Happa wo Kakeru (はっぱをかける - Firing Someone up)

If you want to give someone a kick in the back, you may use strong language.

Such an act is called はっぱをかける (happa wo kakeru) in Japanese.

I think that most Japanese people will image "leaf" when they hear はっぱ (happa), but this is wrong.

"Happa" in "happa wo kakeru" means an explosive or to blow up something in a construction site.

Also, かける (kakeru) means to set something.

Therefore, the literal meaning of "happa wo kakeru" is to set off an explosive, and it implies that you use strong words like a bomb to hurry someone.

はっぱをかける

強い言葉をかけたりして誰かに気合を入れることを、「はっぱをかける」と言います。

「はっぱ」とだけ聞くと、多くの日本人は "leaf" を想像しますが、違います。

ここでの「はっぱ」は工事現場における爆薬や、爆薬を使って爆破することを意味する言葉です。

また、「かける」 "to set something" を意味します。

すなわち「はっぱをかける」とは、爆弾のような強い言葉をかけるということです。

• If you want to give someone a kick in the back, you may use strong language.
• If you want to give someone a kick in the back a wake up call, you may must use strong language.

• Such an act is called はっぱをかける (happa wo kakeru) in Japanese.
• There is a saying for this in Japanese: はっぱをかける (happa wo kakeru).

• I think that most Japanese people will image "leaf" when they hear はっぱ (happa), but this is wrong.
• I think most Japanese people would image a leaf when they hear はっぱ (happa), but they'd be wrong.

• "Happa" in "happa wo kakeru" means an explosive or to blow up something in a construction site.
• "Happa" in "happa wo kakeru" means an explosion or to blow up something at a construction site.

• Therefore, the literal meaning of "happa wo kakeru" is to set off an explosive, and it implies that you use strong words like a bomb to hurry someone.
• Therefore, the literal meaning of "happa wo kakeru" is to set off an explosive, and it implies that you must use strong words like a bomb to hurry or inspire someone.

Thanks for teaching me this phrase! I English we might say 'light a fire under someone' or 'light a fire under だれだれ'.