Kobu and Tankobu (「瘤」と「たんこぶ」 - Bump)

Kobu and Tankobu

In my post yesterday, I introduced the Japanese idiom 'meno ue no kobu' (目の上の瘤 meaning "a thorn in one's side"), which uses the term 'kobu' (瘤 - meaning "bump").

You can also say 'me no ue no tankobu' (目の上のたんこぶ), by using 'tankobu' (たんこぶ - meaning "bump") instead of 'kobu' (瘤).

It is thought that 'tankobu' was made by attaching the onomatopoeia 'tan' (たん), representing a hitting sound, to 'kobu'.

In fact, 'tankobu' usually refers to a bump caused by a bruise, whereas 'kobu' refers to a bump regardless of the cause.

Incidentally, the sound of 'tankobu' has a childish impression compared to 'kobu'.

「瘤」と「たんこぶ」

昨日は「瘤」を使った慣用句「目の上の瘤」を紹介しました。

この慣用句は、「瘤」の代わりに「たんこぶ」を使って、「目の上のたんこぶ」と言うこともできます。

「たんこぶ」は、「瘤」の前に、何かを叩いたときの擬音語「たん」がつけられたものであると考えられています。

実際、「瘤」は広く膨れ上がったものを表すのに対して、「たんこぶ」は打撲などでできた瘤を差すことが多いです。

また、「たんこぶ」は「瘤」と比べて、子どもっぽい印象があります。

• Kobu and Tankobu (「瘤」と「たんこぶ」 - Bump)
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Kobu and Tankobu
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• In my post yesterday, I introduced the Japanese idiom 'meno ue no kobu' (目の上の瘤 meaning "a thorn in one's side"), which uses the term 'kobu' (瘤 - meaning "bump").
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• You can also say 'me no ue no tankobu' (目の上のたんこぶ), by using 'tankobu' (たんこぶ - meaning "bump") instead of 'kobu' (瘤).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• It is thought that 'tankobu' was made by attaching the onomatopoeia 'tan' (たん), representing a hitting sound, to 'kobu'.
• It is thought that 'tankobu' was made by attaching the onomatopoeia 'tan' (たん), which representsing a hitting sound, to 'kobu'.

• In fact, 'tankobu' usually refers to a bump caused by a bruise, whereas 'kobu' refers to a bump regardless of the cause.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Incidentally, the sound of 'tankobu' has a childish impression compared to 'kobu'.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!