Ashimoto o Miru (To Take Unfair Advantage of Someone)

Jan 21, 2017 14:34
Today I will talk about the Japanese idom "ashimoto o miru."

The literal meaning is "to look at feet," and it means to take unfair advantage of someone.

Former in Japan, on highway streets or lodgings, palanquin bearers and packhorse drivers observed traveler's feet.

They determined the traveler's tiredness and offered a ridiculous fee only for tired people.

Even if the fee was too expensive, the tired customer would pay it with half a heart.

From this reason, "ashimoto o miru" has become to mean "to take unfair advantage of someone."

It seems that idiom can be translated as "to find the length of someone's foot."
足元を見る

今日は「足元を見る」という慣用句を紹介します。

「足元を見る」は、相手の弱点を見つけ、そこにつけ込むことを意味します。

かつて、街道筋や宿屋において、駕籠かき(かごを担ぐ人)や馬方(馬で荷物を運ぶ人)は、旅人の足元を観察しました。

そして、旅人の疲れ具合を見抜き、疲れた客には法外な値段を提示したそうです。

客は、料金が高くても、疲れていたらその金額を支払います。

このことから、「足元を見る」は「相手の弱みにつけ込む」ことを表すようになりました。

この慣用句は、"find the length of someone's foot" (足の長さを見る)と訳すことができるようです。
No. 1 osock's correction
  • Today I will talk about the Japanese idom "ashimoto o miru."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The literal meaning is "to look at feet," and it means to take unfair advantage of someone.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Former in Japan, on highway streets or lodgings, palanquin bearers and packhorse drivers observed traveler's feet.
  • Formerly in Japan, on highway streets or lodgings, palanquin bearers and packhorse drivers observed traveler's feet.
  • They determined the traveler's tiredness and offered a ridiculous fee only for tired people.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Even if the fee was too expensive, the tired customer would pay it with half a heart.
  • Even if the fee was too expensive, the tired customer would halfheartedly pay it.
  • From this reason, "ashimoto o miru" has become to mean "to take unfair advantage of someone."
  • For this reason, "ashimoto o miru" has come to mean "to take unfair advantage of someone."
すごく良い英語ですね

勉強になりました
Toru
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
ありがとうございます。
そのように言って頂けて、嬉しいです (^^)
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