Idobata Kaigi (井戸端会議 - Small Talk)
Apr 24, 2021 11:33
Idobata Kaigi
I sometimes see 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議) when walking my town.
'Idobata kaigi' is a small talk or gossip session between housewives.
Since 'ido' (井戸) means "well," 'bata/hata' (端) means "side," and 'kaigi' (会議) means "meeting," the literal meaning of 'idobata kaigi' is a meeting at the well.
In the past, when there was no indoor water supply and wells were used commonly, housewives gathered at the wells to draw water and wash clothes.
Near the well, housewives often enjoyed small talk and gossip, so such talk between intervals of housework came to be referred to as 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議).
I sometimes see 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議) when walking my town.
'Idobata kaigi' is a small talk or gossip session between housewives.
Since 'ido' (井戸) means "well," 'bata/hata' (端) means "side," and 'kaigi' (会議) means "meeting," the literal meaning of 'idobata kaigi' is a meeting at the well.
In the past, when there was no indoor water supply and wells were used commonly, housewives gathered at the wells to draw water and wash clothes.
Near the well, housewives often enjoyed small talk and gossip, so such talk between intervals of housework came to be referred to as 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議).
井戸端会議
街を歩いているとたまに「井戸端会議」を見かけます。
「井戸端会議」とは、主婦同士などによる世間話やうわさ話のことです。
「井戸」は "well"、「端」は "side"、「会議」は "meeting" を意味するので、「井戸端会議」の文字どおりの意味は "a meeting at the well" となります。
かつて、水道がなく共同の井戸が使われていた頃、井戸は主婦が水くみや洗濯に集まる場となっていました。
井戸端では、よく近所の主婦たちが世間話やうわさ話に興じていたことから、そのようなおしゃべりを「井戸端会議」と呼ぶようになったというわけです。
街を歩いているとたまに「井戸端会議」を見かけます。
「井戸端会議」とは、主婦同士などによる世間話やうわさ話のことです。
「井戸」は "well"、「端」は "side"、「会議」は "meeting" を意味するので、「井戸端会議」の文字どおりの意味は "a meeting at the well" となります。
かつて、水道がなく共同の井戸が使われていた頃、井戸は主婦が水くみや洗濯に集まる場となっていました。
井戸端では、よく近所の主婦たちが世間話やうわさ話に興じていたことから、そのようなおしゃべりを「井戸端会議」と呼ぶようになったというわけです。
No. 1 kari
- I sometimes see 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議) when walking my town.
- I sometimes see 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議) when walking around my town.
- In the past, when there was no indoor water supply and wells were used commonly, housewives gathered at the wells to draw water and wash clothes.
-
In the past, when there was no indoor water supply and wells were used commonly, housewives gathered at the wells to draw water and wash clothes.
1) If you mean "many people in many places used them often" (=it was common), then "wells were commonly used"
2) If you mean "the same well was used by many people" (=in common), then "wells were used in common".
"Commonly" is OK for meaning #2, but could be confused for #1.
- Near the well, housewives often enjoyed small talk and gossip, so such talk between intervals of housework came to be referred to as 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議).
-
Housewives often enjoyed small talk and gossip near the well, so such talk between intervals of housework came to be referred to as 'idobata kaigi' (井戸端会議).
This order is more natural (start with the subject!) But the original version was OK.
This is interesting, thank you! Similar to "water cooler talk" in English-language workplaces. :)
Toru
Thank you for correcting my post and letting me know the phrase!
I learned something new. :)
> "Commonly" is OK for meaning #2, but could be confused for #1.
My Japanese post meant #2. But confusingly, it's not actually wrong what #1 means either. To make sense of both #1 and #2, how about the following sentence?
"public wells were commonly used"
Thank you for correcting my post and letting me know the phrase!
I learned something new. :)
> "Commonly" is OK for meaning #2, but could be confused for #1.
My Japanese post meant #2. But confusingly, it's not actually wrong what #1 means either. To make sense of both #1 and #2, how about the following sentence?
"public wells were commonly used"
kari
That's an excellent edit! Sometimes the hardest part is to find the right level of ambiguity, and I think that's a good choice.
That's an excellent edit! Sometimes the hardest part is to find the right level of ambiguity, and I think that's a good choice.
No. 2 blackthunder
- 'Idobata kaigi' is a small talk or gossip session between housewives.
- 'Idobata kaigi' is when housewives have small talk or gossip.
- Since 'ido' (井戸) means "well," 'bata/hata' (端) means "side," and 'kaigi' (会議) means "meeting," the literal meaning of 'idobata kaigi' is a meeting at the well.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for the correction! :)
Thank you for the correction! :)