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Have you had an argument or fight (\u3051\u3093\u304b, kenka) with someone lately? After a fight, whether it\u2019s with a friend or a significant other, you often feel down.
You may think, \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to say that,\u201d or \u201cmaybe I went too far.\u201d\u00a0 But are fights really all that bad?\u00a0 In today\u2019s AIUEO blog, we would like to introduce a few Idioms \/ Proverbs that relate to the Japanese word for argument – “kenka (\u3051\u3093\u304b)”.<\/strong>
The following is an example that includes all of today\u2019s Idioms:
Woman A<\/strong>: Mrs. C is fighting with her husband again.\u00a0 She\u2019s saying that this time, they will definitely be breaking up.\u00a0 I wonder if they\u2019re going to be okay\u2026
Man B<\/strong>:\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about it.\u00a0 They\u2019re “kenka suru hodo naka ga ii, \u3051\u3093\u304b\u3059\u308b\u307b\u3069\u306a\u304b\u304c\u3044\u3044”<\/strong>\u00a0(so close, they fight), right?\u00a0 By fighting like that, the relationship grows deeper.\u00a0 As they say, “fufugenka wa inu mo kuwanai, \u592b\u5a66\u55a7\u5629\u306f\u72ac\u3082\u98df\u308f\u306a\u3044,\u00a0<\/strong>\u3075\u3046\u3075\u3052\u3093\u304b\u306f\u3044\u306c\u3082\u304f\u308f\u306a\u3044”<\/strong>\u00a0(even a dog won\u2019t eat a married couple\u2019s quarrel), so it\u2019s better to leave them alone.
Woman A<\/strong>: Well, that may be so\u2026but I hope their fight doesn\u2019t drag on and become a “ken-en no naka, \u3051\u3093\u3048\u3093\u306e\u306a\u304b”<\/strong>\u00a0(the relationship of dogs and monkeys).
Do you know a pair who often fights and even concerns those around them, but for some reason remain very close?\u00a0 Being \u201ckenka suru hodo naka ga ii, \u3051\u3093\u304b\u3059\u308b\u307b\u3069\u306a\u304b\u304c\u3044\u3044\u201d<\/strong> (so close you fight) means that since you are so close, you can express your true feelings with each other, and because of that honesty you often fight, but are also able to easily patch things up. It’s precisely because you are close that you can fight.
Next, “\u592b\u5a66\u55a7\u5629\u306f\u72ac\u3082\u98df\u308f\u306a\u3044, fufugenka wa inu mo kuwanai, \u3075\u3046\u3075\u3052\u3093\u304b\u306f\u3044\u306c\u3082\u304f\u308f\u306a\u3044”<\/strong> (even a dog won’t eat a married couple’s quarrel) which means that even a dog, which will eat anything, will not eat (=show interest in) something like a lover’s quarrel, which passes in a flash. That is, it’s a waste of time to worry about it.
A saying\/proverb with a meaning opposite to this is “\u72ac\u733f\u306e\u4ef2<\/strong>,\u00a0kenen no naka, \u3051\u3093\u3048\u3093\u306e\u306a\u304b<\/strong>” (the relationship of dogs and monkeys). This proverb means that a relationship is beyond repair, as in the one represented by dogs and monkeys.\u00a0 In Japan, dogs and monkeys are often seen as having a bad relationship.\u00a0 A famous example of \u72ac\u733f\u306e\u4ef2<\/strong> is found in Shakespeare’s famous work “Romeo and Juliet,” in which the characters’ parents were “kenen no naka<\/strong>” going generations back, and opposed the lovers’ marriage. Therefore, if there are “kenka” that deepen relationships, there are also ones that deepen contempt.
Today I introduced three idioms relating to arguments\/fights. Having a partner that you can fight with is actually quite a fortunate thing. But, don’t forget to have a considerate heart for your partner. Otherwise, you may become “ken-en no naka”<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\nIf you are interested in studying Japanese, find out more about our school by filling out the form below.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t