Q: Japanese Idiom. Hidari Uchiwa
Chuck Douglas
In a perhaps vain attempt at getting this newsgroup back on topic, I
have a question.
While reading some thing in Japanese, I came across the idiom, "hidari
uchiwa." Literally translated, it means 'left fan' and is used in
the phrase: 'hidari uchiwa de kurasu' meaning "to live in ease and
luxury."
I am interested in knowing the origin of this particular idiom. Where
did it come from? Why left fan?
I realise that idiom can't always be explained. This is probably like
'live in the lap of luxury' and ask where the lap comes from. However,
it must come from something. Can anyone shed some light on it?
--
Chuck Douglas -- chuc...@prairienet.org
"I don't pretend I have all the answers/Just the obvious ones"
--_Backbone_ by Baby Animals
Coming soon: My own Homepage. Watch this space for details!
Mark Barton
chuc...@prairienet.org writes:
>Subject: Q: Japanese Idiom. Hidari Uchiwa
>From: Chuck Douglas, chuc...@prairienet.org
>Date: 25 Dec 1995 08:45:28 GMT
>>
>In a perhaps vain attempt at getting this newsgroup back on topic, I
>have a question.
>
>While reading some thing in Japanese, I came across the idiom, "hidari
>uchiwa." Literally translated, it means 'left fan' and is used in
>the phrase: 'hidari uchiwa de kurasu' meaning "to live in ease and
>luxury."
>
>I am interested in knowing the origin of this particular idiom. Where
>did it come from? Why left fan?
>
>I realise that idiom can't always be explained. This is probably like
>'live in the lap of luxury' and ask where the lap comes from. However,
>it must come from something. Can anyone shed some light on it?
I read that it refers to a person who holds the uchiwa in the left hand
so
as to leave the right hand free for continuous eating and drinking.
Cheers,
Mark B.
Chuck Douglas
: In article <4blob8$8...@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> Chuck Douglas,
[edit of stuff I wrote]
: >While reading some thing in Japanese, I came across the idiom, "hidari
: >uchiwa." Literally translated, it means 'left fan' and is used in
: >the phrase: 'hidari uchiwa de kurasu' meaning "to live in ease and
: >luxury."
[edit of stuff I wrote]
: I read that it refers to a person who holds the uchiwa in the left hand so
: as to leave the right hand free for continuous eating and drinking.
: Cheers,
: Mark B.
I suppose that makes sense up to a point. Of course if I was leading a
life of luxury, I would probably have someone else fan me and keep both
hands free. :-)
Not that I discount what you say, but don't Japanese tend to require 2 hands
to eat? Rice bowls are almost always held in the off hand with hashi in
the other. Rice bowls are never eaten from while they remain on the table.
But you are probably right. And it is an idiom, after all. Thanks.
--
Chuck Douglas -- chuc...@prairienet.org
"I don't pretend I have all the answers/Just the obvious ones"
--_Backbone_ by Baby Animals
Homepage now available at: http://jaka.nn.com/~chuckers
dobun...@twics.com
>
> Mark Barton (mba...@icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp) wrote:
> : In article <4blob8$8...@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu> Chuck Douglas,
> [edit of stuff I wrote]
> : >While reading some thing in Japanese, I came across the idiom, "hidari
> : >uchiwa." Literally translated, it means 'left fan' and is used in
> : >the phrase: 'hidari uchiwa de kurasu' meaning "to live in ease and
> : >luxury."
> : >
> [edit of stuff I wrote]
>
> : I read that it refers to a person who holds the uchiwa in the left hand so
> : as to leave the right hand free for continuous eating and drinking.
>
> : Cheers,
> : Mark B.
>
> I suppose that makes sense up to a point. Of course if I was leading a
> life of luxury, I would probably have someone else fan me and keep both
> hands free. :-)
>
> Not that I discount what you say, but don't Japanese tend to require 2 hands
> to eat? Rice bowls are almost always held in the off hand with hashi in
> the other. Rice bowls are never eaten from while they remain on the table.
>
> But you are probably right. And it is an idiom, after all. Thanks.
>
> --
In Japan, you're NOT supposed to lift your bowl from the table with your
left hand (most Japanese are, or are forced to be, right handed) .
However, I gather that in Korea and maybe China, this is the usual way
of eating. Nevertheless, I have seen even Japanese do this, but it's not
quite the same as Douglas' comment that rice bowls are "never eaten
Gabriel Ireton
>
>In Japan, you're NOT supposed to lift your bowl from the table with your
>left hand...
Chotto-matte, ne?
If you use o-hashi with your right hand, are you explaining that it is proper table
manners to lay down your o-hashi, then pick up your rice bowl with your right hand,
transfer it to your left hand and then pick up your o-hashi again?
O-mo shiroii, desu-ne??
Chuck Douglas
: Chuck Douglas wrote:
[big edit of stuff I wrote]
:>
:> Not that I discount what you say, but don't Japanese tend to require 2 hands
:> to eat? Rice bowls are almost always held in the off hand with hashi in
:> the other. Rice bowls are never eaten from while they remain on the table.
: erm, excuse me, Chuck, have you ever been to Japan?
: In Japan, you're NOT supposed to lift your bowl from the table with your
: left hand (most Japanese are, or are forced to be, right handed) .
: However, I gather that in Korea and maybe China, this is the usual way
: of eating. Nevertheless, I have seen even Japanese do this, but it's not
: quite the same as Douglas' comment that rice bowls are "never eaten
: from while they remain on the table".
Actually, yes, I have been to Japan. I did homestay there for nearly a
year and lived with a Japanese family. I can't think of any example of
where a Japanese did NOT lift their bowls with their left hand and begin
eating from them. Nobody EVER mentioned that we weren't to lift the
bowls with our left hand. Of course, I never had any complaints in
that department because I am left handed and that is where I keep my
hashi so I HAVE to pick up the bowl with my right hand. :-)
Are you sure about this rule? I can not recall a specific instance where
a Japanese would pick up a bowl with their right hand and move it over.
Most could not because they start with their hashi in that hand before
even thinking about eating.