How to Read “傷口に塩を塗る”
Kizuguchi ni shio wo nuru
Meaning of “傷口に塩を塗る”
“To wound mouth salt apply” means taking words or actions that cause even more painful feelings toward someone who is already suffering.
This proverb refers to acts that, rather than alleviating the pain when someone has already suffered emotional wounds, actually make it worse. For example, this applies to telling a friend who is depressed about a breakup about their ex-lover’s new romance, or saying words that further blame a colleague who is troubled after failing at work.
The reason for using this proverb is to emphasize the cruelty of such inconsiderate acts. Just as applying salt to a physical wound causes intense pain, it functions as an easy-to-understand metaphor for inflicting similar pain on emotional wounds.
In modern times, it is also used when someone unintentionally ends up hurting another person. This proverb teaches us the necessity of deep consideration in how we approach people in delicate situations.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “To wound mouth salt apply” is thought to have its roots in actual medical practices. Since ancient times, salt has been empirically known to have bactericidal and disinfectant effects, and has been used in treating wounds.
However, applying salt directly to wounds causes intense pain. This physical pain came to be used as a metaphor for emotional pain and suffering. Since this expression can already be found in Edo period literature, it is presumed to be a proverb that has been established for quite a long time.
What’s interesting is that despite salt originally being used for therapeutic purposes, attention focused on the pain that occurred during the process. This may represent the delicate sensibility of the Japanese people.
Also, salt has meaning as a purifier in Japanese culture. In Shinto, there is a custom of using salt to ward off impurities, and salt is also scattered on sumo rings. Such cultural background may have influenced the establishment of this proverb.
In times when medicine was not developed, people tried to heal wounds using familiar salt. Because it is an expression born from such earnest experience, it has been passed down to the present day.
Usage Examples
- Talking about the happiness of marriage when she was troubled by divorce was like “To wound mouth salt apply”
- Just when he was starting to recover, that one comment ended up being “To wound mouth salt apply”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, acts of “To wound mouth salt apply” appear in more complex and less visible forms. With the spread of social media, cases where casual posts deepen someone’s emotional wounds are increasing.
For example, posting joy about getting a job offer on the timeline of someone struggling with job hunting could unintentionally become “To wound mouth salt apply.” Also, during the COVID pandemic, bragging about luxurious living in front of people in economic hardship produces similar effects.
A characteristic of the information society is the problem that it’s difficult to see the other person’s situation. With reduced real-life interactions, it has become difficult to perceive the other person’s emotional state. Therefore, “digital age salt application” where people unconsciously hurt others is occurring frequently.
On the other hand, awareness of mental care has also increased in modern times. The importance of counseling and mental health is recognized, and appropriate ways to respond to hurt people are being researched.
This proverb has even more important meaning in modern times. In a society where diversity is valued, the circumstances and pain that each individual carries are also diversifying, requiring more delicate consideration. The empathy to think from the other person’s perspective is needed more than ever.
When AI Hears This
The antibacterial effects of salt are scientifically proven. In environments with salt concentrations of 3% or higher, most bacteria cannot survive, and washing wounds with seawater (salt concentration approximately 3.5%) can actually prevent infection. Records show that ancient Roman soldiers also treated wounds by applying salt to them on the battlefield.
What’s fascinating is that salt’s pain-causing and healing effects occur simultaneously. At the very moment salt stimulates the nerves in a wound and causes intense pain, it’s also killing bacteria and promoting healing. This means the simple equation of “pain = bad” doesn’t hold true.
This phenomenon also occurs in human relationships. For example, the act of harshly pointing out a friend’s flaws. In that moment, it may appear you’re hurting them, but it can actually become “treatment” that promotes their growth. Sports coaches putting athletes through rigorous training follows the same structure.
From a medical perspective, salt-based treatment represents a trade-off between “short-term pain” and “long-term recovery.” Modern disinfectants work similarly—alcohol-based antiseptics cause pain, but that pain itself is considered “proof that it’s working.”
The true depth of this proverb lies in teaching the importance of having the insight to recognize the “healing intent” hidden behind surface-level “cruelty.” The boundary between malice and goodwill is determined not by the act itself, but by the intention behind it and the long-term results.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us in modern times is the importance of imagination to empathize with others’ pain. Everyone lives while carrying some kind of wound, and those wounds are invisible from the outside.
What’s important is having a compassionate heart that considers the other person’s situation. Especially in modern society, even people who seem to be doing well on the surface often have deep troubles internally. Behind the glamorous life seen on social media, there may be invisible hardships.
Also, this proverb gives us opportunities to reflect on our own words and actions. Are the words we spoke with good intentions becoming “salt” for the other person? Are our well-intentioned advice actually cornering the other person? It encourages such self-questioning.
What hurt people need in most cases is not solutions, but empathy. Warm words like “That must have been difficult” and “That must have been painful” bring true healing. By keeping this proverb in mind, you should be able to become someone who heals wounds for the people around you. The kindness to understand and empathize with others’ pain may be the most needed strength in today’s era.
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