Kani no Yokobai (蟹の横這い)

Nov 22, 2017 10:49
Since I ate a crab last night, I'd like to talk about a Japanese proverb related to "crab,"

It's "kani no yokobai" (蟹の横這い).

The "kani" (蟹/カニ) means "crab" and the "yokobai" (横這い) means "sideways movement," so the literal meaning of the combination is "sideways movement of a crab."

Although the sideways movement of a crab looks unnatural for us, it's the most appropriate way of moving for crabs.

Therefore, this proverb says that even if it looks inconvenience for others, the way might appropriate for the person himself/herself.
蟹の横這い

昨晩私は蟹を食べたので、今日は蟹に関することわざを紹介します。

それは、「蟹の横這い」です。

「蟹」は "crab," 「横這い」は "sideways movement" を意味するので、「蟹の横這い」の文字どおりの意味は "sideways movement of a crab" となります。

我々からすると蟹の横這いは不自然な移動方法に見えますが、蟹にとってはこれが自然な歩き方です。

すなわちこのことわざは、他人から見ると不自由そうでも、本人にとっては適した方法であることを意味します。
No. 1 Ming's correction
  • Since I ate a crab last night, I'd like to talk about a Japanese proverb related to "crab,"
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • It's "kani no yokobai" (蟹の横這い).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The "kani" (蟹/カニ) means "crab" and the "yokobai" (横這い) means "sideways movement," so the literal meaning of the combination is "sideways movement of a crab."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Although the sideways movement of a crab looks unnatural for us, it's the most appropriate way of moving for crabs.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Therefore, this proverb says that even if it looks inconvenience for others, the way might appropriate for the person himself/herself.
  • Therefore, this proverb says means that even if it looks seems inconvenience inconvenient for others, the way might appropriate for the person himself/herself.
     I would just replace "the person himself/herself" with "oneself."
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! (^^)
No. 2 klegrant's correction
  • Therefore, this proverb says that even if it looks inconvenience for others, the way might appropriate for the person himself/herself.
  • Therefore, this proverb says that even if the way of doing something looks inconvenient to others, it might be appropriate for the person himself/herself.
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! :)
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