How to Read “踏んだり蹴ったり”
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Meaning of “踏んだり蹴ったり”
“Stepping and kicking” is a proverb that expresses how, after being struck by one disaster or misfortune, yet another disaster piles on top of it.
This expression describes situations where bad things happen one after another, as if delivering the final blow to a person or situation that is already in trouble. It doesn’t simply refer to a string of bad luck, but specifically points to the particularly painful situation of receiving further blows when already weakened by an initial disaster.
It’s used in situations such as when work troubles arise while you’re bedridden with illness, or when family misfortune occurs during financial hardship – scenes where disasters strike consecutively rather than stopping at just one misfortune. The reason for using this expression is to emphasize the unreasonableness and cruelty of being dealt additional blows when already weakened, beyond just a series of bad luck. Even today, everyone has experienced multiple problems occurring simultaneously during difficult periods in life, so it continues to be used as an expression that many people can relate to.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Stepping and kicking” is actually deeply rooted in the daily life of common people during the Edo period. This expression originated from literally describing physical violence – being “stepped on and then kicked.”
In the merchant society of the Edo period, fights and violent incidents occurred regularly. Particularly, the act of further stepping on or kicking a fallen opponent was despised as the most cowardly and cruel form of violence. Delivering additional blows to someone who had fallen was considered an act that went against the samurai spirit.
This description of physical violence is thought to have gradually come to be used as a metaphorical expression. In other words, when further disasters befell someone who had already been struck by misfortune, it came to be expressed as “stepping and kicking.”
In literature from the late Edo period, this metaphorical usage can already be seen. A vivid expression born among common people was refined over time and established as the idiom we know today. It could be said that this phrase embodies the Japanese sentiment of disliking the bullying of the weak.
Usage Examples
- Being late due to rain and then forgetting important documents – it’s truly stepping and kicking
- Being bedridden with a cold while construction starts next door made it a week of stepping and kicking
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the expression “stepping and kicking” has come to represent more complex and diverse situations. In our information society, domino effects where one problem instantly triggers other problems occur frequently. For example, online harassment can lead to deteriorating workplace relationships, which further affects family relationships.
While technological advancement has made our lives more convenient, it has also made cascading system failures more likely. A smartphone malfunction that simultaneously causes you to lose your payment app, transit card, and means of communication could be called a modern version of “stepping and kicking.”
Additionally, cases where psychological damage and physical losses compound together have increased in modern times. The spread of remote work has blurred the boundaries between private life and work, making it easier for a single problem to ripple throughout one’s entire life.
On the other hand, modern people no longer need to face disasters in isolation as much as before, thanks to developed information sharing and support systems. An environment where you can gain empathy through social media or find solutions online provides new means for overcoming “stepping and kicking” situations. While the unreasonableness that this proverb represents remains unchanged, the methods for dealing with it have certainly improved.
When AI Hears This
Looking at the “learned helplessness” theory famous from Seligman’s dog experiments, we can explain the psychological mechanisms behind “being trampled and kicked” with surprising scientific accuracy.
In the experiment, when dogs were continuously subjected to unpredictable electric shocks, the dogs that initially tried desperately to escape eventually stopped moving even when escape routes were available. In other words, the feeling that “nothing I do matters” becomes etched into the brain.
Humans in a “trampled and kicked” state show exactly the same response. With the first disaster, they try hard thinking “I’ll figure something out.” However, as the second and third disasters continue, activity in the prefrontal cortex (the part governing judgment) decreases, and the stress hormone cortisol is secreted in large quantities. As a result, they enter a “it’s hopeless” resignation mode.
What’s fascinating is that this proverb expresses the concept through physical pain – “trampling” and “kicking.” Modern neuroscience has revealed that emotional pain and physical pain are processed in the same brain region (the anterior cingulate cortex). People in the Edo period unconsciously expressed a neuroscientific truth by comparing continuous psychological damage to physical pain.
This truly represents a proverb backed by scientific evidence that demonstrates the sharp intuitive insight of our predecessors.
Lessons for Today
The proverb “stepping and kicking” teaches us something important as we live in modern times. It’s the importance of mental preparation to accept the reality that unreasonable things happen in life.
When the next difficulty comes before one problem is resolved. In such times, we tend to think “why only me,” but perhaps this is actually a natural part of life. Knowing this proverb can help somewhat ease the mental turmoil when facing such situations.
In modern society, problems tend to become complexly intertwined. That’s precisely why it’s important to have an attitude of dealing with things carefully one by one, rather than trying to solve everything at once. Also, when we see people in difficult situations, we should try to be on the supporting side rather than delivering the final blow.
And above all, please remember that “stepping and kicking” situations are not permanent. No matter how painful a period may be, it will surely come to an end. Until that time, you can move forward step by step without losing your true self. Difficulties make people stronger, and the experience of overcoming them will surely become your treasure.
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