Kotobajiri wo Toraeru (言葉尻をとらえる - Pouncing on Someone's Words)

Kotobajiri wo Toraeru

It is not good behavior to pick up someone's careless slip of the tongue and sarcastically criticize it.

This kind of behavior is called 'kotobajiri wo toraeru' (言葉尻をとらえる) in Japanese.

Since 'kotoba' (言葉) means "words," 'jiri/shiri' (尻) means "bottom," and 'toraeru' (とらえる) means "to catch," the literal meaning of this phrase is "to catch the bottom of someone's words."

The term 'kotobajiri' (言葉尻) means "the last part of someone's words," but it can also mean "a slip of the tongue" and "verbal gaffe," which is why this phrase is used in the above meaning.

言葉尻をとらえる

人が不注意に言い損なったところを取り上げて、とがめたり皮肉を言ったりすることは、あまり褒められた行為ではありません。

このような行為を日本語で「言葉尻をとらえる」と言います。

「言葉」は "words"、「尻」は "bottom"、「とらえる」は "to catch" を意味するので、「言葉尻をとらえる」の文字どおりの意味は "to catch the bottom of one's words" となります。

「言葉尻」は「言葉の終わりの部分」を意味する言葉ですが、「言い間違い」や「失言」の意味も持つため、上述のような意味で使われるというわけです。

以前紹介した「揚げ足を取る 」という慣用句も、同じような意味で使われます。

• Kotobajiri wo Toraeru (言葉尻をとらえる - Pouncing on Someone's Words)
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Kotobajiri wo Toraeru
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• It is not good behavior to pick up someone's careless slip of the tongue and sarcastically criticize it.
• It is not good behavior to pick up someone's careless slip of the tongue and sarcastically criticize it.

• This kind of behavior is called 'kotobajiri wo toraeru' (言葉尻をとらえる) in Japanese.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Since 'kotoba' (言葉) means "words," 'jiri/shiri' (尻) means "bottom," and 'toraeru' (とらえる) means "to catch," the literal meaning of this phrase is "to catch the bottom of someone's words."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• The term 'kotobajiri' (言葉尻) means "the last part of someone's words," but it can also mean "a slip of the tongue" and "verbal gaffe," which is why this phrase is used in the above meaning.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!