Multilingual Observation | Who Heals? Opposite Meanings of “Healing” in French and Arabic

[Words of the Heart 1]

I had a cold and could barely speak for a while, but I'm finally starting to be able to talk again.
Boy, that was a long one.

*Following my cold, I have been observing "vocalization," "cold medicine," and "pain" in a series of [Cold Trilogy] posts, which you can find here

[Cold Trilogy] Part 1: Vocal Habits

[Cold Trilogy] Part 2: Cold Medicine

[Cold Trilogy] Part 3: How to Face Pain

As I consciously rested my throat and consumed food and drinks to soothe it,
I thought that perhaps we use words like "rest" and "heal" quite casually. The term "self-care" has also become a completely integrated part of our daily lives.
However, the moment I tried to replace these words with other languages, I realized that the center of gravity of their meanings shifted.

—This time, I would like to take a peek at this word, "heal".

French: An Aesthetic of Self-Care

The expression closest to "heal" in French is "soigner".
However, when it comes to "self-care," the common way to say it is "prendre soin de soi" (to take care of oneself). Literally translated, it means "to care for oneself."
There is an air of independence and refinement there.

In France, "taking care of oneself" is neither a luxury nor an escape, but a manner and habit of a mature adult.
The phrase "Se faire du bien" (to do something good for oneself) carries an image where pleasure and responsibility coexist.
Drinking a glass of wine, wearing perfume, or getting a good night's sleep are not just impulsive pleasures, but include the nuance of self-management where one consciously chooses and performs actions that benefit oneself.
The subject of healing is always oneself.

Arabic: Peace Bestowed by God

On the other hand, in Arabic, the verb "شَفَى (shafā)," which means "to heal," is used in the context of "God heals" rather than "a person heals something."
The root of the verb "استراح (istarāḥa)," which means "to rest," carries the meaning of "repose" or "peace." This is not about physical rest, but rather about peace of mind and body, refreshment, and time spent with family and friends—a precious time for balancing one's life. The background here is that this is something special given to humans by God (who never rests), and therefore it must be cherished.
In other words, it seems that healing and rest are not things created by people, but blessings temporarily bestowed by God.

Therefore, in Arabic, "healing" is closer to an attitude of receiving rather than an action.
Lying one's tired body down on a bed is not the result of effort, but an act of faith and gratitude.
(It seems many Arabic speakers would feel a sense of discomfort with the term "self-care" often seen in Japan. Next time I meet an Arabic speaker, I'll ask them about it.)

If the language is different, the direction of "healing" also changes

Even with the same verb "to heal,"
in French, it is an active movement of organizing one's heart with one's own hands, while
in Arabic, it is closer to a passive sensation of receiving peace gently given from the outside.
It is not a matter of which is correct, but rather
a difference in how each language views the relationship between people and the world.

Do you organize yourself, or do you receive the stillness that has been given to you?
Just by changing the words, the orientation of "healing" is reversed.

Instead of asking, "Did I heal myself today?"
Could I have had the space for healing to visit me today?
Just by thinking that way, it feels like "healing" is not far away, but exists within me as well.

Finally, just a small question for you.
Did "healing" visit you today?

* Next time ↓

* Multilingual Observation Table of Contents ↓