Chiya-hoya

Today I will talk about the Japanese term "chiya-hoya."

"Chiya-hoya" means that someone is payed attention or is treated indulgently.

This term is derived from the idiom "choyo hanayo," the literal meaning of which is "as with a butterfly or a flower," and it means that someone is pampered and spoiled.

The reason why "choyo hanayo" expresses the meaning is because both butterflies and flowers are beautiful and are nurtured carefully.

Originally, it was "hanaya choya," and it changed to "choya hanaya," finally "choyo hanayo."

As you can image, "choya hanaya" in the process of the change became "chiya hoya" for short.

ちやほや

今日は「ちやほや」という言葉を紹介します。

「ちやほや」は、相手の機嫌をとったり、甘やかしたりするさまを表します。

この言葉は、親が子どもを大切に育てることを表す「蝶よ花よ」という慣用句に由来します。

「蝶よ花よ」は、「蝶」も「花」も可憐で美しく、大事に育てられることに由来します。

もともとは「花や蝶や」だったのが「蝶や花や」、「蝶よ花よ」と変化し、この過程の「蝶や花や」が短縮されたものが「ちやほや」だとされています。