Uchi Benkei no Soto Jizō (内弁慶の外地蔵 - A Lion at Home and a Mouse Abroad)

Aug 24, 2021 09:27
Uchi Benkei no Soto Jizō

In yesterday's post, I introduced the term 'uchi Benkei' (内弁慶), which means a person who is bossy inside the house but quiet outside.

If you want to emphasize the change in attitude between inside and outside one's home, you can say 'uchi Benkei no soto jizō' (内弁慶の外地蔵) by adding 'soto Jizō' (外地蔵).

'Soto' (外) means "outside."

In addition, 'Jizō' (地蔵) is an abbreviation for 'Jizō Bosatsu' (地蔵菩薩), one of the most popular Buddhist bodhisattvas, and you can find their stone statues all over Japan.

Since 'Jizō' has a vast and compassionate mind, it can also be used as a synonym for a quiet or generous person.

In other words, 'soto Jizō' means a person who becomes quiet like 'Jizō'.

Note that this phrase contains an insulting nuance.
内弁慶の外地蔵

昨日は、「家の中では威張り、外に出ると大人しくなる人」を意味する「内弁慶」という言葉を紹介しました。

家の中と外での性格の変化をより強調するために、「外地蔵」を続けて「内弁慶の外地蔵」と言うこともあります。

「外」は "outside" を意味します。

また、「地蔵」は仏教における菩薩「地蔵菩薩」の略あり、地域を守る神仏として日本各地にその石像が見られます。

広大な慈悲の心を持つお地蔵様は、「大人しい人」や「寛大な人」の代名詞としても使われます。

すなわち「外地蔵」とは、家の外ではお地蔵様のように大人しくなる人、というわけです。

この表現は軽蔑的なニュアンスを含むことに注意してください。
No. 1 sundog_gen
  • Uch Benkei no Soto Jizō
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In yesterday's post, I introduced the term 'uchi Benkei' (内弁慶), which means a person who is bossy inside the house but quiet outside.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • If you want to emphasize the change in attitude between inside and outside one's home, you can say 'uchi Benkei no soto jizō' (内弁慶の外地蔵) by adding 'soto Jizō' (外地蔵).
  • If you want to emphasize the change in attitude between inside and outside one's home, you can add 'soto Jizō' (外地蔵) to that and say 'uchi Benkei no soto jizō' (内弁慶の外地蔵).
  • 'Soto' (外) means "outside."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In addition, 'Jizō' (地蔵) is an abbreviation for 'Jizō Bosatsu' (地蔵菩薩), one of the most popular Buddhist bodhisattvas, and you can find their stone statues all over Japan.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since 'Jizō' has a vast and compassionate mind, it can also be used as a synonym for a quiet or generous person.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In other words, 'soto Jizō' means a person who becomes quiet like 'Jizō'.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Note that this phrase contains an insulting nuance.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Interesting! Thanks for teaching me about this expression!

Toru
Thank you for the correction! (^^)
No. 2 hakuame
  • Uch Benkei no Soto Jizō (内弁慶の外地蔵 - A Lion at Home and a Mouse Abroad)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Uch Benkei no Soto Jizō
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In yesterday's post, I introduced the term 'uchi Benkei' (内弁慶), which means a person who is bossy inside the house but quiet outside.
  • In yesterday's post, I introduced the term 'uchi benkei' (内弁慶), which means a person who is bossy at house but quiet outside.
  • 'Soto' (外) means "outside."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In addition, 'Jizō' (地蔵) is an abbreviation for 'Jizō Bosatsu' (地蔵菩薩), one of the most popular Buddhist bodhisattvas, and you can find their stone statues all over Japan.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since 'Jizō' has a vast and compassionate mind, it can also be used as a synonym for a quiet or generous person.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In other words, 'soto Jizō' means a person who becomes quiet like 'Jizō'.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Note that this phrase contains an insulting nuance.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Does the inverse also hold true - uchi jizo soto benkei ?? I mean, if I want to say, a mouse at home but a lion outside.

Toru
Thank you for the correction! :)

> Does the inverse also hold true - uchi jizo soto benkei ?? I mean, if I want to say, a mouse at home but a lion outside.
This is an interesting point. Whereas there is a term 'soto Benkei' (外弁慶), which means a lion outside, I never heard of 'uchi Jizō' (内地蔵). However, what this means is perfectly understandable!