How to Read “喉から手が出る”
Nodo kara te ga deru
Meaning of “喉から手が出る”
“From throat hand comes out” is a proverb that expresses a state of wanting something very intensely.
When there’s something you want that’s out of reach, normally you would extend your arm and reach out your hand, but when you want something so desperately that even that isn’t enough, this feeling is expressed through the extreme metaphor of wanting to extend your hand even from the throat, which is deep inside the body. This expression goes beyond simply “wanting” something and indicates an intense desire or craving to obtain something at all costs.
This proverb is used to express strong desires not only for money and material things, but also for status, honor, opportunities, and various other things. It’s effective when you want to convey your earnest feelings to someone or when expressing a third party’s strong desire. Even today, it’s naturally used in everyday situations, such as the feeling of wanting to join a desired company during job hunting or wanting to obtain limited-edition products.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “From throat hand comes out,” no clear documentary evidence actually remains. However, considering how this expression came to be, it’s thought to have emerged as an extremely natural metaphorical expression based on human bodily sensations.
This expression can already be found in Edo period literature, showing that it was widely used among common people. People of that time often used metaphors involving body parts to express feelings of strongly wanting something.
Behind the birth of this expression lies a uniquely Japanese sense of bodily awareness. When feeling strong desire, we sometimes actually experience a restless sensation deep in our throat. It’s thought to express that earnest feeling, as if hands were coming out from deep in the throat trying to grasp what we want.
This expression can also be understood as the ultimate form of “reaching out one’s hand.” Where normally you would extend your arm and reach out your hand, when you want something so much that even that won’t reach it, it expresses the feeling of wanting to extend your hand even from deep, deep inside the body – from the throat itself. Such metaphors rooted in bodily sensations continue to resonate with people’s hearts across the ages.
Usage Examples
- I want that new product so much that from throat hand comes out, but I don’t have any allowance left this month
- He seems to have feelings where from throat hand comes out regarding the promotion opportunity
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the expression “From throat hand comes out” may have become a more familiar sensation than before. We live surrounded daily by “things we want” – attractive product information flowing through social media, notifications of limited sales and time sales, lifestyle products introduced by influencers.
Particularly with the spread of online shopping, we’ve entered an era where desired items can be obtained with one click. However, it could be said that our craving for things that still can’t be obtained or are difficult to obtain has actually become stronger. There are many uniquely modern “From throat hand comes out” situations, such as obsession with limited items, frenzy over premium tickets, and battles for popular brands.
On the other hand, in modern times when material abundance has become normal, more people are experiencing “From throat hand comes out” feelings toward intangible things like experiences, time, and human relationships rather than simply wanting material objects. Cravings for things that can’t easily be bought with money – free time, ideal working styles, fulfilling human relationships – are manifesting as modern versions of “From throat hand comes out” feelings.
This proverb continues to be used without losing its relevance as words expressing the strength of fundamental human desires, even as times change.
When AI Hears This
The human body has a clear “division of roles.” The throat serves as the “entrance” for taking in food and air, while the hands function as the “exit” for grasping objects and performing tasks. However, in “hands coming out of the throat,” this natural order is completely turned upside down.
Normally, hands extend outward from the shoulders through the arms. But in this proverb, the hands attempt to burst forth from the throat—the “entrance.” It’s as if hands inside the stomach are trying to break through the throat to grab the desired objects outside.
What makes this reversal phenomenon fascinating is how it destroys the body’s very structure to express the intensity of human desire. Where we could simply say “reach out your hand,” the proverb deliberately creates an anatomically impossible situation.
Let’s consider the actual human body. The throat’s diameter is about 2 centimeters, while a hand’s width is about 8 centimeters. It’s physically impossible for them to pass through. Yet by expressing it as “hands coming out of the throat,” the proverb depicts an uncontrollable state of desire that transcends reason and physical limitations.
In other words, this proverb is an expressive technique that deliberately confuses the body’s “entrance” and “exit” to vividly convey the intense power of desire—so strong it ignores the basic structural constraints of the human body.
Lessons for Today
The proverb “From throat hand comes out” teaches us important things as we live in modern times. It shows us the naturalness of having strong desires, and at the same time, how to deal skillfully with those feelings.
Having strong feelings of wanting something is never shameful. It’s a human emotion that sometimes becomes the driving force that moves us forward. Feelings of wanting to acquire new skills, wanting to get an ideal job, wanting to spend time with important people are precious emotions that connect to our growth and happiness.
However, in modern society there are far too many “things we want,” and trying to obtain everything will exhaust us. What’s important is cultivating the ability to discern truly valuable things – things that are meaningful to our lives.
Also, when there’s something we want so much that “From throat hand comes out,” we mustn’t forget the wonderfulness of making efforts to obtain it. Things obtained through struggle will surely bring greater joy and satisfaction than things easily obtained.
We want to live with a sense of balance – cherishing our desires while not being overly controlled by them.
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