How to Read “両手に花”
Ryoute ni hana
Meaning of “両手に花”
“Both hands in flowers” is a proverb that describes the fortunate situation of obtaining two good things at once.
It is particularly often used to refer to situations where a man is simultaneously courted by or accompanied by two beautiful women. However, this is not necessarily limited to romantic relationships, and it is also used in scenes where one is simply surrounded by two beautiful women in an enviable way.
The reason for using this proverb is to emphasize the enviable nature or good fortune of the situation. Just as flowers are symbols of beautiful things, having flowers in both hands expresses the luxurious situation of being able to obtain two beautiful or valuable things simultaneously. Even today, it is used in situations where a man is being escorted by two women, or when good things happen in succession, saying things like “This is truly both hands in flowers.” This proverb contains feelings of longing and envy for such fortunate situations.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “Both hands in flowers,” the current situation is that no clear documentary evidence remains. However, what is interesting when considering the formation of this proverb is that it is deeply connected to Japan’s traditional aesthetic sense.
Since the Heian period, Japan has developed a culture of appreciating flowers, and flowers such as cherry blossoms and plum blossoms in particular have been cherished as symbols of beautiful things. The act of holding flowers in both hands simply represents a state of having two beautiful things in one’s hands simultaneously.
Looking at literature from the Edo period, similar expressions begin to appear frequently. It is thought that within the common people’s culture of that time, fortunate situations where one could obtain multiple good things simultaneously came to be expressed through the visually beautiful expression of “holding flowers in both hands.”
Additionally, flowers have long been used as metaphors for women’s beauty. As the expression “a beauty like a flower” shows, the cultural background of overlapping flowers and beautiful women may have also influenced the establishment of this proverb.
In this way, “Both hands in flowers” is a proverb with a culturally rich background that expresses Japanese aesthetic sense and the joy of obtaining good things simultaneously.
Usage Examples
- At a colleague’s wedding, the groom was taking photos with his arms linked by his wife and his wife’s sister, and it was truly both hands in flowers
- Seeing the department manager looking happy while surrounded by two young female employees, I thought it was both hands in flowers and felt envious
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the proverb “Both hands in flowers” finds itself in a complex position. The original meaning of “a fortunate situation where a man is surrounded by two women” is sometimes viewed as problematic in today’s era where gender equality is emphasized.
Particularly in today’s world where social media has become widespread, the context in which this proverb is used has become more important. There is a possibility that it could be received as sexual harassment in the workplace, making it necessary to choose the occasion and audience when using it. On the other hand, in purely happy occasions such as weddings or family gatherings, it is still accepted as a warm expression.
What is interesting is that in modern times, there are increasing cases where it is used regardless of gender. It is sometimes used in scenes where a woman is escorted by two men, or even beyond romantic relationships, in the sense that “two good things happened at once.”
Also, on social media and in the media, it is often used as a caption when idols or celebrities take photos with multiple people, and in the entertainment world, it is used relatively casually. In this way, “Both hands in flowers” continues to change in its usage and how it is received, adapting to changes in the values of the times.
When AI Hears This
The fact that the “flowers” in “ryōte ni hana” (literally “flowers in both hands”) came to refer to “beautiful women” in modern times is actually a rare example of a word’s meaning becoming narrower.
When we examine Edo period literature, “flowers” represented all kinds of beautiful things—beautiful kimono, jewelry, works of art, and so on. In other words, “ryōte ni hana” originally had the much broader meaning of “holding beautiful things in both hands.”
However, from the Meiji period onward, this expression gradually changed to the limited meaning of “a man surrounded by two beautiful women.” This was no coincidence. As modernization established the image of the “successful man,” women came to be positioned as “accessories” that demonstrated a man’s social status.
This tendency is also prominent in modern media. When you do an image search for “ryōte ni hana,” nearly 100% of the results show combinations of one man with two women. Situations where a woman is surrounded by two men, or same-gender combinations, are virtually nonexistent.
What’s interesting is that similar expressions in other languages are used regardless of gender. For example, the English phrase “having the best of both worlds” is used by both men and women.
In other words, the change in “ryōte ni hana” is a microcosm of how Japanese society has viewed women. Language is a mirror of society. From the evolution of a single proverb, we can glimpse the history of our values.
Lessons for Today
What “Both hands in flowers” teaches us modern people is the importance of having a heart that honestly rejoices in fortunate moments. In daily life, when good things overlap, are you fully savoring that happiness?
This proverb expresses longing for luxurious situations, but it actually cultivates “the power to notice the richness of this moment.” Even without special occasions like having both hands in flowers, by counting two or three small daily happinesses, life should feel much richer.
Also, this proverb teaches us about the richness of human relationships. While a relationship with one person is wonderful, when you can build good relationships with multiple people, it brings joy truly like “Both hands in flowers.” By cherishing connections with various people – family, friends, colleagues – life becomes more colorful.
In modern society, concentrating on one thing tends to be considered a virtue, but sometimes the luxury of enjoying multiple good things simultaneously is also necessary. With the spirit of “Both hands in flowers,” please fully savor the richness of life.
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