Hitohada Nugu (一肌脱ぐ - Giving Someone A Helping Hand)

Have you ever give assistance to someone in earnest?

Such an act is called "hitohada nugu" (一肌脱ぐ) in Japanese.

The "hito" (一) means "one," "hada" (肌) means "skin," and "nugu" (脱ぐ) means "to take off clothes/something."

In the past, Japanese people wear kimonos that have wide sleeves.

Also, when they did something in earnest, they took off one the kimono from one side of the shoulder, in order not to be disturbed by the sleeve of the kimono.

Because of this fact, "hitohada nugu" has come to be used the current meaning.

一肌脱ぐ

誰かのために、本気になって力を貸したことはありますか？

そのような行為のことを、日本語で「一肌脱ぐ」と言います。

「一」は "one," 「肌」は "skin," 「脱ぐ」は "to take off clothes" を意味します。

かつて日本人は、本気を出すときは着物の袖が邪魔にならないよう、片方の肩にかかった着物を脱いで、上半身の一方の肌を出していました。

このことから、「一肌脱ぐ」は、現在のような意味で使われるようになりました。

• Have you ever give assistance to someone in earnest?
• Have you ever given assistance to someone in earnest?

• In the past, Japanese people wear kimonos that have wide sleeves.
• In the past, Japanese people wore kimonos that had wide sleeves.

• Also, when they did something in earnest, they took off one the kimono from one side of the shoulder, in order not to be disturbed by the sleeve of the kimono.
• So when they did something in earnest, they took off one the kimono sleeves from one shoulder, in order not to be disturbed by the sleeve of the kimono.

  The sleeves got in the way so when they needed to do something practical like helping someone they removed an arm from their kimono. = example sentence

• Because of this fact, "hitohada nugu" has come to be used the current meaning.
• Because of this fact, "hitohada nugu" has come to mean helping someone.

Nice post.

In English, the expression is "to give someone the shirt off your back."