How to Read “着た切り雀”
Kita kiri suzume
Meaning of “着た切り雀”
“Wore cut sparrow” is a proverb that describes a state of extreme poverty where one has no change of clothes other than what they are wearing.
Just as sparrows spend the entire year in the same feathers, this expression describes the impoverished state of having only one kimono and no other clothes to change into. It doesn’t simply refer to having few possessions, but specifically indicates a state of economic hardship where one cannot afford to buy new clothing.
This proverb is particularly used when emphasizing poverty related to clothing. In the past, kimonos were expensive and precious items, so being able to own several was proof of wealth. Conversely, having only one meant being in considerable poverty. Even today, it is sometimes used to describe people who wear the same clothes all the time or situations where one cannot afford to buy new clothes. However, in modern times, as clothing prices have dropped and options have become abundant, it is no longer used as a symbol of serious poverty as it once was.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “wore cut sparrow” is thought to have emerged from observations of sparrow behavior and human clothing.
Sparrows wear the same feathers throughout the year and do not change their wardrobe seasonally like humans do. Through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, sparrows always spend their time in the same brown feathers. People in the past who observed sparrows felt they looked as if they were wearing just one kimono with no other clothes to change into, which is how this proverb is said to have originated.
For common people in the Edo period, kimonos were precious possessions. Wealthy households owned many kimonos for different seasons, but it was not uncommon for poor people to carefully continue wearing a single kimono. With this historical background, the expression comparing sparrows’ appearance to the circumstances of poor people became established.
The expression “kita kiri” means “having worn and continuing to wear,” representing a state of having no other clothes to change into. This is a proverb that showcases the Japanese sense of observation and language, cleverly using the characteristics of a familiar bird to express human economic situations.
Interesting Facts
Sparrows actually undergo “molting” once a year, from late summer to autumn, where their feathers are replaced. Old feathers fall out and are replaced with new ones, but the overall coloring and patterns hardly change, so to human eyes they appear to be “wearing the same clothes all the time.”
Common people in the Edo period would carefully use kimonos by repeatedly having them tailored. A kimono first made for an adult would eventually be retailored for a child, and finally used completely until it became material for rags or tabi socks. The expression “wore cut sparrow” may also reflect the values of an era that treasured material possessions.
Usage Examples
- I’m in a wore cut sparrow state during my job search, so I need to buy a suit for interviews
- During my student days, I was like a wore cut sparrow, always wearing the same jeans
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of “wore cut sparrow” has changed significantly. The serious poverty that this proverb once represented is no longer as common in present-day Japan.
With the spread of fast fashion, inexpensive and diverse clothing has become available, making the situation of physically “having only one piece of clothing” rare. Rather, in modern times, “minimalists” who intentionally live with few clothes due to growing environmental consciousness are gaining attention. They practice a “wore cut sparrow” lifestyle not out of poverty, but as a choice within abundance.
Additionally, a new problem has emerged in the SNS era: “resistance to wearing the same clothes repeatedly.” In modern times when photos are frequently taken, many people feel psychological burden about repeating the same outfits. This could be said to be the opposite phenomenon of the old “wore cut sparrow.”
On the other hand, due to expanding economic disparity, there are people in a “hidden wore cut sparrow” state who, while not visibly apparent, must actually cut back on clothing expenses. Modern “wore cut sparrow” has changed from simple material poverty to more complex social and psychological issues.
When AI Hears This
The choice of the “sparrow” as a bird conceals the exquisite aesthetic sensibility of the Japanese people. Why the plain sparrow, rather than the magnificent crane or the powerful hawk?
The sparrow was actually a special creature for the Japanese. First, sparrows wear the same brown feathers year-round. Unlike other birds that change beautifully with the seasons, sparrows have no “wardrobe changes.” In other words, the sparrow itself exists in a state of “wearing the same clothes.”
Even more intriguing is the sparrow’s social positioning. In the Edo period’s class system, cranes symbolized shoguns and feudal lords, while hawks represented samurai. Sparrows, on the other hand, were considered the birds of common people. Building nests under house eaves and pecking at grains of rice, sparrows were creatures that truly lived alongside the daily lives of ordinary folk.
Here emerges a uniquely Japanese value system. To express poverty, they chose not a wretched animal, but the familiar and endearing sparrow. This can be seen as a manifestation of the Japanese aesthetic of “maintaining dignity even in poverty.”
Though small, sparrows live earnestly. In their image, people likely saw reflected the pride of common folk living their utmost within limited circumstances. “Wearing the same clothes like a sparrow” contains not pity for poverty, but empathy and respect for those who live modestly.
Lessons for Today
What “wore cut sparrow” teaches modern people is the importance of reconsidering what true wealth really is.
Precisely because we live in modern times overflowing with material goods, this proverb takes on new meaning. While “having only one piece of clothing” was once a symbol of poverty, now the value of “the ability to discern what is truly necessary” and “the heart that treasures few possessions” is being recognized anew.
Look around your closet. How many clothes do you actually wear? Perhaps rotating a few favorite pieces might free you from the stress of daily clothing selection and allow you to spend more fulfilling time.
This proverb also teaches the universal value of “substance over appearance.” No matter what clothes someone wears, their character and abilities don’t change. Isn’t the strength to live proudly even as a “wore cut sparrow” what true wealth really is?
In modern society, opportunities to compare ourselves with others on social media have increased, but this ancient proverb quietly teaches us the beauty of cherishing our individuality and living within our means.
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