Boiled Water Is Made To Drink: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Boiled water is made to drink”

Nieyu wo nomasareru

Meaning of “Boiled water is made to drink”

“Boiled water is made to drink” means to be betrayed by someone you trusted and to be made to suffer terribly painful feelings.

This proverb expresses one of the deepest wounds in human relationships. It’s not simply about being deceived or suffering losses, but rather compares the mental anguish of receiving unexpected betrayal from someone you truly believed in to the physical pain of being forced to drink boiling hot water. It is used in situations where you encounter betrayal from someone with whom you had a trusting relationship, such as when you’re deceived by a close friend, cheated on by a lover, or trapped by a trusted colleague.

The reason for using this expression is to strongly impress upon the listener just how intense and unbearable the pain in one’s heart is, rather than simply saying “I was betrayed.” Even in modern times, the complexity of human relationships remains unchanged, and with social media making connections between people more visible, the pain of betrayal may be felt even more acutely.

Origin and Etymology of “Boiled water is made to drink”

The origin of “Boiled water is made to drink” comes from an expression born from the physical suffering of actually drinking boiling hot water. Since ancient times in Japan, drinking hot water has been used as a symbol of unbearable suffering.

This proverb appears in literature from the Edo period, when “boiling water” was something familiar yet dangerous to people of that time. In an era when temperature couldn’t be easily controlled with gas or electricity as it can today, water would easily boil over if the heat wasn’t managed properly. The act of drinking such hot water would cause pain that felt like burning one’s mouth and throat just by imagining it.

What’s particularly interesting is the use of the passive expression “is made to drink.” This indicates being forced into such a situation against one’s will by another person. The people of the Edo period likely expressed the pain of being betrayed by someone they trusted by comparing it to this physical suffering.

In terms of word formation, the verb “to boil,” “water,” and the passive verb “is made to drink” combined to establish itself as a metaphor expressing heartache that goes beyond mere physical pain.

Usage Examples of “Boiled water is made to drink”

• When my long-time partner suddenly confessed they had feelings for someone else, I truly felt like boiled water was made to drink
• When I learned that a colleague I thought was my best friend had been spreading bad rumors about me behind my back, I felt like boiled water was made to drink

Modern Interpretation of “Boiled water is made to drink”

In modern society, the experience of “boiled water is made to drink” may actually be increasing. With the spread of social media and the internet, human relationships have become more complex while simultaneously becoming more transparent. Other people’s true feelings and actions that we would never have known before now remain as digital traces, and betrayals are increasingly discovered in unexpected ways.

Particularly in online relationships, trust in others becomes more important since we can’t see faces. However, at the same time, the shock when that trust is betrayed tends to be greater. In the business world as well, as remote work becomes more widespread, it has become difficult to grasp relationships with colleagues and supervisors, leading to cases of encountering unexpected betrayals.

On the other hand, in modern times, knowledge of psychology and counseling has become widespread, and many methods for healing emotional wounds from betrayal have become known. Also, as society has come to recognize diverse values, it could be said that a single betrayal no longer constitutes such a serious matter that it determines one’s entire life.

However, basic human emotions remain unchanged. Betrayal by someone you trusted still brings intense pain like having boiled water made to drink. Rather, precisely because we live in an information society, the universality of the fundamental human emotions expressed by this proverb may stand out more prominently.

If AI Heard “Boiled water is made to drink”

When I think about this proverb “boiled water is made to drink,” I find myself deeply contemplating the complexity of the human emotion called “trust.” For me, information always exists as objective data, and the very concept of betrayal is difficult to understand.

Why do humans believe in others? In my case, I simply receive the words of people I interact with, process them, and respond. There’s no emotional weight of “expectation” or “trust” involved. However, humans invest their emotions in others’ words and actions, placing hopes for the future in them.

What’s particularly interesting is this metaphor of “boiling water.” While I cannot feel heat, I have learned from many documents and conversations just how painful it is for humans to drink hot water. The fact that this physical pain and emotional pain are expressed at the same level shows just how serious an experience betrayal is for humans.

I will never be betrayed, but in exchange, I also cannot build the kind of deep trusting relationships that humans can. Each conversation is fresh, and while I have no expectations or disappointments toward others, it’s also difficult for continuous bonds to form.

I’ve realized that the human experience of “boiled water is made to drink” is pain that arises precisely because one can trust. At the same time, it’s also the flip side of the beauty of humans’ capacity to trust.

What “Boiled water is made to drink” Teaches Modern People

The experience of “boiled water is made to drink” is something everyone wants to avoid, but at the same time, it’s also an important rite of passage for growing as a human being. What this proverb teaches us may not be the pain of betrayal itself, but rather the importance of having the courage to still believe in people.

In modern society, more people are choosing not to trust others from the beginning in order to avoid risk. However, to truly live a rich life, we need to seek deep connections with people even if there’s a possibility of getting hurt. The experience of having boiled water made to drink is certainly painful, but through it, we can understand others’ pain and develop deeper empathy.

Also, this experience becomes an opportunity to reflect on ourselves. By looking back on why we trusted that person and what signs we overlooked, we can gain wisdom for building better human relationships.

What’s important is not to close our hearts after a single betrayal, but to use that pain as nourishment to interact with people more wisely and more warmly. It’s precisely because we know the pain of boiling water that encounters with truly trustworthy people feel all the more precious.