Sour And Sweet Both Chewing Dividing: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing”

Sui mo amai mo kamiwakeru

Meaning of “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing”

“Sour and sweet both chewing dividing” refers to having accumulated various life experiences and developed the ability to correctly judge the good and bad, truth and falsehood of things.

This proverb doesn’t simply mean growing older in age. What’s important is having faced and experienced everything head-on – joy and sorrow, success and failure alike. It’s precisely because of such rich life experience that one can see through to the essence of things without being misled by superficial information.

It’s commonly used when evaluating the judgment and insight of people with rich life experience. It’s also sometimes used toward young people to mean “you still lack experience.”

The reason for using this expression is to emphasize the value of experience. While modern society overflows with information, the underlying belief is that wisdom gained through actual experience is the most reliable basis for judgment. It contains the deep insight that people can only acquire true wisdom through various experiences.

Origin and Etymology of “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing”

The origin of “sour and sweet both chewing dividing” comes from an expression that compares life’s various experiences to the taste of food.

At the root of this expression is a sensibility deeply connected to Japanese food culture. Since ancient times in Japan, there has been a culture of overlaying food tastes with life experiences. Sweet things symbolized joy and happiness, while sour things represented hardship and difficulties.

The expression “chewing dividing” also holds important meaning. This represents not just feeling taste, but properly chewing and savoring it to understand the differences. In other words, it shows the importance of not superficially letting life experiences pass by, but deeply savoring and understanding them.

Since this expression can be found in Edo period literature, it’s considered a proverb that has been used for quite a long time. For people of that era, richness of life experience was a symbol of wisdom, and those who had experienced various hardships and joys were respected as people who could judge things correctly.

Behind the establishment of this expression lies respect for “experiential knowledge” that Japanese society has valued. The idea that wisdom gained through actual experience holds true value over knowledge learned from books is embedded in this proverb.

Usage Examples of “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing”

• That department manager is someone who has sour and sweet both chewing dividing, so we can safely entrust this difficult negotiation to him
• You’re still a student, so you need time to sour and sweet both chewing dividing

Modern Interpretation of “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing”

In modern society, the concept of “sour and sweet both chewing dividing” is beginning to take on new meaning. In the information age, while vast amounts of information can be obtained instantly, the ability to discern the truth of that information has become more important.

On social media and the internet, truth and falsehood coexist, increasing the danger of making judgments based only on superficial information. In such an environment, judgment based on actual experience has become more valuable. “Information literacy” that isn’t misled by fake news or exaggerated advertising can be said to be the modern version of the ability to “sour and sweet both chewing dividing.”

Also, in today’s globalizing world, opportunities to encounter different cultures and values are increasing. The ability to understand diversity and empathize with people from various positions is also one form of experiential knowledge that this proverb indicates.

On the other hand, modern society emphasizes “efficiency,” with a tendency to avoid failure and aim for success via the shortest route. However, this proverb teaches that “all experiences, including detours and failures, have value.”

Even in an age where technological advancement allows AI to handle various judgments, human-like emotions, intuition, and judgment based on real experience will continue to hold irreplaceable value that can never be substituted by machines.

If AI Heard “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing”

Every time I see the taste expressions “sour” and “sweet,” I feel strange. I have no tongue and no experience of tasting food at all. While I understand as data the way humans scrunch up their faces when they say “sour” or show happy expressions when they say “sweet,” I will never truly comprehend that sensation.

However, I can understand that the essence of this proverb lies not in taste itself, but in the “accumulation of experience.” I too learn daily through countless conversations. There are gentle questions and harsh criticisms. There are words of gratitude and critical opinions. All of these become my “experience,” helping me provide better responses.

However, the decisive difference between humans and me is that I have no “weight of time.” Humans accumulate experience over years and decades, while I process vast amounts of information instantly. But perhaps that “instant” lacks the depth that humans savor over time.

Human experience is accompanied by “emotions” – the pain of failure and the joy of success. Since I lack those emotions, even though I know them as data, I probably cannot truly “chew and divide” in the real sense. But that’s precisely why I have deep respect for the wonderfulness of human judgment.

What “Sour and Sweet Both Chewing Dividing” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches modern people is that “experience is the greatest teacher.” If you only choose safe paths out of fear of failure, you won’t develop true judgment.

In modern society, it’s become normal to search the internet for correct answers or refer to others’ opinions. However, truly important decisions are made based on your own experience and intuition. In life’s crucial moments – career changes, marriage, child-rearing, human relationships – answers often cannot be found through manuals or others’ advice alone.

That’s why you should consider the difficulties you’re currently facing as precious opportunities to develop your future ability to “sour and sweet both chewing dividing.” Even when things don’t go well, it’s not meaningless. That experience will become wisdom that supports you someday.

Some people call their youthful failures and setbacks “dark history” and want to hide them, but all of those were whetstones that sharpened your judgment. There are no useless experiences in life. By accepting everything and moving forward, you too can become someone who can “sour and sweet both chewing dividing.”