Hane wo Nobasu (羽を伸ばす - Letting Loose)

Aug 26, 2019 11:21
Hane wo Nobasu

Last weekend, I took an action called 'hane wo nobasu' (羽を伸ばす).

'Hane' (羽) means "wing" or "feather" and 'nobasu' (伸ばす) means "to stretch," so the literal meaning of 'hane wo nobasu' is "to stretch one's wings."

This idiom actually means that you are released from a repressed situation and let loose.

Imagine a bird stretching the wings and flying off.

The expression 'hane wo nobasu' was born by imaging such a bird flying freely.

You can translate this into English as "to let loose" or "to stretch out."
羽を伸ばす

私はこの休日、「羽を伸ばしました」。

「羽」は "wing"、「伸ばす」は "to streach" を意味するので、「羽を伸ばす」の文字どおりの意味は "to stretch one's wings" となります。

「羽を伸ばす」は、抑圧された状況下から開放されて、伸び伸びと自由に振る舞うことを意味します。

鳥が羽根を大きく伸ばし、空に羽ばたいていく様子を想像して下さい。

この慣用句は、そんな自由な鳥をイメージして生まれたというわけです。

英語では "to let loose" や "to stretch out" のように言うことができます。
No. 1　pyrpoi's correction
I agree "to let loose" is a good translation. But, you can "stretch your wings" in English as well. We use it less often, I would think. Like when you move out of your parents' house.
Toru
Thank you for the comment!
I didn't know the fact. :)

  • Hane wo Nobasu (羽を伸ばす - Letting Loose)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Last weekend, I took an action called 'hane wo nobasu' (羽を伸ばす).
  • Last weekend, I did something we call 'hane wo nobasu' (羽を伸ばす).
  • 'Hane' (羽) means "wing" or "feather" and 'nobasu' (伸ばす) means "to stretch," so the literal meaning of 'hane wo nobasu' is "to stretch one's wings."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • This idiom actually means that you are released from a repressed situation and let loose.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Imagine a bird stretching the wings and flying off.
  • Imagine a bird stretching its wings and flying off.
  • The expression 'hane wo nobasu' was born by imaging such a bird flying freely.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • You can translate this into English as "to let loose" or "to stretch out."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Very interesting post.
In English we also have the expression "To stretch/spread one's wings" but it has a slightly different meaning:

"to start to do new and interesting things that you have not done before."
Toru
Thank you for correcting my post and letting me know that!
I learned something new. :)

  • Last weekend, I took an action called 'hane wo nobasu' (羽を伸ばす).
  • Last weekend, I took a 'hane wo nobasu' (羽を伸ばす).
  • 'Hane' (羽) means "wing" or "feather" and 'nobasu' (伸ばす) means "to stretch," so the literal meaning of 'hane wo nobasu' is "to stretch one's wings."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • This idiom actually means that you are released from a repressed situation and let loose.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Imagine a bird stretching the wings and flying off.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • The expression 'hane wo nobasu' was born by imaging such a bird flying freely.
  • The expression 'hane wo nobasu' was born by imagining a bird flying freely.
  • You can translate this into English as "to let loose" or "to stretch out."
  • You can translate this into English to "let loose" or "stretch out."
Well done!
Toru
Thank you for the correction! :)
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