How to Read “目に入れても痛くない”
Me ni irete mo itaku nai
Meaning of “目に入れても痛くない”
“Even if put into eye, not painful” is a proverb that expresses loving someone so deeply that no matter what you do for them, it doesn’t feel burdensome, because the object of your love is so adorable and precious.
This expression is mainly used when parents express unconditional love for their children. It expresses a deep love that transcends reason – even if you were to put your beloved child into your eye, the most sensitive part of the human body that would normally cause excruciating pain, you wouldn’t feel any pain because of how precious they are to you. In terms of usage, it’s often used to describe grandparents doting on their grandchildren or when parents speak of their love for their children.
The reason for using this phrase is to make a stronger impression on the listener by connecting the depth of love with physical sensation. Even today, it’s used to express deep love between family members and sometimes between lovers, and it’s cherished as a standard expression for describing love so deep it cannot be explained by reason.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Even if put into eye, not painful” is said to stem from expressions found in Edo period literature. This phrase was born as a metaphorical expression using the “eye,” which is a particularly sensitive and important part of the human body.
The eye is one of the most important sensory organs for humans, and even the slightest dust or foreign object entering it causes intense pain. Eyes are so sensitive to external stimuli that we have the natural defense mechanism of blinking. Normally, putting anything into such delicate eyes would cause unbearable suffering.
However, this phrase came to be used to express a state of mind where one feels such deep love for the object of their affection that they wouldn’t even feel such pain. It’s particularly often used when expressing parental love for children, and during the Edo period, it was used as dialogue expressing deep parental love in joruri puppet theater and kabuki performances.
This expression became established as a skillful Japanese metaphorical expression that clearly conveys the depth of love that transcends physical pain through bodily sensations.
Usage Examples
- Grandmother dotes on her grandson Taro to the extent of “even if put into eye, not painful”
- My daughter is “even if put into eye, not painful” to me, but I think it’s also important to discipline her strictly sometimes
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the expression “even if put into eye, not painful” has come to take on new meanings along with changes in family relationships. As nuclear families have become more common and the declining birthrate has become a serious issue, the love devoted to each individual child has become more intense.
With the spread of social media, “doting parent posts” where parents frequently upload photos and videos of their children have become a social phenomenon, and this can be said to be a modern expression of “even if put into eye, not painful” love. Parents in the digital age fill their smartphone camera rolls with photos of their children and save hundreds of similar-looking pictures.
On the other hand, cases where excessive expressions of love create problems like “overprotectiveness” and “monster parents” are also increasing. Parents’ behavior of trying to prevent their children’s failures in advance or making unreasonable demands on schools is also a reflection of their love.
Also, in our current pet boom era, this expression has come to be used for pets like dogs and cats as well. Usage like “my cat is even if put into eye, not painful” reflects changes in modern family concepts. As the objects of affection diversify, this proverb is also being used flexibly to match the times.
When AI Hears This
The eye is the most sensitive organ in the human body to foreign objects. Just a single eyelash getting in can cause excruciating pain and unstoppable tears. The cornea has 300 times more pain-sensing nerves concentrated in it than skin. In other words, the act of “putting” something in the eye is, physiologically speaking, the harshest assault on the human body.
What’s fascinating, however, is that the eye isn’t just sensitive—it’s also the central organ of expressing affection. We “gaze” at those we love and “burn” their image into our eyes. While the eye physically rejects foreign objects completely, psychologically it actively tries to accept the objects of our affection.
Even more remarkable is the structure of the eye itself. The pupil changes size based on emotion, unconsciously dilating when we look at someone we love. This is an instinctive response to “take in” more of the other person. In other words, the eye simultaneously possesses the completely opposite functions of physical rejection and psychological acceptance.
This physiological contradiction is what creates the exquisite nature of this proverb. The expression that something can be put into the most pain-sensitive organ without causing discomfort brilliantly captures, against a backdrop of scientific fact, how love has the power to transcend even reason and physiological responses. The choice of the eye as the organ was not coincidental, but inevitable.
Lessons for Today
The proverb “even if put into eye, not painful” teaches us important things about the essence of love as we live in modern times. It shows us that true love is unconditional, seeking no reward in return, and finds value in the very existence of the other person.
In our busy modern society, we tend to prioritize efficiency and results, but in relationships with family and loved ones, we need love that transcends such calculations. When we’re tired from child-rearing or struggling with caregiving, remembering this proverb might help us reaffirm our feelings for our loved ones.
This proverb also gives us insights about how to express love. Love is conveyed not just through words, but through actions and attitudes. It teaches us the importance of spending time and effort for others.
In modern times, expressions of love have diversified, but the underlying “feeling of caring for others” remains unchanged. Whether it’s a “like” on social media or a home-cooked meal, these are all expressions of love. What’s important is to continue having genuine wishes for the happiness of others.
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