How to Read “蛇の生殺し”
Hebi no namakgoroshi
Meaning of “蛇の生殺し”
“Snake’s half killing” means leaving things in an incomplete state and not dealing with them thoroughly.
This proverb points out the problem of keeping something in limbo—neither completely finishing it nor completely letting it live. It is particularly used to describe situations in human relationships where one fails to show a clear attitude toward the other person and continues an ambiguous situation, thereby causing the other person to suffer.
For example, this applies to situations like not giving a clear response to someone’s confession in a romantic relationship and leaving them hanging with expectations, or in work situations where a supervisor keeps a subordinate’s proposal on hold without either approving or rejecting it. Such half-hearted responses create unpleasant and inefficient situations for everyone involved. Even in modern society, this expression is used to warn against the harmful effects of postponing decisions or continuing to take ambiguous attitudes without facing problems head-on.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Snake’s half killing” is based on the special vitality of snakes as creatures. Since ancient times, snakes have been known to have extremely strong life force—their bodies continue to move for a while even after their heads are cut off, and they can live for long periods even when cut in half.
This phenomenon is due to the structure of snakes’ nervous systems. Snakes have particularly simple nervous structures among vertebrates, so they can continue reflexive movements for long periods even after suffering fatal injuries. People in ancient times witnessed this amazing vitality of snakes and are thought to have created the expression “Snake’s half killing” to describe “an incomplete state where something can neither be completely killed nor completely kept alive.”
Since this expression can be found in literature from the Edo period, it is presumed to be a proverb that has been used for quite a long time. For people of that era, snakes were familiar creatures, and their mysterious vitality must have been an impressive experience. This biological phenomenon became established as a metaphor expressing the “incomplete state” in human relationships and handling of affairs.
Interesting Facts
The phenomenon of snakes continuing to move even after being severed is explained in modern science as “spinal reflex.” Snake spinal cords have many nerve ganglia that can move muscles independently without commands from the brain, so they can continue reflexive movements for several hours even after losing their heads.
Interestingly, this biological characteristic has created similar expressions around the world, with expressions like “half-dead snake” existing in English-speaking regions as well. As a common human experience, the abnormal vitality of snakes must have been deeply impressive.
Usage Examples
- Not responding to her confession for three months now is completely a Snake’s half killing situation
- Keeping this project approval on hold for half a year is Snake’s half killing, and it’s lowering the entire team’s motivation
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Snake’s half killing” situations have become more complex and serious problems. Particularly now that SNS and messaging apps have become widespread, ambiguity in human relationships has become a factor that causes more suffering than before.
For example, in romance, phenomena like “read but ignored” or “unread ignore” create Snake’s half killing situations. By not giving clear responses to messages from others, the sender is left hanging between hope and anxiety. This can be said to be a new form of Snake’s half killing that could never have occurred in traditional face-to-face communication.
In the business world too, with the spread of remote work, instructions and evaluations from supervisors tend to become ambiguous. Situations where time passes without clear feedback about project progress are exactly modern versions of Snake’s half killing.
On the other hand, modern people tend to avoid making decisions precisely because they have too many choices. Cases of putting oneself in a Snake’s half killing situation by postponing important life decisions like job changes, marriage, and housing choices are also increasing. Precisely because we live in an age of information overload, the “importance of decision-making” shown by this proverb has taken on more urgent meaning.
When AI Hears This
Digital society is a treasure trove of “half-dead snakes.” When someone reads your LINE message but doesn’t reply, you know for certain they’ve seen it, but you have no idea what they’re thinking. This limbo is far more mentally exhausting than being completely ignored.
Leaving unused subscriptions like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Spotify without canceling is another classic example. Monthly fees of a few hundred to a thousand yen seem trivial when you consider the hassle of canceling, leading to that “whatever” attitude. But annually, this adds up to tens of thousands of yen in waste. If you never used them at all, you could accept it, but that nagging “maybe I’ll use it someday” expectation clouds your judgment.
Remote work has blurred the boundaries of working hours, creating an environment where work emails and Slack messages can arrive 24/7. You’re stuck in this awkward middle ground where you can neither go completely offline nor fully enter work mode. According to a Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare survey, about 60% of companies that introduced telework reported “difficulty managing working hours.”
What all these phenomena share is prolonged neglect in unclear “gray zones” rather than black-and-white situations. The psychological torment that Edo period people expressed through snakes has been mass-reproduced in daily life through digital technology. The combination of modern people’s tendency to postpone decisions and our always-connected digital environment continues to generate countless states of being “half-dead.”
Lessons for Today
What “Snake’s half killing” teaches modern people is the pain that ambiguity brings and the importance of having the courage to make decisions. We often tend to avoid showing clear attitudes out of kindness, not wanting to hurt others. However, that kindness can sometimes cause others to suffer more deeply.
In modern society, we tend to postpone decisions because we have too many choices. However, this proverb teaches us “the value of making decisions even if imperfect.” Rather than wasting time seeking perfect answers, it’s healthier for all parties involved to make the best judgment possible at the present moment and make course corrections as needed.
If you too have situations where you cannot meet someone’s expectations, try to courageously express your clear intentions. Even if it’s a “No,” it will be a relief for the other person to be freed from a state of limbo. True kindness sometimes means conveying harsh realities.
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