Japan is a culture that values the freshness of fish like few other cultures do. It is also a culture of honne (true feeling) and tatemae (assumed behavior). These two seemingly unconnected aspects of Japan are brought together in this week's proverb: Fish and guests stink after three days.
How? Well, basically this proverb compares fish with guests. A fish would smell pretty bad after three days because it has gone off. It's the same with guests. No, they don't stink (unless you're my little brother, who doesn't wash enough) but after three days guests are bound toget on your nerves, no matter how close a friend they might be. In other countries, the host may make it clear that they don't want the guests around anymore, but in Japan, with its honne / tatemae culture, the host will continue to be extremely welcoming while gritting their teeth.
This always reminds me of an unwritten rule we had at my boarding school in the States. The rule was never to share a room with your best friend because even the best of friendships turn sour if you have to spend so much time together.
This example isn't strictly to do with guests. So let's return to my brother who, when he's my guest, unfailingly proves the proverb to be true. Don't get me wrong. I love him very much and I'm always glad to see him when he comes to visit (which he does often) but after a couple of days, even he, I confess, can become irritating.
He rarely ever gets up before noon on his days off, he always treats himself like he's a VIP, he never washes up, and he's always watching TV. This may seem cute at first, but after a while it's annoying.
This is mostly because I work in the morning at my desk and my desk is right next to the couch which my brother uses as his bed. This means I can't turn on the light or listen to music and I have to tip-toe around him as I work and as he snoresblissfully. Then just as inspiration hits me and I get started on some work, he wakes up and asks where the cereal is.
Unfortunately no sophisticated signals to show a guest that he or she is unwanted, like serving ochazuke, works on this particular person.
So as you can see, this proverb is a warning to all guests that they shouldn't stay around too long or else their hosts are going to start thinking of another proverb we've discussed: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Q1 What does "Guests stink" mean?
A1) Guests will become irritating.
A2) Guests will become smelly.
A3) Guests will become cheerful.
正解： A1) Guests will become irritating.
Q2 When Kana is at work, her brother:
A1) Does the dishes.
A2) Makes ochazuke.
A3) Sleeps.
●英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズによる英語学習サイト。英語のニュース、よみもの、リスニングなどのコンテンツを無料で提供。無料見本紙はこちら
