What is "Kubi o aratte" ?
Clarise451
While reading my Ranma 1/2 manga, I happened upon this sentence: "Saotome
Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
computer, but the kanji for 'kubi' is the one for 'neck' and the phrase 'kubi o
aratte' is the only one that confuses me.)
I looked up the kanji for 'aratte' in my New Nelson, and it gave me: 'ara(u).
wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any kind
of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it means and
the origin of the idiom?
"Beyond the beyond
where the willows weep
and the whirlpools sleep
you'll find me
And the nightmare rides on"-Billy Corgan
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Darren Lo
:
: While reading my Ranma 1/2 manga, I happened upon this sentence: "Saotome
: Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
[snip]
: I looked up the kanji for 'aratte' in my New Nelson, and it gave me: 'ara(u).
: wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any kind
: of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it means and
: the origin of the idiom?
I imagine that the receiving party is supposed to wash his neck to make it
easier for the other guy to cut his head off. Isn't there something like
this in English? I can't think of it now, but...
--
Darren Lo, l...@math.wisc.edu +-----------------------------+
+----------------------------------------------+Do not meddle in the affairs |
|Mobius strip for sale... see back for details.|of recursion theory, for it |
|Klein bottle for sale... enquire within. |is subtle and quick to anger.|
+----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
Yoshiro Shibasaki
>
> While reading my Ranma 1/2 manga, I happened upon this sentence: "Saotome
> Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
> aratte' is the only one that confuses me.)
> wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any kind
> of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it means and
> the origin of the idiom?
It means literally "wash your neck and be prepared (for your head to be
chopped off)". In other words, "be resigned (to be beheaded)". It
originated from the rite of "Seppuku (harakiri)". Once the accused has
cut in to his belly, the excuter chopped his head off. So you should be
prepared for it by wshing yourself, especially neck, before excution.
Yoshi
--
Yoshiro Shibasaki, PhD
Edinburgh, Scotland
Foreign
>Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
>computer, but the kanji for 'kubi' is the one for 'neck' and the phrase
'kubi o
>aratte' is the only one that confuses me.)
>I looked up the kanji for 'aratte' in my New Nelson, and it gave me:
'ara(u).
>wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any
kind
>of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it means
and
>the origin of the idiom?
It means exactly "Wash your neck" because I will cut your neck (kill you)
with Katana (Japanese blade)..
You can hear the idiom in Jidaigeki that is a story or a TVprogram in which
there are many Samurai.
When a Samurai says "kubi o aratte matteiro",he means that he forgives you
this time but intends to kill you next time.
I'd appreciate that I could help you.
Robato Yao
>
>While reading my Ranma 1/2 manga, I happened upon this sentence: "Saotome
>Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
>computer, but the kanji for 'kubi' is the one for 'neck' and the phrase 'kubi o
>aratte' is the only one that confuses me.)
>I looked up the kanji for 'aratte' in my New Nelson, and it gave me: 'ara(u).
>wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any kind
>of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it means and
>the origin of the idiom?
For those not familiar with the story...
Sounds like that part of the Ranma manga where Ranma and Genma Saotome
(his dad) broke their promise to Ranma's mom, that Ranma would return
from China after having been raised there, to be a martial artist of
exemplary manhood. Failure to meet this vow means Ranma and Genma
must commit sepukku, and with the mother holding the raised katana
ready for the blade to fall on their necks. The poor lady just wanders
all over Japan, with a screw loose on her head from being deprived of
her son and family for much of Ranma's life, holding a katana with her
to see the fulfillment of that vow.
Instead, while in China, Ranma falls on Jyusenkyou magic pools, each
pool containing a curse that morphs the victim to a new form (of the
victim that drowned in the pool) on the touch of cold water. Now Ranma
is afflicted with a curse that turns him into a *girl* on the touch of
cold water. Now back in Japan, Mrs. Saotome drops by for a visit...
Rgds,
Chris
>
>"Beyond the beyond
>where the willows weep
>and the whirlpools sleep
>you'll find me
>And the nightmare rides on"-Billy Corgan
>ICQ-me! 12816567
>Moonie Code(1.3.13) SM:5+ F:sMo>:vZoKu:aNaUm O:d-s-o-a+h P:a :s+:w
>:f-:eGBrg:hBlBr+:cW:x :r+|-
(counting down from top 50 oxymorons...)
10. Tight slacks
9. Definite maybe
8. Pretty ugly
7. Twelve-ounce pound cake
6. Diet ice cream
5. Rap music
4. Working vacation
3. Exact estimate
2. Religious tolerance
And the NUMBER ONE top oxy-MORON
1. Microsoft Works
---From the Top 50 Oxymorons (thanks to Richard Kennedy)
Jegs123
In article <3617A4...@holyrood.ed.ac.uk>, Yoshiro Shibasaki
<yos...@holyrood.ed.ac.uk> writes:
>It means literally "wash your neck and be prepared (for your head to be
>chopped off)". In other words, "be resigned (to be beheaded)". It
>originated from the rite of "Seppuku (harakiri)". Once the accused has
>cut in to his belly, the excuter chopped his head off. So you should be
>prepared for it by wshing yourself, especially neck, before excution.
That is to avoid any post-op complications... Oh well, I was trying to make
some sense out of it...
Tony J
Prince Richard Kaminski
Hygiene is a vital element in *any* surgical operation.
Allan
Robato Yao wrote in message <6v9po0$db4$1...@brokaw.wa.com>...
>In <19981003215735...@ng20.aol.com>, clari...@aol.com
(Clarise451) writes:
>>
>>While reading my Ranma 1/2 manga, I happened upon this sentence: "Saotome
>>Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
>>computer, but the kanji for 'kubi' is the one for 'neck' and the phrase
'kubi o
>>aratte' is the only one that confuses me.)
>>I looked up the kanji for 'aratte' in my New Nelson, and it gave me:
'ara(u).
>>wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any
kind
>>of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it
means and
>>the origin of the idiom?
>
>For those not familiar with the story...
>
>Sounds like that part of the Ranma manga where Ranma and Genma Saotome
>(his dad) broke their promise to Ranma's mom, that Ranma would return
Umm, I suspect that that phrase was uttered by Ryouga. But it's been a
while...
"Wash your neck and wait??" Don't go to the doctor dirty, hmm? :-)
Still, european (english? navy) expressions like "freeze the balls off a
brass monkey"
cause others problems too. Not to be taken literally.
Allan.
Robato Yao
I think it was uttered by Mrs. Saotome, in Genma's or Ranma's
imagination, as they are prepared to commit seppuku, with Mrs. Saotome
just behind them, with her katana raised to strike. Both Genma and
Ranma are a bit hyper themselves.
Rgds.
Chris
Don Kirkman
<6vc176$13j$1...@ernie.rsvl.unisys.com>:
>Robato Yao wrote in message <6v9po0$db4$1...@brokaw.wa.com>...
>>In <19981003215735...@ng20.aol.com>, clari...@aol.com
>(Clarise451) writes:
>>>While reading my Ranma 1/2 manga, I happened upon this sentence: "Saotome
>>>Ranma, kubi o aratte matteiro!" (I don't have Japanese capabilities on my
>>>computer, but the kanji for 'kubi' is the one for 'neck' and the phrase
>'kubi o
>>>aratte' is the only one that confuses me.)
>>>I looked up the kanji for 'aratte' in my New Nelson, and it gave me:
>'ara(u).
>>>wash; inquire into, probe.' I suppose it's some kind of idiom, since any
>kind
>>>of literal translation wouldn't make sense. Does anyone know what it
>means and
>>>the origin of the idiom?
>>For those not familiar with the story...
>>Sounds like that part of the Ranma manga where Ranma and Genma Saotome
>>(his dad) broke their promise to Ranma's mom, that Ranma would return
><<SNIP>>
>Umm, I suspect that that phrase was uttered by Ryouga. But it's been a
>while...
>"Wash your neck and wait??" Don't go to the doctor dirty, hmm? :-)
>Still, european (english? navy) expressions like "freeze the balls off a
>brass monkey" cause others problems too. Not to be taken literally.
I recall reading fairly recently, but can't remember where and can't
locate the source, that a 'brass monkey' was a carriage or rack on
British navy sailing ships that held the cannon balls, and that in
intense cold the stacked balls shrank enough to make an unstable pile.
This ingenious explanation stimulates my scepticism genes, but also
seems to bear out the wisdom of your admonition not to hurry to a
literal interpretation of idioms, especially slang. ISTM the emphasis
in 'kubi wo aratte' is not on cleansing the neck but the soul.
--
Don
Allan
Don Kirkman wrote in message <361e9fc7...@news.newsguy.com>...
Close enough. The expansion/contraction of brass and iron are quite
different,
and causes the problem. I can't quite recall the whole thing, but "Brass
Monkey"
is a very odd name. It is probably a distortion.
>This ingenious explanation stimulates my scepticism genes, but also
>seems to bear out the wisdom of your admonition not to hurry to a
>literal interpretation of idioms, especially slang. ISTM the emphasis
>in 'kubi wo aratte' is not on cleansing the neck but the soul.
Getting ready for the last send-off and all that.
Allan.
Sean Holland
>I recall reading fairly recently, but can't remember where and can't
>locate the source, that a 'brass monkey' was a carriage or rack on
>British navy sailing ships that held the cannon balls, and that in
>intense cold the stacked balls shrank enough to make an unstable pile.
>
>This ingenious explanation stimulates my scepticism genes, but also
>seems to bear out the wisdom of your admonition not to hurry to a
>literal interpretation of idioms, especially slang. ISTM the emphasis
>in 'kubi wo aratte' is not on cleansing the neck but the soul.
Check Dejanews for several long threads on this in alt.usage.english. I
think it has even made it into the FAQ for that newsgroup. (The consensus
among those authorities is that the above etymology is apocryphal.)
--
Sean
Due to spam filtering, mail from hotmail or prodigy will not reach me.
Allan
Sean Holland wrote in message ...
Figures. It's such an odd phrase. But then again, sailors have been doing it
for
a while: boatswain->bosun? forecastle->fo'c'sle (I think that's how it's
written)
I'll have to have a snoop, thanks.
Not a lot to do with washing one's neck or clensing of the soul, unless one
falls off
said boat.
Allan.