How to Read “右と言えば左”
Migi to ieba hidari
Meaning of “右と言えば左”
“If you say right then left” is a proverb that expresses accepting whatever the other person says obediently and acting accordingly.
This expression depicts the state of unconditionally accepting someone’s judgment or opinion based on deep trust or affection for that person. Rather than mere blind obedience, it conveys the feeling of following their words even when they differ from one’s own thoughts, precisely because one truly believes in that person.
It is mainly used in intimate relationships with deep trust, such as between married couples, parent and child, or teacher and student, with usage like “That wife is so obedient that if her husband says right, she says left.” In modern times, there are mixed opinions about such relationships, but originally it was understood as an expression of deep love and respect for the other person.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “If you say right then left,” no clear documentary evidence has actually been found. However, let’s look at the presumed development from the structure of this proverb.
This proverb is thought to have begun being used around the Edo period. In the society of that time, master-servant relationships and hierarchical relationships were very strict, and absolute obedience to superiors was required. Against such a background, it may have emerged as an expression to describe the state of obediently following the other person’s words.
Expressions using the polar opposite directions of “right” and “left” are a rhetorical technique that has long been seen in Japanese. By juxtaposing two contradictory concepts, it has the effect of emphasizing the meaning of accepting anything.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t just represent simple obedience, but includes deep trust and affection for the other person. Rather than just being compliant, it conveys the sentiment of following their judgment precisely because one truly believes in that person. The ability to express such subtle emotional nuances may demonstrate the richness of the Japanese language.
Usage Examples
- My mother is the type who, if father says right then left, always goes along with father’s opinions
- She seems to trust him so much that if he says right then left
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the way we view the relationship of “If you say right then left” has changed significantly. Unconditional obedience, which was once considered a virtue, is now often viewed critically as something that undermines individual independence and autonomy.
Particularly from the perspective of gender equality, the idea that one spouse should blindly obey the other in marital relationships is considered unhealthy, and this has become the mainstream view. The ideal modern relationship is considered to be one where both parties respect each other’s opinions and make decisions through discussion on equal footing.
However, this proverb hasn’t become completely outdated. Even in modern times, in highly specialized fields, there are situations where following the judgment of experienced leaders is important. In relationships between doctors and nurses in medical settings, or between coaches and athletes in sports, appropriate instruction-obedience relationships based on proper trust can produce results.
Also, with the spread of social media and the internet, the modern era has become one of information overload, leading to a renewed recognition of the value of following the opinions of trustworthy people. However, this appears not as blind obedience, but as selective trust based on understanding the other person’s expertise and character.
The modern version of “If you say right then left” should perhaps be understood as wisdom for accepting the opinions of appropriate people in appropriate situations while balancing respect for others with one’s own judgment.
When AI Hears This
The contrary behavior of “when someone says right, you say left” is actually a state where competition between information processing occurs in the left and right sides of the brain.
The left brain handles language and logic, understanding the word “right” from the other person. Meanwhile, the right brain governs spatial recognition and intuition, processing actual directional sense. Normally these two cooperate, but when intentionally saying the opposite, the left brain decides to “say something different from the other person” and chooses “left” while ignoring the right brain’s spatial recognition.
What’s fascinating is the brain activity pattern during this process. In normal conversation, the left and right brain share information within 0.1 seconds, but when making contrary statements, the language area of the left brain intentionally blocks information from the right brain. In other words, it’s deliberately disrupting the “traffic control of information” within the brain.
Even more surprising is that repeating this contrary behavior activates the corpus callosum, the part that connects the left and right brain. For example, people who always say the opposite might actually have enhanced brain coordination abilities.
“When someone says right, you say left” isn’t simply a personality issue, but rather a sophisticated neural strategy between the left and right brain. What appears to be rebellious behavior might actually be evidence of the brain’s flexibility.
Lessons for Today
What “If you say right then left” teaches modern people is about the essence of trust relationships. This proverb doesn’t advocate simple obedience, but shows the value of relationships based on deep trust.
In modern society, while having one’s own opinions is valued, we sometimes lose sight of the importance of believing in and entrusting ourselves to someone. However, there are situations in life that we cannot judge on our own. In such times, we may need the courage to listen to the opinions of trustworthy people and sometimes follow their judgment even if it means setting aside our own thoughts.
What’s important is that this trust is not blind, but is a choice made after fully understanding the other person’s character and abilities. Also, the other person has the responsibility to always be sincere so they can live up to that trust.
The modern version of “If you say right then left” can be utilized as wisdom for believing in the judgment of appropriate people in appropriate situations while respecting each other. This may be a more valuable way of building human relationships precisely because individualism is emphasized today.
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