Japanese idiom - business setting

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  • JOI teachers
  • Friday, 20 January 2023

Japanese has some interesting idioms that can be used to make your spoken language sound even more impressive.

Today's idiom is great to use in a business setting.

 

Today's phrase : 足元(あしもと)を見る (みる)

 

What does that mean?

「足元(あしもと)を見る」means to find the opponent's weak point and take advantage of it.

In business, it is sometimes used when negotiating prices.

 

Japenese idiom business

 

◆ 例文 / Example sentence :

その若い人はとても世間知らずだったので、セールスマンは足元を見て高い料金を請求した。

その若(わか)い人(ひと)はとても世間(せけん)知(し)らずだったので、セールスマンは足元(あしもと)を見(み)て高(たか)い料金(りょうきん)を請求(せいきゅう)した。

As the young man was so naive,the sales person demanded a high rate taking advantage of his weakness.

 

◆ New Vocabulary

世間(せけん)知らず naive

 

◆ 語源 etymology :

The word 「足元を見る」comes from such customs as judging a traveler's feet by how dirty they are, and the dirtier they are, the more tired they are.

 

 

Good luck with your studies!

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