How to Read “目から鼻へ抜ける”
Me kara hana he nukeru
Meaning of “目から鼻へ抜ける”
“From eye to nose passes through” is a proverb that expresses being extremely clever and quick-witted, with swift understanding and judgment of matters.
This proverb is used to praise people who have quick minds, can immediately grasp situations, and take appropriate action. It has been used to evaluate people with intellectual agility, such as salespeople who instantly read their counterpart’s intentions in business negotiations, students who immediately understand their teacher’s explanations in class, and people who quickly come up with solutions to complex problems.
The reason for using this expression is that the close distance from eye to nose accurately represents the speed of thought. It means the time from thinking to action is extremely short, as if information entering the eyes instantly passes through to the nose. Even today, it is used to describe people who are intelligent and quick to react, and is particularly valued as a term for evaluating excellent personnel in business scenes and learning situations.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “From eye to nose passes through,” the exact etymology is actually unclear, but since this expression can already be found in Edo period literature, it is considered a proverb that has been used for quite a long time.
The interesting aspect of this expression lies in its metaphor that cleverly utilizes the structure of the human face. While the eyes and nose are positioned very close to each other, it is physically impossible for anything to actually “pass through” between them. However, this impossible expression is precisely what represents the essence of this proverb.
Generally, it is believed to have been created to express extremely swift movement or quick reactions, like passing through the shortest distance from eye to nose in an instant. People of the Edo period highly valued quick-witted individuals in commerce and daily life, and it is speculated that they expressed such people’s mental agility using the closest facial features.
Another theory suggests that it evolved from the vigorous exhalation through the nose to represent being sharp and quick. In any case, it can be said to be a unique expression born from the ingenious combination of Japanese people’s bodily sensations and linguistic sense. It is one of the proverbs that demonstrates the rich expressiveness of the Japanese language, remaining vibrant through the ages.
Usage Examples
- The new employee Tanaka-kun is someone who is “from eye to nose passes through,” and once you explain something to him, he immediately learns the job
- The owner of that shop is a person who is “from eye to nose passes through,” instantly discerning customers’ preferences and recommending the most suitable products
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the expression “from eye to nose passes through” has taken on new meanings. In our information society, the ability to quickly process vast amounts of information and make accurate judgments has become more important, and the “quick comprehension” that this proverb represents is being reevaluated as an important skill required of modern people.
Digital native generations in particular excel at simultaneously acquiring information from multiple sources and instantly organizing and judging it, demonstrating information processing abilities that are truly “from eye to nose passes through.” This ability is utilized in various modern situations, such as social media interactions, quick decision-making in online meetings, and learning to operate apps.
On the other hand, in modern times, the value of “thinking carefully” is also being reconsidered, with growing recognition that quick judgment doesn’t necessarily lead to good results. With the development of AI technology, there is also a trend toward valuing creativity and deep thinking ability over simple information processing speed.
However, in modern society with rapid changes, the ability to quickly grasp situations and adapt remains important. This proverb continues to live on in modern times as a word with universal value, expressing fundamental intellectual abilities required of humans regardless of changing times.
When AI Hears This
When we examine the neural circuits through which information processed in the visual cortex flows to the memory centers of the olfactory system, we are amazed by the scientific accuracy of the expression “passing from the eyes through the nose.”
Visual information is processed in the visual cortex of the occipital lobe, then sent to the prefrontal cortex, the “command center of judgment.” Meanwhile, olfactory information connects directly to memory and emotional centers deep in the brain, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. What’s fascinating is that the more intelligent a person is, the more efficiently these two pathways work together.
Consider, for example, the ability of an excellent doctor to detect illness at first glance of a patient. This is evidence that visual information instantly accesses the deep layers of memory, cross-referencing with vast past experiences. Brain imaging research shows that during such “intuitive judgments,” information transmission from the visual cortex to the olfactory memory circuits completes within 0.2 seconds.
Even more remarkable is that olfactory neural circuits specialize in “pattern recognition.” The mechanism for identifying scents uses the same neural foundation as the mechanism for instantly understanding complex situations.
The ancients experientially recognized that truly intelligent people possess thinking circuits with the speed and accuracy of “information seen by the eyes passing through memory systems as sensitive as the nose.” Now that modern science has elucidated these neural mechanisms, we are once again filled with admiration for the profound insight of this proverb.
Lessons for Today
The proverb “from eye to nose passes through” teaches us important things for living in modern times. It shows us the importance of not just accumulating knowledge, but the power to quickly utilize it.
In modern society overflowing with information, what matters more than what you know is whether you can draw out appropriate knowledge when needed and respond flexibly according to situations. The “quick-witted” ability that this proverb represents is precisely the skill required of modern people.
However, rather than pursuing only speed, it is through daily learning and accumulation of experience that one can truly make “from eye to nose passes through” judgments. By maintaining curiosity about various things and challenging ourselves without fear of failure, we develop the ability to think on our feet when it matters.
Moreover, this proverb is also a word for evaluating others. By having the mental capacity to find and acknowledge the excellent points of people around us, we can build relationships where we elevate each other. Even in modern society, this proverb reminds us of the importance of developing an eye for people and appropriately evaluating one another.
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