Akinasu wa Yome ni Kuwasuna (秋茄子は嫁に食わすな - Don't Let Daughter-in-Law Eat Autumn Eggplants)

Yesterday, I introduced the etymology of "nasu" (茄子 - eggplant).

Today I'd like to talk about a Japanese proverb that uses the word, "Aaki-nasu wa yome ni kuwasuna" (秋茄子は嫁に食わすな).

The literal meaning of it is "Don't let daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants," but there are several interpretations about this.

Commonly, this proverb is often used to mean that autumn eggplants are very delicious, so it should not let hateful daughter-in-law eat them.

In addition, it's sometimes used to mean that daughter-in-law/wife blessed with a baby shouldn't eat eggplants too much because they chill the body, or since autumn eggplants have few seeds, it may become difficult to make a baby (this is a kind of superstition).

秋茄子は嫁に食わすな

昨日は「茄子（ナス）」の語源について紹介しました。

今日は、「茄子」を使った日本のことわざ「秋茄子は嫁に食わすな」を紹介します。

文字通りの意味は "Don't let daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants" ですが、さまざまな解釈があります。

一般的には、「美味しい秋茄子を憎たらしい（息子の）嫁に食べさせるのはもったいない」という嫁いびりの意味で使われることが多いです。

その他には、「茄子は体を冷やすから出産を控えた嫁が食べ過ぎないように」や、「秋茄子は種が少ないので子どもができにくくなる」などという解釈があります。

• The literal meaning of it is "Don't let daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants," but there are several interpretations about this.
• The literal meaning of it is "Don't let your/a daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants," but there are several interpretations of this.

  You could say either "your" or "a" in this diary entry. "Your daughter-in-law" sounds like giving advice to the reader. "A daughter-in-law" sounds like a generic discussion about the proverb.

• Commonly, this proverb is often used to mean that autumn eggplants are very delicious, so it should not let hateful daughter-in-law eat them.
• Commonly, this proverb is often used to mean that autumn eggplants are very delicious, so you should not let [a/your] hateful daughter-in-law eat them.

• In addition, it's sometimes used to mean that daughter-in-law/wife blessed with a baby shouldn't eat eggplants too much because they chill the body, or since autumn eggplants have few seeds, it may become difficult to make a baby (this is a kind of superstition).
• In addition, it's sometimes used to mean that a daughter-in-law/wife blessed with a baby shouldn't eat eggplants too much because they chill the body, or since autumn eggplants have few seeds, it may become difficult to make a baby (this is a kind of superstition).