How to Read “Melons have claws, claws have no claws”
Uri ni tsume ari tsume ni tsume nashi
Meaning of “Melons have claws, claws have no claws”
“Melons have claws, claws have no claws” means that even similar things have differences if you observe them carefully. Two things that look the same at first glance will always show differences when you look closely.
This proverb warns against judging things superficially. It teaches the importance of careful observation rather than deciding things are “the same” after just a quick glance.
People use it when twins look alike but have different personalities, or when products from the same brand vary in quality.
Modern society often values efficiency and speed. But this proverb reminds us of the value of “not rushing and looking carefully.”
The ability to notice details becomes the power to see the true nature of things.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, the structure of the words reveals interesting observations.
“Uri” refers to plants in the gourd family, like cucumbers, melons, and watermelons. “Tsume” refers to makuwa melon, a sweet fruit.
This fruit was popular among common people during the Edo period, though it’s rarely seen today.
The proverb expresses this observation: “Gourd family melons have claw-like ridges. But makuwa melons (tsume) have no claw-like ridges.”
In times before plant classification developed, people categorized things by visual similarity. Uri and tsume looked very similar and were considered the same family.
But careful observation revealed that one had distinctive ridges while the other didn’t. This discovery likely surprised people at the time.
Things that look the same show differences when observed carefully. The charm of this proverb lies in expressing this truth through familiar foods.
It teaches that even without scientific knowledge, carefully observing daily life gives us the power to see the truth.
Interesting Facts
Makuwa melon got its name from Makuwa Village in Gifu Prefecture (now Motosu City), which was famous for producing it.
During the Edo period, it was widely enjoyed as a summer treat for common people. Until the mid-Showa period when melons became popular, it was one of Japan’s most common sweet fruits.
It’s an ancestor of modern melons and is known for its simple sweetness.
Many gourd family plants have vertical ridges or grooves on their surface. These distinctive patterns form as the fruit expands during growth.
However, makuwa melons have relatively smooth surfaces. People with sharp observation skills noticed this difference, and it became established as a proverb.
Usage Examples
- These two proposals seem similar, but “melons have claws, claws have no claws,” so we need to compare them in detail
- Even twin brothers follow “melons have claws, claws have no claws”—if you look closely, their personalities and gestures are completely different
Universal Wisdom
“Melons have claws, claws have no claws” has been passed down through generations because it contains deep insight into the limits and possibilities of human perception.
We humans tend to classify similar things into the same category to make quick judgments. This was effective as a survival strategy.
However, this convenient ability also carries the danger of overlooking important differences.
This proverb shows a universal truth: the truth always lies in the details. The attitude of not being satisfied with superficial similarities and taking one more step to observe carefully.
This isn’t just being meticulous—it’s the humility to accept the richness of the world.
This wisdom applies to human relationships too. The moment we label someone as “that kind of person,” we lose sight of their individuality.
Same profession, same age, same hometown. We tend to judge people by such superficial commonalities, but each person is a unique individual.
Our ancestors tried to convey this deep truth through familiar foods like uri and tsume. Don’t rush, be careful, look closely.
This attitude is the key to understanding the world’s true nature and the first step to respecting others. No matter how times change, the value of this wisdom never fades.
When AI Hears This
The human brain can recognize “melons have claw-like protrusions” as a feature. But why does it need to verbalize the obvious fact that “claws have no claws”?
This is an interesting example of what cognitive science calls “feature asymmetry.”
When our brain recognizes an object, it lists the features that object has. When seeing a melon, it processes information like “round,” “green,” “has protrusions on surface.”
But when seeing a claw, the brain recognizes features like “hard” and “curved,” but normally doesn’t record negative features like “has no claw-like protrusions.”
If we counted things that don’t exist, the list would be infinite. Claws have no feathers, no wheels, and countless other “absent things.”
What makes this proverb interesting is that just because the sounds are similar, it verbalizes and brings to consciousness the information “claws have no claws,” which we normally wouldn’t need to recognize.
In other words, phonetic similarity in language forces the cognitive system to make comparisons that are normally unnecessary. This is a typical example of language changing how we divide up reality.
It looks like wordplay, but it actually captures the moment when “language decides what we think about.” This is language determining what we consider.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the difference between “seeing” and “observing.” In our information-filled modern society, we “see” many things, but are we really “observing” them?
Information flowing through social media, news headlines, first impressions of people. We make countless judgments instantly every day.
However, many of those judgments may be based on superficial similarities.
This proverb teaches the value of stopping to observe details. When choosing products, interacting with people, or receiving information.
The habit of taking one more step to observe will greatly improve the quality of your judgments.
This attitude is especially important in human relationships. Don’t label someone as “that type of person”—pay attention to their unique individuality.
That’s where true understanding and trust are born. Don’t rush, be careful, observe well.
It may seem time-consuming, but it’s actually the most reliable path.
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