Commonly Misused Japanese 4
[General Knowledge Quiz 4]
《Commonly Misused Japanese 4》
For the following "Japanese words whose meanings are often mistaken," choose the one that fits the original meaning or usage from (1) to (4).
(1) A phrase meaning "to hit the point well"
A. Matowo-eru (to obtain the target)
B. Matowo-iru (to shoot the target)
(2) Tasogareru (to twilight)
A. To decline after one's prime
B. To be lost in thought
(3) The "sawari" part
A. The beginning part of a story
B. The central part of a story
(4) Kakushin-han (conviction crime)
A. Committing an act considered wrong because one believes it is right
B. Committing a wrong act while knowing it is wrong
[General Knowledge Answers 4]
B, B, B, A
1. Matowo-iru
2. To decline after one's prime
3. The central part of a story
4. Committing an act considered wrong because one believes it is right
[General Knowledge Explanations 4]
There is a phrase "Matowo-iru" (to shoot the target) which means "to grasp the point well." In the past, the very similar phrase "Matowo-eru" (to obtain the target) was considered a misuse, but in recent years, the theory that "Matowo-eru" is not necessarily a misuse is becoming mainstream. There is a phrase "Seikoku-wo-eru," where "Seikoku" is an old word derived from Chinese meaning "archery target" or "center of the target," which figuratively means "the crux or point of a matter," and "eru" has almost the same meaning as "to grasp the point." In other words, "Seikoku-wo-eru" means "to accurately hit the center of the target -> to grasp the point well," which is almost the same meaning as "Matowo-iru." It seems that "Matowo-eru" and "Seikoku-wo-iru" were used as mixed phrases of "Matowo-iru" and "Seikoku-wo-eru," and it is thought that the phrase "Matowo-eru" was born from this.
It is said that the dictionary that first defined "Matowo-eru" as a "misuse" was the "Sanseido Kokugo Jiten." When they newly included "Matowo-eru," they apparently listed it as "a misuse of Matowo-iru." However, in recent years, this was retracted with an apology in the 7th edition.
"Tasogareru" (to twilight) means "the sun sets and it becomes dim." Figuratively, it is also used to mean "to pass one's prime in life," viewing it as the sunset of life. Sometimes people metaphorically express "tasogareru" as being lost in thought while looking at the sunset and overlapping it with a melancholy atmosphere, but this usage is originally incorrect and is not currently listed in dictionaries such as the Kojien.
"Sawari" (touch) was originally a Joruri term for a section in Gidayu-bushi that incorporates melodies from other musical pieces, referring to a prominent part of the music. Figuratively, it means the most impressive part of a piece of Japanese music, and further figuratively, it means "the point or the most interesting part of a story." Although "sawari" originally means "the central part" or "the point," it is often used in contexts that limit a certain part, such as "it's just a sawari," and the sound of the word "sawaru" is easily perceived as meaning to touch something lightly or superficially, which may lead to the association that it means "the beginning part of a story, etc."
"Kakushin-han" (conviction crime) refers to a crime or criminal committed based on political, moral, ideological, or religious beliefs, convinced that it is the right thing to do. Ideological crimes, political crimes, and state crimes fall under this category. Committing a bad act on purpose while knowing it is wrong, or a person who does so, is a "deliberate crime" (koihan), not a conviction crime in its original sense.
However, since around 1990, "kakushin-han" has been increasingly used to mean committing a bad act while knowing it is wrong. Dictionaries such as the Kojien (6th edition, 2008), Daijirin (3rd edition, 2006), Meikyo (2nd edition, 2010), Sanseido (6th edition, 2008), and Kokugo Daijiten (2nd edition, 2001) list it as a colloquial definition. However, the Iwanami Kokugo Jiten (7th edition, 2009) maintains the position that it is a complete misuse.