What does “kubi” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “kubi” to mean ‘neck’ in Japanese. Depending on the situation and context, they use it to mean ‘fired’ as well. In this blog post, I will explain this word and why it can also mean ‘fired’. And in addition, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “kubi” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meaning of “kubi”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kubi”.
- kubi – 首 (くび) : a noun meaning ‘neck’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. Learn more about Japanese plural.
The definition and meaning are quite simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “neck” in Japanese
kyou wa kubi ga itai – 今日は首が痛い (きょうはくびがいたい)
My neck is aching today.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “today” in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after “kyou” to put a focus on it.
- ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kubi” to make the subject word in the sentence.
- itai – 痛い (いたい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘painful’, ‘aching’, or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “kubi”. In this example, it works as the subject word in the sentence and means ‘neck’. When we want to say “neck” in Japanese, this word is a very good option.
Example #2: how to say “you are fired” in Japanese
Next, let me explain how to say “you are fired” in Japanese with “kubi”.
anata wa kubi desu – あなたは首です (あなたはくびです)
You are fired.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- anata – あなた : a pronoun meaning ‘you’ in Japanese.
- desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “kubi” to make it sound polite.
This is another typical usage of “kubi”. In this example, it works as a metaphor and means ‘fired’ in Japanese. This example sentence is a kind of idiomatic expression meaning ‘you are fired’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Or perhaps I should say, we must know the correct meaning for when we get fired in Japan.
Why can “kubi” mean ‘fired’ as well?
Naturally, the question arises: why can “kubi” – a neck in Japanese – mean ‘fired’ as well? Lastly, let me explain this point in detail.
The last example sentence literally means ‘you are a neck’ in Japanese. In reality, however, it is the Japanese idiomatic expression for ‘you are fired’. This idiomatic meaning originally came from the old Japanese execution method: beheading.
In the old society, Japanese people tended to work for one company, community, group, family, or such for their whole lives. Employers were also part of this working culture, so they very rarely fired their employees. They knew that employees once fired could not find new jobs due to this one-to-one working culture. So, firing and getting fired was a kind of something very unusual or something should never be happened. In such a culture, losing jobs directly meant losing lives, and the other way around: beheading was a way for firing. So, the idiomatic expression above makes perfect sense in the Japanese language. “You are a neck” means ‘your neck has been cut already’.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kubi” and how to use it through the example sentences. And in addition, I’ve explained why it can mean ‘fired’ as well. Let me summarize them as follows.
- kubi – 首 (くび) : a noun meaning ‘neck’ in Japanese. This can also work as a plural noun. Depending on the situation and context, this can also mean ‘fired’ as well. This usage originally came from the old Japanese execution method: beheading.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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