Sode wo Nurasu

May 30, 2017 08:44
In Japan, there have been a lot of expressions that use word association since ancient times.

For example, in the Heian Period people often said "sode wo nurasu" instead of "naku," which means to cry.

The literal meaning of "sode wo nurasu" is to wet your sleeve -- since people wiped tears with their sleeves, wet sleeves symbolized tears.

There is a similar expression, "sode wo siboru," the literal meaning of which is to wring your sleeve.

It implies that your sleeve gets so wet that you can wring it by hand.

Incidentally, since pillows have become commonly used, the expression "makura wo nurasu" (to wet your pillow) has also come to be used to mean to cry.
袖を濡らす

日本では古くより、連想を使った間接的な表現が多く使われます。

例えば平安時代に、人々は「泣く」ことを「袖を濡らす」と表現していました。

当時は流れた涙を袖でぬぐっていたため、袖が濡れるということは涙を流したということに等しいというわけです。

さらにひどく悲しんで泣くさまをいう表現に、「袖を絞る」というものがあります。

絞ることができるほど涙で袖が濡れてしまっていることを表しています。

ちなみに、枕の利用が一般的になってからは、「泣く」を表す慣用句として「枕を濡らす」も使われるようになりました。
No. 1 gc3195's correction
  • In Japan, there have been a lot of expressions that use word association since ancient times.
  • In Japan, since ancient times, there have been a lot of expressions that use word association.
     Word order changed to my preference.
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! :)
No. 2 haiiro's correction
  • In Japan, there have been a lot of expressions that use word association since ancient times.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • For example, in the Heian Period people often said "sode wo nurasu" instead of "naku," which means to cry.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The literal meaning of "sode wo nurasu" is to wet your sleeve -- since people wiped tears with their sleeves, wet sleeves symbolized tears.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • There is a similar expression, "sode wo siboru," the literal meaning of which is to wring your sleeve.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It implies that your sleeve gets so wet that you can wring it by hand.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Incidentally, since pillows have become commonly used, the expression "makura wo nurasu" (to wet your pillow) has also come to be used to mean to cry.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Toru
Thank you for reading my post! :)
haiiro
No thank you for the interesting post!
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