Medo (目処 - Vision)

Apr 18, 2018 19:12
When expressing a goal or a vision of something, we say "medo" (目処) in Japanese.

It is thought that "medo" comes from a kind of plants "medo-hagi" (メドハギ - Lespedeza cuneata).

In fortune-telling derived from China, diviners use a bunch of thin wooden rod or sticks (which is called "I Ching stick").

In the past, stems of "medo-hagi" (Lespedeza cuneata) were used in the fortune-telling.

Because of this, people call a bunch of the stems "medo," and the fortune-telling itself was also called "medo."

Since fortune-telling estimate the future and gave people guidance, this word has come to have the current meaning.

For example, you can say "Shigoto ni medo ga tatta" (仕事に目処が立った - I can see the goal of my work).
目処

目指すところや物事の見通しのことを、日本語で「目処(めど)」と言います。

「目処」は、植物の「メドハギ」から来ていると考えられています。

易占いでは「筮竹(ぜいちく)」と呼ばれる細い棒の束が使われますが、昔はメドハギの茎が用いられていました。

このことから、メドハギの茎の束を「めど」と言い、占い自体のことも「めど」と言ったそうです。
 
そして、占いは将来のことを判断して人に指針を与えることから、現在のような意味を持つようになりました。

例えば、「仕事に目処が立った」のように使います。
No. 1 Chloe_21's correction
  • Medo (目処 - Vision)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Since fortune-telling estimate the future and gave people guidance, this word has come to have the current meaning.
  • Since fortune-telling predicts the future and gives people guidance, this word has come to have the current meaning to this day.
Toru
Thank you so much for the correction! :)
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