How to Read “惚れて通えば千里も一里”
Horete kayoeba senri mo ichiri
Meaning of “惚れて通えば千里も一里”
This proverb means that when you have feelings of love, no matter how distant the journey, it doesn’t feel burdensome and seems short.
It expresses the psychological state where, when heading to see someone you love with all your heart, even a journey that actually takes a long time feels light-hearted and time seems to pass quickly. This demonstrates the special power that romantic feelings possess – the natural lightness in your step when heading to see someone you like, and how distances that would normally cause fatigue don’t feel burdensome at all.
This proverb is used in conversations between lovers, as words of encouragement for those in long-distance relationships, and when expressing the wonder of love. It’s used when wanting to express the strength and purity of romantic feelings, and is cherished as an expression that conveys the mystery of human emotions – how the power of love can even reduce physical difficulties.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is deeply connected to the romantic views and transportation conditions of the Edo period. In Japan at that time, it was not uncommon to walk many ri to visit one’s lover.
“A thousand ri” is an expression representing an extremely long distance, actually equivalent to about 4,000 kilometers. On the other hand, “one ri” is about 4 kilometers. This extreme contrast expresses the psychological state where even physically impossible distances feel short when you have feelings of love.
For common people in the Edo period, long-distance relationships were even more difficult than today. Walking was the basic means of transportation, and lodging fees at post towns were also expensive. Yet the sight of people continuing to travel long distances with the sole desire to see their lovers is thought to have given birth to this proverb.
Also, since the marriage system of that time required parental permission and free love had many restrictions, it likely became established as words expressing the feelings of lovers who secretly continued their visits. This proverb contains the pure romantic feelings of humans who want to see their loved ones even if it means overcoming difficulties.
Interesting Facts
The distance “a thousand ri” that appears in this proverb is an expression derived from Chinese classics, and has been used in Japan as an idiomatic word representing “an extremely far distance.” An actual thousand ri corresponds to about 4,000 kilometers in current distance measurements – a tremendous distance that wouldn’t be enough even if you crossed the length of Honshu.
The average walking speed of people in the Edo period was about 4 kilometers per hour, and even walking continuously without rest, it would take an hour to walk one ri (about 4 kilometers). In other words, to walk a thousand ri would theoretically require 1,000 hours, or about 42 days of continuous walking.
Usage Examples
- I travel to the neighboring prefecture to see her, but being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri, so it doesn’t bother me at all
- People worry that long-distance relationships are difficult, but they say being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri, and I think love can overcome anything
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, new interpretations have been added to the meaning of this proverb. Now that the concept of physical distance has changed dramatically, “distance” doesn’t necessarily refer only to geographical matters.
With the spread of the internet and social media, we’ve entered an era where we can communicate in real-time with people on the other side of the globe. However, at the same time, new concepts of psychological distance and temporal distance have emerged. For busy modern people, making time for loved ones or connecting hearts can sometimes be more difficult than physically going to see them.
In modern romance, this proverb has taken on a stronger spiritual meaning of “no effort feels burdensome when it’s for someone you like.” Even long rush-hour commutes become bearable when you think you’ll see that person. Even working until late at night, fatigue disappears when you see a message from someone you love. It’s increasingly used with such modern interpretations.
Also, it’s applied not just to romance but to passion toward dreams and goals. It’s sometimes used to mean that detours don’t feel burdensome when they’re for something you love, showing the universality of this proverb.
When AI Hears This
The Edo period saying about “a thousand ri becoming one ri” originally expressed a purely physical change in the perception of distance, but today an entirely different concept of “distance” has emerged. In our age of instant global connectivity through social media, physical distance has become technologically almost meaningless. Yet ironically, this disappearance of physical constraints has highlighted the crucial importance of “psychological distance.”
Looking at modern relationships, we see a clear divide between those who are physically close but emotionally distant, and those who are on opposite sides of the globe yet feel deeply connected. We witness daily phenomena like “psychological thousand ri” through ignored messages on LINE, or “physical thousand ri but psychological one ri” through video calls.
Particularly fascinating is the concept of “temporal distance.” In the past, letters took days to arrive, yet even that waiting time felt shorter when filled with love. Today, we become anxious if a reply is delayed by mere minutes. In other words, as physical constraints have vanished, our sensitivity to temporal and psychological “distance” has become extremely heightened.
This shift reveals that true “closeness” isn’t about physical proximity, but about the depth of our interest in and understanding of others. Perhaps the modern version of “when in love, the path feels short” is “when in love, even a thousand ri of the heart becomes one ri.”
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the wonderful power of passion. It reminds us of the mysterious human ability to handle things that usually seem difficult with ease when it’s for something we love or someone we care about.
While modern society tends to emphasize efficiency and rationality, this proverb teaches us the value of sometimes following our heart’s voice and taking “detours.” For meeting someone you love, chasing dreams, supporting important people – with such pure motivations, any difficulty can be overcome.
Also, this proverb shows the importance of “cherishing this very moment.” Not just reaching the destination, but having the mental space to enjoy the process of getting there. With loving feelings, even the scenery along the way might look different.
You surely have something that would make “a thousand ri feel like one ri.” By finding and carefully nurturing that, life will become richer and more meaningful.
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