Tsume ni Hi wo Tomosu (爪に火をともす - Scrimp and Scrape)

Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese proverb related to tsume (爪 - nail/claw), which has a good meaning.

Today I would like to talk about the proverb tsume ni hi wo tomosu (爪に火をともす), which has a bad meaning.

Since tsume means "nail," hi means "fire," tomosu means "to light/burn something," the literal meaning of this proverb is "to light one's nail on fire."

A person who ignites his/her nails (or oil contained in nail dirt) instead of oil or candles must be very stingy or extremely frugal.

Because of this, this proverb represents an act of a very stingy/frugal person.

However, even if you light your nails on fire, it will not be a substitute for a candle; furthermore, it will give off a terrible odor.

爪に火をともす

昨日は、爪を使った良い意味のことわざを紹介しました。

今日は、爪を使った悪い意味のことわざ「爪に火をともす」を紹介します。

「爪」は "nail," 「火」は "fire," 「ともす」は "to light/burn something" を意味するので、このことわざの文字通りの意味は "to light one's nail on fire" となります。

ろうそくや油を使わずに、爪（の垢の油）に火をともすような人は、非常にけちな人か極端な倹約家です。

このことから、このことわざは非常にけちな人、もしくは極端な倹約家の行動を表すものとなっています。

ただ、実際に爪を燃やしても、ひどい異臭がする上、ろうそくの代わりにはならないようです。

• Tsume ni Hi wo Tomosu (爪に火をともす - Scrimp and Scrape)
• Tsume ni Hi wo Tomosu (爪に火をともす - Penny Pincher)

  "Scrimp and Scrape" sounds strange to me.

• Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese proverb related to tsume (爪 - nail/claw), which has a good meaning.
• Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese proverb related to tsume (爪 - nail/claw), which has a positive meaning.

• Today I would like to talk about the proverb tsume ni hi wo tomosu (爪に火をともす), which has a bad meaning.
• Today, I would like to talk about the proverb, tsume ni hi wo tomosu (爪に火をともす), which has a negative meaning.

• Since tsume means "nail," hi means "fire," tomosu means "to light/burn something," the literal meaning of this proverb is "to light one's nail on fire."
• Since "tsume" means "nail", "hi" means "fire," and "tomosu" means "to light/burn something", the literal meaning of this proverb is "to light one's nail on fire."

• A person who ignites his/her nails (or oil contained in nail dirt) instead of oil or candles must be very stingy or extremely frugal.
• A person, who ignites his/her nails (or oil contained in nail jam) instead of oil or candles, must be very stingy or extremely frugal.

  We usually say "toenail jam" not "nail dirt". But you could say "dirt in your nails" or something similar as well.

• Because of this, this proverb represents an act of a very stingy/frugal person.
• Therefore, this proverb represents the action of a very stingy/frugal person.

• However, even if you light your nails on fire, it will not be a substitute for a candle; furthermore, it will give off a terrible odor.
• However, even if you light your nails on fire, it would not be a substitute for a candle; furthermore, it would smell horrible.