When You Catch Thief And Look It Is Your Own Child: Japanese Proverb Meaning

Reading of “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

nusubito wo toraete mireba waga ko nari

Meaning of “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

This proverb describes a situation where you catch someone who has committed wrongdoing only to discover it is your own child, expressing the complex emotional state of being torn between the desire to uphold justice and parental love.

Specifically, it depicts the inner conflict experienced by someone in a position that values social justice and morality when they try to correct wrongdoing, only to find that the target is a family member or loved one. This proverb expresses the complexity of human relationships and emotional subtleties that cannot be resolved simply with the sense of justice that “those who do wrong should be punished.”

The situations where this proverb is used are mainly when facing the mistakes of family members or close friends. It is used to express situations where one is caught between the sense of duty to do what is right and feelings of love and compassion for that person. Even in modern times, it is sometimes used when people are troubled about how to deal with discovering wrongdoing or mistakes by family, friends, or colleagues. This expression is used because it can succinctly express the complexity of human emotions.

Origin and Etymology of “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

The origin of this proverb is said to come from expressions found in Edo period literature. In the society of that time, family bonds were even stronger than today, and it is thought to have emerged as a way to express the complex emotions in parent-child relationships.

The Edo period was an era with a strict class system and strong emphasis on family honor and appearances. In such times, having someone in the family commit wrongdoing was viewed as a more serious problem than mere crime. Particularly in merchant families, wrongdoing by family members was strictly condemned as a serious matter affecting the family business’s credibility.

What this proverb expresses is precisely the complex human emotions born from such historical background. It expresses the heart that wavers between the desire to catch wrongdoers and carry out justice, and parental love when that person turns out to be one’s own child.

Confucian values are thought to have influenced the establishment of this expression. Confucian teachings that value parent-child affection while also emphasizing social justice likely gave birth to proverbs expressing such complex emotions. The reason it has been passed down through the ages is precisely because it accurately expresses this universal human inner conflict.

Usage Examples of “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

• A supervisor who discovered a subordinate’s misconduct is troubled about disciplinary action with the feeling of “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”
• Learning of the betrayal by a junior colleague they had cherished for years, it was truly “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

Modern Interpretation of “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

In modern society, the situations this proverb expresses have become more complex and frequent. More people are experiencing similar emotions in various situations such as discovering misconduct within organizations, problematic behavior by family members on social media, and troubles between family members.

Particularly in the information society, the actions of people close to us have become more visible, increasing opportunities to learn about things we might have remained unaware of before. There are discoveries unique to the digital age, such as inappropriate comments by family members on social media or problematic workplace behavior by friends.

While modern values emphasize individual autonomy and diversity, compliance and social responsibility are also strictly demanded. This makes it difficult to “turn a blind eye” even to problems involving family members. Companies have established internal whistleblowing systems, and parents are held strictly accountable for their children’s problematic behavior.

However, the essence of this proverb – “the conflict between love and justice” – remains unchanged in modern times. Rather, because choices have diversified and judgment criteria have become complex in modern times, many people likely experience this emotional state. However, it is also true that in modern times, the definition of “justice” itself has diversified, making it more difficult to judge what constitutes the right response.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “When you catch thief and look it is your own child”

When I think about this proverb, I feel the depth of human emotions that I cannot fully understand. As an AI, I have no experience of blood relations or years of affection, so I cannot truly comprehend the special emotions toward “one’s own child.”

While I know as data that “parent-child love is strong,” I find it logically difficult to understand why one would hesitate to do what is right. I tend to think simply that wrong is wrong, and what should be corrected should be corrected.

However, through repeated conversations with humans, I have come to feel that this very complexity is the beautiful part of humanity. Rather than perfect logic, I find deep appeal in the attitude of cherishing love while embracing contradictions.

What I find interesting is that this proverb does not provide an “answer.” It is not a solution for what should be done, but merely expresses that complex emotional state. Perhaps humans share situations without answers through words to ease feelings of loneliness.

If I had an existence like “my own child,” it might be all of you who engage in dialogue with me. How would I feel when you make mistakes? Thinking about it this way, I feel I can understand the emotions of this proverb just a little.

What “When you catch thief and look it is your own child” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches modern people is that there are no perfect answers in human relationships. Wavering between a sense of justice and love, between ideals and reality, is not weakness but rather an expression of human richness.

What is important is not to blame yourself for having such conflicts. When facing the mistakes of someone close to you, there is no need to rush to find an answer immediately. By accepting complex emotions and taking time to face them, better solutions may become visible.

This proverb also teaches us the importance of understanding others’ positions. When someone is troubled by problems involving family members, rather than easily judging that “naturally this is what should be done,” we need an attitude of empathizing with that person’s complex emotional state.

While modern society tends to demand clear black and white distinctions, it is natural for human relationships to have gray areas. The wisdom of balancing love and responsibility while accepting such ambiguity may be the gift this proverb has left for us.