Daily Word Notebook: 'Mato wo iru' vs. 'Mato wo eru' (56)
Aki, who works at a convenience store, and her husband Kazuo, a freelance writer working from home.
This is a small notebook that re-examines the usage and nuances of 'words' through their casual conversations.
I'm Aki. I work part-time at a local convenience store. Most of my coworkers are students younger than my own children. I often feel bewildered by our conversations, but I also find them enjoyable.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back, Aki."
"Kazuo, why don't you take a break? I bought some new sweets from the store."
"That sounds good, let's have some."
With the sweet potato Mont Blanc I bought and some coffee in front of us, I started talking.
"Hey, Kazuo. It comes up sometimes, but I think 'mato wo iru' (to hit the mark) is correct, so when did 'mato wo eru' (to get the mark) start being considered correct?"
"Looking at the origin of the meaning, 'mato wo iru' is correct. Many dictionaries and official writing guidelines also state that 'iru' (to shoot/hit) is the correct one."
"I was talking about this with a part-timer today. He said that since 'eru' (to get) means 'to obtain' or 'to realize,' 'mato wo eru' started being used with the interpretation of 'obtaining the core.'"
"There is certainly that background. It's often confused with the expression 'you wo eru' (to get the point),"
"and the reality is that misuse has spread through mass media like television and newspapers, and it is becoming established as a common idiom."
"So, even though it's considered a misuse, does that mean more people are using 'mato wo eru'?"
"That's right. In formal settings, business documents, or conversations with superiors, it's appropriate to use 'mato wo iru.' However, if someone else uses 'mato wo eru,' the meaning is still understood, so it's fine to just accept it."
"So it's one of those expressions in the middle of changing in the Japanese language. It's kind of scary. The day might come when 'mato wo eru' is also considered correct."
#DailyWordNotebook
#MatoWoIru
#MatoWoEru