Jigou Jitoku (自業自得 - Having It Coming)

Jigou Jitoku

Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese idiom 'boketsu wo horu' (墓穴を掘る), which means to make a factor that ruins yourself with your own hands.

Today, I would like to talk about the four-character idiom 'jigou jitoku' (自業自得), which has a similar meaning to 'boketsu wo horu'.

'Ji' (自) means "oneself," 'gou' (業) means "deed," and 'toku' (得) means "profit."

Originally, this idiom was a Buddhist term and is usually used to mean that your good or bad deed give you what you deserve.

However, these days, this idiom is usually used to mean that you pay a price for your bad behavior.

自業自得

昨日は、自らの手で身を滅ぼす原因を作ることを意味する「墓穴を掘る」という慣用句を紹介しました。

今日は、「墓穴を掘る」と同様の意味を持つ四字熟語「自業自得」を紹介します。

「自」は "oneself"、「業」は "deed"、「得」は "profit" を意味します。

もともとこの言葉は仏教用語で、「自身が行った善悪の報いは、自分自身が受ける」ことを意味していました。

しかし現在では、悪い報いを受けることを意味する言葉として使われることがほとんどです。

• Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese idiom 'boketsu wo horu' (墓穴を掘る), which means to make a factor that ruins yourself with your own hands.
• Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese idiom 'boketsu wo horu' (墓穴を掘る), which means to create a factor with your own hands that ruins yourself.

  I don't have the right word, actually. "Create" just sounds normal.

• Today, I would like to talk about the four-character idiom 'jigou jitoku' (自業自得), which has a similar meaning to 'boketsu wo horu'.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Ji' (自) means "oneself," 'gou' (業) means "deed," and 'toku' (得) means "profit."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Originally, this idiom was a Buddhist term and is usually used to mean that your good or bad deed give you what you deserve.
• Originally, this idiom was a Buddhist term and was generally used to mean that your good or bad deed brings you what you deserve.

  OR: ... to mean that whatever you do, good or bad, is what you deserve.

• However, these days, this idiom is usually used to mean that you pay a price for your bad behavior.
• However, these days, this idiom is usually just means that you pay the price for your bad behavior.

You reap what you sow.
Good one! :)