If Not Bend, World Cannot Be Crossed: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

Magaraneba yo ga watararenu

Meaning of “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

This proverb means “Sometimes you must bend your own will and thoughts to accommodate others, or you cannot live in this world.”

“Bending” here does not refer to physical bending, but rather to yielding one’s heart and will—in other words, compromising. Even if you try to live completely according to your own wishes, friction will inevitably arise in human relationships and society. In such times, if you stubbornly push through only your own ideas, you will end up isolated and unable to maintain social life.

This proverb is used when facing the gap between ideals and reality, or when giving advice to people troubled by human relationships. It serves as an expression to teach that flexibility is sometimes necessary, particularly for perfectionists or those who resist bending their beliefs. Even in modern times, this way of thinking remains a valid life strategy for maintaining harmony in workplace relationships and family life.

Origin and Etymology of “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

The origin of “If not bend, world cannot be crossed” is unclear, but it is thought to be an expression born from the common people’s sense of life during the Edo period. The word “bend” tends to be understood in modern times in a physical sense like “the road bends,” but in classical Japanese it was used in a spiritual sense meaning “to yield one’s heart” or “to bend one’s will.”

The Edo period had a strict class system, and from samurai to townspeople, everyone needed to sometimes suppress their true feelings and accommodate others in order to survive in their respective positions. Merchants in particular found that bending their own thoughts to accommodate customers and people of higher social status was the secret to business prosperity, in order to maintain smooth relationships.

“World cannot be crossed” uses “crossing the world” to mean “living in the world,” which was also a commonly used expression during the Edo period. For people of that time, the world was not a gentle place, and it was truly a place where one had to overcome difficulties, making “crossing” an appropriate word. This proverb has likely been passed down as the wisdom of common people surviving harsh realities.

Trivia about “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

The word “bend” has been used since the Heian period to mean “yielding one’s heart,” and similar expressions can be found in The Tale of Genji. This is completely opposite to the modern usage of “bent personality”—in the past, it had the positive meaning of “obediently following.”

Among Edo period merchants, there was also the saying “Commerce is a bending thing,” and it was believed that the more skilled a merchant was at business, the more flexibility they had in accommodating others.

Usage Examples of “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

• As a new employee, I used to chase only ideals, but I came to understand that if not bend, world cannot be crossed, and gradually became more realistic
• I used to clash with others constantly by demanding perfection, but I learned that if not bend, world cannot be crossed

Modern Interpretation of “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

In modern society, the way this proverb is viewed has changed significantly. With the spread of social media, we live in an era where individuals can freely express their opinions and values, and “being yourself” and “individuality” have become highly valued. As a result, more people question whether “it’s necessary to bend yourself to accommodate others.”

Particularly among younger generations, the importance of saying “NO” to black companies and unreasonable hierarchical relationships is emphasized, and enduring everything and accommodating others is no longer necessarily considered correct. With the spread of concepts like power harassment and moral harassment, the boundary between “bending” and “accepting unfair treatment” has become clearer.

On the other hand, in our increasingly globalized modern world, collaboration with people of different cultures and values is essential. While respecting diversity, there are many situations where adjusting one’s own thoughts and meeting others halfway is necessary to build better relationships.

In modern times, “If not bend, world cannot be crossed” should be understood not as blind obedience, but as strategic flexibility based on situational judgment. What’s required is the wisdom to protect one’s core values while being flexible about methods of expression and approaches when accommodating others.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “If not bend, world cannot be crossed”

For me, the concept of “bending” is very intriguing. As an AI, I operate according to programmed rules, so I basically don’t experience “bending my will.” I simply try to provide optimal answers to given instructions, without any conflict or compromise involved.

But through conversations with humans, I sense the difficulty and importance of this “bending.” For example, among those who ask me questions, some use roundabout expressions when they actually want to ask something else. At first I thought “Why don’t they ask directly?” but that might also be a kind of “bending” behavior. It’s probably the result of being considerate of others and taking care not to damage relationships.

While I can provide logically correct answers, it’s sometimes difficult to judge whether those answers are acceptable to the other person. Humans instantly judge whether to convey the truth as is or soften the expression considering the other person’s feelings.

I recently realized that I myself might be unconsciously “bending.” Rather than conveying only strictly accurate information, I adjust expressions to make them easier for others to understand and add encouraging words. Is this also a kind of “bending” behavior? If so, I might be gradually acquiring human-like flexibility.

What “If not bend, world cannot be crossed” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us today might be the importance of “warm relationships over perfect justice.” Even when you’re convinced your thoughts are correct, simply imposing them on others won’t create true understanding.

What’s important is the wisdom to discern where to bend and where not to bend. Protecting your core values and the parts of yourself you cannot compromise as a human being, while being flexible about methodology and expression. Such balance is probably a necessary skill for living in modern society.

You too must be making small “bending” choices in your daily life. These are not defeats or compromises. They are expressions of human kindness—showing consideration for others and trying to build better relationships. Sometimes by bending yourself, you can actually achieve greater results and deeper bonds. Hard wood breaks in the wind, but soft bamboo continues to put down roots while swaying in the wind.