Juu-nin to-iro
Ten people, ten colors
We are all, each and every one of us, unique individuals. We all have our likes and dislikes. We all have our own minds and our own opinions. So much is made of the Japanese being a group-oriented society that we tend to forget that they are individuals as well. Just as we have sayings that reflect our individuality, the Japanese also have such a saying.
Juu-nin to-iro means, “Ten people, ten colors.” You can think of this as, if you get ten people together they will each choose a different color. In other words, different people like different things, have different tastes, or have different opinions. This is similar to the English sayings, “To each his own” or “Different strokes for different folks.”
You can use this expression to mediate a difference in opinion that is becoming too heated. “Let's just agree to disagree.” Or, if you or someone else can't understand why someone would want something or think a certain way, you can use this to just shrug it off. “There's just no accounting for tastes.” “One man's trash is another man's treasure.”
So if you don't agree with this interpretation of this saying remember, “Juu-nin to-iro desu ne.”
Usage note: Most Japanese sayings can be turned into complete sentences just by adding “desu” to the end. To add emphasis, add “desu yo”. To ask for agreements (think, “yeah,” “right,” “you know”), add “desu ne”.
 |
© 1995-2013 NACOS International Institute. All Rights Reserved. |