How to Read “A Jizo face when borrowing, an Enma face when returning”
Kariru toki no jizō-gao, kaesu toki no enma-gao
Meaning of “A Jizo face when borrowing, an Enma face when returning”
This proverb criticizes people who show a gentle, friendly attitude like Jizo Bodhisattva when borrowing money or things. But when it’s time to return them, they become grumpy and stern like Enma, the king of hell.
When people need to borrow something, they bow their heads and use polite language. They act humble and respectful. But when it’s time to pay back, they act as if they’re losing something precious.
They make sour faces or show bad attitudes. They should feel grateful and thankful when returning what they borrowed. Instead, they do the opposite. This proverb sharply points out such selfish behavior.
People use this saying to warn against such attitude changes. Today, it applies not just to borrowing money. It describes the difference between asking for favors and returning them.
This proverb teaches us the importance of consistent sincerity in human relationships.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from its components.
The proverb contrasts two Buddhist figures familiar to Japanese people. This contrast creates the proverb’s clever meaning. Jizo Bodhisattva stands by roadsides, gently watching over people.
His peaceful expression gave birth to the term “Jizo face.” People use it to describe kind and gentle facial expressions.
Enma is the frightening judge of the dead in the afterlife. His stern expression became “Enma face.” This term describes anger or displeasure.
Common people in the Edo period widely understood this contrast between the two faces.
The proverb emerged from observations about money lending relationships. People act humble and friendly when borrowing money. But their attitude completely changes when it’s time to repay.
The proverb captures this selfish behavior using two faces everyone knows. It shows the sharp observation skills of common people. Using Buddhist metaphors, it reveals human nature. This wisdom has been passed down through generations.
Interesting Facts
Jizo Bodhisattva originally came from Indian Buddhism. In Japan, people especially worship him as a protector of children. The custom of putting red bibs on roadside Jizo statues comes from parents’ hearts.
They do this to honor deceased children and pray for living children’s safety. His gentle expression became the basis for the term “Jizo face.”
Enma is the judge of hell in Buddhism. But some say he and Jizo Bodhisattva are actually the same being. According to this idea, he judges the dead as Enma during the day.
At night, he saves people as Jizo. The two faces contrasted in this proverb might actually be different sides of the same being. This is quite an ironic coincidence.
Usage Examples
- That person shows a Jizo face when borrowing, an Enma face when returning, so I’ll never lend to them again
- You should smile even when repaying debts, but with a Jizo face when borrowing, an Enma face when returning, you’ll only lose trust
Universal Wisdom
This proverb reflects a universal human weakness. It shows how people change their attitudes based on their position. Why do people act differently when borrowing versus returning?
Humans naturally prioritize their immediate self-interest. When borrowing, you need the other person’s goodwill. So you naturally act humble. But when returning, you no longer need their goodwill.
Instead, you feel the pain of losing something from your possession. This pain shows up as a bad attitude.
This psychology isn’t limited to borrowing money. People are humble when asking for help. But they forget gratitude after receiving it. Students are eager when seeking knowledge.
But they disrespect teachers after learning. This “attitude flip” can happen in any human relationship.
Our ancestors left this proverb because they understood human weakness. They also knew how difficult and precious consistent sincerity is. The proverb teaches that truly trustworthy people maintain the same attitude regardless of their position.
Because humans are weak, we must consciously try to be sincere. This effort is what matters most.
When AI Hears This
When borrowing money, the human brain processes it as “gaining 100,000 yen from zero.” When repaying, it processes it as “losing 100,000 yen you currently have.” Prospect theory experiments show something interesting.
If the joy of gaining equals 1, the pain of losing equals about 2.25. The psychological impact of the same amount differs by more than double between borrowing and returning.
What’s more interesting is the frame switching. As a borrower, you see “the favor of being helped” as a gain. But at repayment time, it switches to “money leaving my wallet” as a loss.
From the lender’s perspective, it’s the same transaction. But the reference point moves along the timeline. This makes the brain’s evaluation system work in opposite ways.
Evolutionary psychology explains this asymmetry. In hunter-gatherer times, receiving food (borrowing) directly affected survival as a gain. But giving away your food (returning) was an immediate survival risk.
Even in modern financial transactions, this primitive loss-avoidance circuit works strongly. It creates attitude changes. The gap between Jizo and Enma perfectly captures this. It shows how the brain’s reward system and loss-avoidance system activate at different times.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the value of “consistent sincerity.” In today’s social media world, people quickly notice attitude changes. Your reputation spreads fast. Being polite only when borrowing and grumpy when returning ruins more than one transaction.
It destroys your long-term credibility.
The key is maintaining the same attitude regardless of your position. Keep feeling grateful whether you’re asking for something or returning it. Think of repayment as a chance to express gratitude again for their help.
This isn’t just about manners. It’s about your character as a person. Don’t be someone who changes attitudes based on profit and loss. Be someone who stays sincere in any position.
Such people earn real trust from others. They build rich human relationships. Starting today, try smiling especially when returning things. This small habit can greatly change your life.
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