How to Read “Natto is beans and tofu is beans too”
Nattō mo mame nara tōfu mo mame
Meaning of “Natto is beans and tofu is beans too”
This proverb teaches that even things with the same origin can turn out completely different. It depends on how they’re treated, what environment they’re in, and what conditions they experience. Natto and tofu both come from soybeans, but they become totally different foods based on their processing.
People often use this saying when talking about relationships and education. Two people with the same talent can lead completely different lives. It depends on their environment and the education they receive.
The saying also applies when the same materials or starting conditions lead to different results. The difference comes from how much effort you put in and what methods you use.
This proverb shows that results don’t just depend on original qualities. What happens afterward matters just as much. The environment and how something is handled are crucial.
The potential might be the same, but the future changes based on how you nurture it. How you make use of it matters too. This familiar food comparison conveys both hope and responsibility.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first written appearance of this proverb is unclear. However, the structure of the phrase offers interesting insights. It contrasts two soybean products that represent Japanese food culture.
Natto is made by fermenting soybeans with natto bacteria. It has a distinctive stickiness and strong smell. Tofu, on the other hand, is made by boiling and grinding soybeans, then solidifying them with nigari. It’s white and soft.
Both use the same raw ingredient, soybeans. Yet their appearance, taste, and texture are completely different. By placing these contrasting foods side by side, Japanese people discovered a truth from their daily meals. The same material can become something entirely different depending on how it’s processed.
During the Edo period, both natto and tofu were common on ordinary people’s tables. Because these were familiar foods people saw every day, they noticed the differences. From these observations, they drew life lessons.
The proverb uses concrete examples that everyone can relate to. Two completely different foods born from the same material. This makes abstract concepts easy to understand.
This expression shows the wisdom of conveying ideas through everyday examples. It reflects the sharp observation skills of Japanese people. It also shows their attitude of learning from daily life.
Interesting Facts
Soybeans are called “meat from the field” because they contain high-quality protein. However, raw soybeans actually contain components harmful to humans. Only through processing like heating or fermentation do they become safe and nutritious food.
Both natto and tofu aren’t just about changing taste or texture. They represent ancestral wisdom for eating soybeans safely and deliciously.
Natto bacteria are extremely strong. Once they multiply, they don’t let other bacteria grow. Tofu-making, on the other hand, requires delicate temperature control.
These two foods made from the same soybeans have contrasting production processes. They truly embody the idea that “handling changes the nature” of things.
Usage Examples
- Even twin brothers have different personalities if they grow up in different environments. Natto is beans and tofu is beans too.
- Even among new employees, growth changes depending on their department. Natto is beans and tofu is beans too, so education is important.
Universal Wisdom
The universal truth in this proverb is about the relationship between potential and environment. Everyone is born with infinite possibilities. However, how those possibilities bloom depends greatly on later environment, experiences, and encounters.
Humans aren’t determined by their “raw materials” alone. Even people born with the same talent can turn out differently. It depends on whether they grow up in a loving environment or a harsh one.
Do they meet good teachers or receive bad influences? Do they develop habits of effort or drift into laziness? These factors intertwine in complex ways to shape each person’s life.
This proverb has been passed down because it contains deep insight into human potential. It’s also an argument against determinism.
It doesn’t say “it can’t be helped because you were born that way.” Instead, it offers hope: “you can change through how you’re raised and how you live.” At the same time, it tells educators, parents, and society about the weight of responsibility in raising people.
Both natto and tofu are wisdom for making use of soybeans as a material. Similarly, humans need the right environment and effort to bring out their maximum potential. This simple food metaphor contains the essence of understanding humanity.
When AI Hears This
The human brain uses three levels when classifying things. Superordinate category (food), basic level (natto, tofu), and subordinate category (ground natto, silken tofu). According to cognitive psychologist Eleanor Rosch’s research, humans recognize and use the basic level most quickly and frequently.
In other words, we see the world through concrete forms like “natto” and “tofu.” We don’t prioritize the logical commonality of “beans.”
What’s interesting about this proverb is that it verbalizes the cognitive priorities humans unconsciously follow. Natto and tofu are the same “beans” at the ingredient level. Yet their appearance, texture, smell, and storage methods are completely different.
The brain prioritizes this perceptual information, so it processes them as separate categories. Basic-level classification enables instant judgments directly connected to survival. To quickly distinguish rotten food from fermented food, the concrete “smell of natto” is more useful than the abstract concept of “beans.”
Logically the same, but cognitively different. This proverb captures a moment when the human brain sacrifices logic for efficiency. We don’t classify the world accurately. We classify it in ways that make life easier.
Lessons for Today
For those of us living today, this proverb is a message of hope. Even if you’re not satisfied with who you are now, you can still change. It depends on your future choices and efforts.
Especially important is the power to choose your environment. Who you spend time with, what information you consume, what habits you develop. These are things you can choose.
Even with the same natural abilities, the environment you place yourself in matters. Five years from now, ten years from now, you’ll be very different.
For those in positions to raise others, this proverb teaches the weight of responsibility. Children and subordinates can change greatly depending on how they’re handled. Their potential varies based on treatment.
Being strict isn’t always the answer. Neither is being lenient. What matters is finding the right approach for each person.
What kind of “natto” or “tofu” will you as a “bean” become? That’s decided by your choices starting today. The possibilities are still open.
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