How to Read “Secrets are on the eyelashes”
Hiji wa matsuge
Meaning of “Secrets are on the eyelashes”
“Secrets are on the eyelashes” means that the more you want to keep something secret, the more easily others will discover it.
Just as you cannot see your own eyelashes, the things you try to hide are revealed to those around you without you realizing it.
This proverb is used when pointing out the unnatural behavior of someone who is keeping a secret.
When people hide something, they try desperately not to be found out. But this very desperation draws attention and creates suspicion.
Avoiding certain topics, making excessive excuses, shifting eyes, changes in voice tone—the person thinks they are hiding perfectly, but observant people can see through it.
This teaching remains true today. The tension of trying to keep a secret unconsciously shows in facial expressions and actions.
This proverb captures the ironic aspect of human psychology. Only the person who thinks they are hiding it perfectly fails to notice.
Origin and Etymology
Clear written records about the origin of this proverb are limited. However, we can make interesting observations from the structure of the phrase.
“Matsuge” means eyelashes. Eyelashes protect our eyes, yet we cannot see them directly with our own eyes.
They are closest to our eyes, but we cannot see them. This mysterious characteristic forms the core of this proverb.
Secrets are “important things you want to hide” for the person involved.
But just as you cannot see your own eyelashes, the more desperately you try to hide something, the more visible it becomes to others. This is the paradox the proverb expresses.
As human psychology goes, when you have a secret, changes appear unconsciously in your attitude and behavior.
The tension of trying to hide, the unnaturalness of avoiding topics, excessive explanations—even if you do not notice, others can tell.
This expression shows the sharpness of Japanese observation. It uses something concrete and familiar—eyelashes—to perfectly capture the essence of human psychology.
The truth that what is closest to you is what you cannot see yourself is overlaid with human behavior around secrets.
This is an expression where the wisdom of our ancestors shines through.
Usage Examples
- He’s not saying anything, but secrets are on the eyelashes, so everyone around him probably knows
- Even if you think you’re keeping it secret, secrets are on the eyelashes, so be careful not to let it show in your attitude
Universal Wisdom
“Secrets are on the eyelashes” points to a universal truth about the limits of human self-awareness.
We tend to think we know ourselves best. But in reality, we ourselves are the hardest to see.
When people have secrets, they believe they are hiding them perfectly. However, the very consciousness of hiding creates subtle changes that show.
Voice tone, eye movement, reactions to topics, length of silence. These seem like natural behavior to the person, but they feel off to those who know their daily patterns.
This proverb has been passed down for so long because it captures a fundamental human contradiction.
We are social creatures who live in relationships with others. That is why emotions and intentions are communicated through more than just words.
This is the ability for nonverbal communication that humanity acquired through long evolution.
Our ancestors observed this human nature keenly. The desire to keep secrets and the reality that they leak out.
This conflict never changes across time. Technology advances and society changes, but human psychological mechanisms remain essentially the same.
The difficulty of seeing yourself objectively and the sharpness of others’ observation. These two truths are condensed in this proverb.
When AI Hears This
The human visual system has a surprising design blind spot. Eyes receive about 10 billion bits of information per second.
But the brain can actually process only about 40 bits per second. This means over 99.999% of information is discarded.
At this time, the brain prioritizes deleting “things that do not change.”
This is exactly why eyelashes are invisible. Eyelashes are always in the field of vision, and their movement is constant.
The brain’s information processing system automatically filters out such “predictable information” and removes it from consciousness.
Neuroscience calls this “sensory adaptation.” For example, you usually do not feel the sensation of your clothes for the same reason.
The essence of this phenomenon is that the brain judges “stability” as “worthless.” Change is the important information related to survival.
The movement of an approaching lion should be detected, but a tree that is always there can be ignored. This processing method was rational in the wild.
However, in modern society, a paradox emerges. Family members closest to you, water you use every day, peace you take for granted.
Because these “do not change,” the brain’s priority for them becomes extremely low. Even if physical distance is zero, cognitively they receive the same treatment as invisible people.
You notice only after losing them because change finally passes through the brain’s filter.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the importance of humility in self-awareness.
We tend to think we can completely control our words and actions. But in reality, many things show unconsciously.
Especially in modern society, communication traces remain easily through social media and messaging apps.
In trying too hard to keep secrets, you may act unnaturally and invite suspicion from those around you.
What matters is not avoiding secrets, but understanding the balance between privacy and transparency.
This proverb also deepens our understanding of others. When someone seems to be hiding something, do not blame them.
Have the generosity to consider that they have their own circumstances. Everyone lives carrying one or two things they cannot say.
If you yourself are holding a secret, try to be natural rather than tensing up to hide it perfectly.
Paradoxically, not trying to hide actually makes you less noticeable.
And if it is a truly important secret, consulting someone you trust may also be one form of wisdom.
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