Sarushibai (猿芝居 - Stupid Trick)

Feb 3, 2018 05:26
Formerly, I introduced you to the Japanese term 猿真似 (sarumane), which means to imitate acts of others without thinking.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/63865845310158804822564330234895781584

Today I would like to talk about another Japanese term, 猿芝居 (sarushibai), which also contains the word 猿 (saru) as well as "sarumane" does.

Since 猿 (saru) means "monkey" and 芝居 (shibai) means "show" or "play," "sarushibai" originally meant a "monkey show" literally.

Later, it has come to mean a "poor show/performance," a "sucky play," and an "inept trick."

Incidentally, "sarushibai" is a little similar to the Japanese term 茶番 (chaban), which was introduced in the following my entry.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/203983428487821700505159013443589740611
猿芝居

以前私は、「考えもなくむやみに人のまねをすること」を意味する「猿真似」という言葉を紹介しました。

今日は、同じく「猿」を使った言葉「猿芝居」を紹介します。

猿は "monkey," 芝居は "show" を意味するので、もともと猿芝居は文字通り "monkey show" を意味する言葉でした。

これが後に、下手な演技をあざける言葉として使われるようになり、更に、見え透いた浅はかなたくらみを意味するようにもなりました。

この言葉は、以下のリンクで紹介している「茶番」と意味が少し似ています。
No. 1 Kiwi's correction
ahahaha, it's like the English equivalent of "Monkey see, monkey do." I have a request for a future entry: can you explain the origin of 一か八か?
Toru
Thank you for letting me know the expression! It's pleasing to the ear.

> I have a request for a future entry: can you explain the origin of 一か八か?
Thank you for the suggestion. Actually, I already talked about 一か八か in the following entry :)
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/113625984541929466656458525521577151436
No. 2 Timmy's correction
  • Today I would like to talk about another Japanese term, 猿芝居 (sarushibai), which also contains the word 猿 (saru) as well as "sarumane" does.
  • Today I would like to talk about another Japanese term, 猿芝居 (sarushibai), which also contains the word 猿 (saru) as well as "sarumane".
  • Since 猿 (saru) means "monkey" and 芝居 (shibai) means "show" or "play," "sarushibai" originally meant a "monkey show" literally.
  • Since 猿 (saru) means "monkey" and 芝居 (shibai) means "show" or "play," "sarushibai" originally literally meant "monkey show/play".
  • Incidentally, "sarushibai" is a little similar to the Japanese term 茶番 (chaban), which was introduced in the following my entry.
  • Incidentally, "sarushibai" is a little similar to the Japanese term 茶番 (chaban), which was introduced in the following entry.
Interesting! Frankly I would like to see a play where all roles are performed by monkeys)
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction!
If such a show exists, I also want to see it sometime :)

ちなみに少し前、以下のTwitterの猿芝居動画が話題になりました。
https://twitter.com/kyonodoga/status/864457591794974720/video/1
Timmy
You're welcome!

>ちなみに少し前、以下のTwitterの猿芝居動画が話題になりました。

Look at that poor sod, he didn't expect it to end like this)) Thank you for sharing the video!
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