「逆鯖」と呼ばれます。

• The literal meaning of "saba wo yomu" is "to count chub mackerel," and there are several theories as the etymology.
• The literal meaning of "saba wo yomu" is "to count chub mackerel," and there are several theories about the etymology.

• In addition, some says it comes from "魚市場読み (izana-yomi)," which means to count fish with a fast mouth at a fish market, and others say it's because we treat two piece of sashimi (sliced row fish) of chub mackerel as one piece.
• Although, some says it comes from "魚市場読み (izana-yomi)," which means to count fish rapidly, like a fish monger, and others say it's because we treat two pieces of sashimi (sliced raw fish) of chub mackerel as one piece.