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March 10, 2024

Eat, Sell, Buy… Fights? In Japanese

Eat, Sell, Buy… Fights? In Japanese

In Japanese, there are a few verbs that are used idiomatically to mean "receive" or "give" with mostly negative things like fighting. Today, let’s look specifically at the verbs for “to eat” “to buy” and “to sell”.

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1. ()

  • Normally: To eat 
  • Metaphorically: to receive; to accept; to endure

While the primary meaning of ()う is "to eat," it is often used in informal or colloquial language to suggest the act of receiving or enduring something, typically with a negative connotation. For instance:

(いぬ)()わない

Literally "even a dog wouldn't eat it."

This phrase describes something of very low quality, unappealing, or worthless.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

夫婦喧嘩(ふうふげんか)(いぬ)()わない

Vocabulary


門前払(もんぜんばら)いを()

To be turned away at the gate.

門前払(もんぜんばら)い refers to the historical practice of being refused entry at the gate before one could even meet someone, often used metaphorically to describe being turned away or rejected without consideration.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

(かれ)門前払(もんぜんばら)いを覚悟(かくご)(うえ)で、社長室(しゃちょうしつ)のドアを(たた)いた。

Vocabulary


2. ()

  • Normally: to sell
  • Metaphorically: to provoke; to instigate; to “sell” something with the expectation of receiving something in return

Here’s the most useful example:

喧嘩(けんか)()

Literally "to sell a fight."

This idiom means to pick a fight or provoke an argument with someone.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

教師(きょうし)喧嘩(けんか)()るなんて、学生(がくせい)として不適切(ふてきせつ)だ。

Vocabulary


(かれ)理由(りゆう)なく同僚(どうりょう)喧嘩(けんか)()って、(まわ)りから非難(ひなん)された。

Vocabulary

(おん)()

performing a favor to gain someone's indebtedness or gratitude; to demand gratitude

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

(かれ)上司(じょうし)(おん)()るために、休日(きゅうじつ)(はたら)いた。

Vocabulary


(こび)()

ingratiating oneself with someone else, typically for personal gain; to flatter; to butter up

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

彼女(かのじょ)昇進(しょうしん)(ねら)って上司(じょうし)(こび)()った。

Vocabulary


3. ()

  • Normally: To buy
  • Metaphorically: to accept (a challenge); take up (something)

And here’s the most useful example (the opposite of “to sell”):

喧嘩(けんか)()

Literally "to buy a fight."

This means to accept a challenge or to get involved in a fight or argument that someone else has started.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

(かれ)必要(ひつよう)もないのに、()られた喧嘩(けんか)()ってしまった。

Vocabulary


()って()

To volunteer; to undertake a challenge

The compound verb ()って()る is literally, “to buy and go out” but metaphorically conveys the action of volunteering or taking the initiative to do something that requires effort or courage, often without being asked and when others might be reluctant to do so.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

(かれ)(つま)のためなら、困難(こんなん)()って()ることをためらわない。

Vocabulary


顰蹙(ひんしゅく)()

to displease someone; to make someone disgusted; to be frowned at

EXAMPLE SENTENCE

遅刻(ちこく)を繰り(かえ)すと、上司(じょうし)から顰蹙(ひんしゅく)()うことになる。

Vocabulary

And finally, a word of wisdom:

()られた喧嘩(けんか)()うな。

Vocabulary

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