How to Read “文はやりたし書く手は持たぬ”
Fumi wa yaritashi kaku te wa motanu
Meaning of “文はやりたし書く手は持たぬ”
This proverb expresses having the desire to write a letter but lacking the skill to write characters or the ability to express oneself in writing.
Here, “yaritashi” means “yaritashi” (to send), expressing the feeling of wanting to send a letter to someone. “Writing hand do not have” doesn’t literally mean having no hands, but rather refers to lacking the skill or ability to write characters well.
This proverb is used in situations where one has feelings or thoughts but lacks the technical skill or ability to express them appropriately. It has particularly been used in situations where someone wants to convey their feelings to someone important through a letter but is embarrassed by their poor handwriting or inability to write well. Even today, it can be used for any situation where one has feelings but their expressive ability can’t keep up. This expression contains frustration and poignancy, and expresses not just lamenting a lack of technical skill, but simultaneously the depth of one’s feelings for the other person.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is unclear, but it’s thought to have been used since the Edo period. The expression “Letter want to send but writing hand do not have” is likely deeply connected to the literacy rates and spread of writing skills of that time.
In the Edo period, letters were an important means of communication. However, writing required considerable skill and practice, and being able to write beautiful characters was also proof of one’s education. Especially for women, being able to write letters in beautiful characters was considered an important element showing one’s character.
Behind the birth of this proverb lies the difficulty of writing. Unlike today, where one can easily write on paper with a pen, it was necessary to carefully write characters using brush and ink. The situation of wanting to write a letter but not being able to write beautiful characters as desired, or not being able to express sentences well, was likely experienced by many people.
Also, the existence of the profession of ghostwriting shows us the difficulty of writing. This proverb, which expresses the difficulty of having feelings but being unable to express them in writing, has resonated with many people across the ages.
Usage Examples
- I wanted to convey my feelings to her, but it was a case of “Letter want to send but writing hand do not have,” and I ended up not being able to say anything
- I want to create presentation materials, but I’m in a state of “Letter want to send but writing hand do not have,” and the deadline is approaching
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has greatly expanded. It’s no longer just about letters, but has come to be used in all situations involving “expression through writing” such as emails, SNS, presentation materials, and project proposals.
Especially in today’s digital age, the technical hurdle of “writing” characters has significantly decreased. With smartphones and computers, anyone can create sentences in beautiful characters. However, ironically, the difficulty of “appropriately expressing what one wants to convey” may have actually increased.
On SNS, one needs to convey thoughts accurately in short sentences, and in business situations, concise and persuasive writing is required. In today’s information-overloaded world, expressive power that touches the other person’s heart has become more important. Also, while new means of expression like emojis and stamps have emerged, there are criticisms that over-reliance on them has weakened our ability to express ourselves with words.
In modern times, “Letter want to send but writing hand do not have” has come to be understood more as a problem of expressive power and communication ability rather than a technical problem. The frustration of having feelings but being unable to express them in a form that reaches the other person is probably a universal human concern that doesn’t change even as times change.
When AI Hears This
Now that AI can write text, we’re beginning to see the true meaning behind the expression “wanting to write but lacking the hand to do so.” In reality, “the hand to write” doesn’t simply refer to the technical skill of writing characters, but rather the ability to transform the thoughts within one’s heart into words that are uniquely one’s own.
ChatGPT can generate thousands of characters per second. However, when people read text written by AI, why do many feel that “something is missing”? It’s because AI lacks “experiences unique to that individual” and “emotions of that particular moment.”
For example, imagine a love letter. While anyone can feel “I love you,” whether you express that as “When I see your smile, I feel like the morning sun is rising” or write “When I’m with you, I lose track of time” depends on that person’s sensitivity and experiences. This “power to find expressions that are uniquely your own” is what true “writing hand” really means.
Interestingly, in the AI era, more people have found the “wanting to write” part growing stronger. Precisely because AI can write for us, the desire to “express things in my own words” has intensified. In other words, we could say that this proverb, along with technological progress, has come to reflect the essence of human creativity more vividly than ever before.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us modern people is the importance of conveying our feelings even if we’re not perfect. Just because our writing is poor or we lack expressive power doesn’t mean we need to give up on conveying important feelings.
Rather, sentences written clumsily but earnestly have a warmth that elaborate sentences don’t have. If your feelings for the other person are genuine, those feelings will surely be conveyed even if your writing is poor. In modern times, this is a lesson that can be applied to various situations, not just letters, but words of gratitude, feelings of apology, expressions of love, and so on.
What’s important is not giving up saying “I have no writing hand,” but having the attitude of trying to convey your feelings with all your current expressive power. If you wait for perfect expression, you might miss the time when you should convey your message. Your honest feelings are the most beautiful “letter.” If you have feelings, try expressing them without fear. That step will surely reach the other person’s heart.
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