A whole lot of etymology

Here are some conversation starters you can use at drinking parties or during breaks!

[Onlookers]

The term "old horse" (or "dad horse") is said to have originated from the idea that old horses are unaccustomed to humans and only cause trouble, rendering them useless. Therefore, it came to refer to people who heckle or make sarcastic remarks during a disturbance.

[Give up (or give up)]

Originally, it meant to "clarify" or "make clear" the circumstances, but it seems that the meaning of giving up after realizing it's impossible after clarifying the situation has remained.

[Meeting]

The term originates from the practice in Gagaku (Japanese court music) of coordinating the beats of wind and percussion instruments (by striking them together) before a performance.

[Studying]

Originally, it was written as "tsutome shiiru" (to force oneself to do something against one's will), and apparently meant to force oneself to do something one does not want to do.

Thank you for the meal.

The word "chisō" originally meant "to run around." In an era without refrigerators or supermarkets, people would ride horses to gather ingredients to entertain guests, and it is said that the honorifics "go" and "sama" came to be added to express gratitude when referring to them.

[To lie about one's true/false]

Because mackerel spoils easily, fishermen and fishmongers would hastily sell them without even counting them, hence the meaning of "to cheat on the numbers."

[This is bad]

One theory suggests the word originates from "yaba," meaning "prison" in the Edo period. It's said to have started when someone exclaimed "Yabai!" (meaning "This is bad!") when they were about to be caught by a guard. While it's now used to mean "amazing" or "incredible," it originally meant a life-threatening situation.

【pants】

There are several theories about the origin of the word "pants," including one that it's a corrupted form of the French word "jupon" (underskirt), and another that it comes from the onomatopoeic sound of "putting your legs into your pants" when putting them on, dating back to the Edo period. In English, they're called "pants" or "trousers," so it's a uniquely Japanese term.

[Onigiri and Onigiri]

"Onigiri" is simply a polite way of saying "rice ball," and there are no fixed rules about its shape. On the other hand, some say that "omusubi" is limited to a triangular shape, and there are differences in how it is called in eastern and western Japan, indicating that interpretations vary by region.

Words we use casually every day

I found myself nodding in agreement at some points, and was surprised to learn that there were actually some terrifying hidden meanings.

Nowadays, we live in an era where existing words are given new meanings and new words are created by fusing different words together.

Because language is constantly evolving, it might be interesting to look back at its etymology!

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