Bo ni Furu

In the yesterday post, I introduced a phrase "mizu no awa," which means that efforts end in vain.

Today, I'd like to talk about the phrase "bo ni furu," which has the same meaning of "mizu no awa."

The literal meaning of "bo ni furu" is "to swing a pole," and it implies that a merchant walks around to sell goods while shouldering a carrying pole with baskets hung at both ends.

Also, such an act or a merchant was referred to as "boteburi" or "furiuri".

In Japan during the Edo period, boteburi have to sell fish and vegetables until the baskets would empty.

Furthermore, even if all goods were sold, the profits were small.

From this fact, "bo ni furu" comes to mean "efforts end in vain."

棒に振る

昨日の投稿では、「努力を無駄にする」ことを表す「水の泡」という言葉を紹介しました。

今日は、「水の泡」と同じ意味を持つ「棒に振る」という言葉を紹介します。

「棒に振る」は「商品を天秤棒で担いで売り歩く」ということを意味します。

また、その行為やそのような商人のことを「棒手振り」「振売り」等と言います。

江戸時代の日本では、棒手振りによって野菜や魚が売られていました。

棒手振りでは商品がすっかり無くなるまで売ることや、全て売れてもあまり利益が出ないことから、「努力を無駄にする」という意味に転じたそうです。

• In the yesterday post, I introduced a phrase "mizu no awa," which means that efforts end in vain.
• In the yesterday's post, I introduced the phrase "mizu no awa," which means that efforts end in vain.

• Today, I'd like to talk about the phrase "bo ni furu," which has the same meaning of "mizu no awa."
• Today, I'd like to talk about the phrase "bo ni furu," which has the same meaning as "mizu no awa."

• The literal meaning of "bo ni furu" is "to swing a pole," and it implies that a merchant walks around to sell goods while shouldering a carrying pole with baskets hung at both ends.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Also, such an act or a merchant was referred to as "boteburi" or "furiuri".
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• In Japan during the Edo period, boteburi have to sell fish and vegetables until the baskets would empty.
• In Japan during the Edo period, boteburi had to sell fish and vegetables until the baskets were empty.

• Furthermore, even if all goods were sold, the profits were small.
• Furthermore, even if all the goods were sold, the profits were small.

• From this fact, "bo ni furu" comes to mean "efforts end in vain."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Really interesting to read - thanks! :)