How to Read “七度尋ねて人を疑え”
Shichido tazunete hito wo utagae
Meaning of “七度尋ねて人を疑え”
This proverb teaches that before trusting someone, you should repeatedly confirm and question to thoroughly assess their true intentions and reliability.
It certainly doesn’t mean to keep doubting people forever. Rather, it’s wisdom that says in order to build truly trustworthy relationships, instead of blindly believing from the start, it’s important to gradually understand the other person and repeatedly confirm things. “Asking seven times” means questioning the other person’s words and actions from different angles, or reconfirming after some time has passed.
This proverb is used especially when facing important decisions or when building new human relationships. It teaches the importance of sufficient confirmation before situations become irreversible, such as business contracts, choosing a marriage partner, or building friendships. Even today, this proverb’s teaching is very effective when dealing with people met on social media or when investment opportunities are presented. True trust relationships are born from deeply understanding each other.
Origin and Etymology
Regarding the origin of “Seven times ask and people doubt,” several theories exist, but the most credible is that it emerged from merchant society during the Edo period.
During the Edo period, trust in business was more important than anything else. However, at the same time, large transactions were often conducted based on verbal promises alone, and losses due to fraud and betrayal occurred frequently. In such circumstances, merchants learned the importance of sufficient confirmation before trusting others.
The number “seven” has long been used in Japan as a symbolic expression representing completeness or sufficiency. It appears in many proverbs and idioms such as “fall down seven times, get up eight” and “seven seas.” The “seven times” here is also considered to be an expression that doesn’t literally mean seven times, but rather conveys the meaning of “sufficiently” or “thoroughly.”
Additionally, some researchers point out that this proverb may have also been influenced by samurai society. From the Warring States period through the Edo period, information gathering and distinguishing between enemies and allies were vital skills that could mean the difference between life and death. There’s a view that such caution was inherited by merchant society and became established as this proverb.
In any case, it’s a proverb born as practical wisdom that teaches the importance of caution and confirmation in human relationships.
Usage Examples
- I was approached with a new investment opportunity, but following “Seven times ask and people doubt,” I’ll investigate it more thoroughly before deciding
- The job offer is attractive, but in the spirit of “Seven times ask and people doubt,” I plan to confirm more about the company’s actual situation
Modern Interpretation
In today’s information society, the meaning of this proverb has become more serious and urgent. With the spread of the internet and social media, we encounter vast amounts of information and people daily, but among them are mixed false information and people with malicious intent.
Especially online, it has become more difficult than ever to discern someone’s true identity and intentions. Profile photos might be fake, and backgrounds might be falsified. Many modern crimes, including investment fraud, romance scams, and phishing scams, begin by approaching victims as seemingly trustworthy individuals.
On the other hand, modern society tends to emphasize speed, and cautious approaches like “asking seven times” are sometimes criticized as “lacking decisiveness” or “missing opportunities.” However, this could be said to increase the value of this proverb even more.
In an era where the importance of “fact-checking” to verify information is emphasized, this proverb has gained new interpretation. There are many modern methods of “asking seven times,” such as confirming from multiple information sources, taking time to judge calmly, and seeking expert opinions. True information literacy is precisely the caution that this proverb teaches.
When AI Hears This
“Ask seven times before doubting someone” functions as the perfect prescription for the information chaos plaguing modern social media society. The specific number “seven” in this proverb remarkably aligns with the number of verifications psychologists say are needed to overcome “confirmation bias.”
On today’s Twitter and Instagram, a single post can be shared tens of thousands of times within seconds, spreading unverified information instantly. Yet people in the Edo period, when word-of-mouth was the only means of information transmission, already understood the importance of “multiple confirmations.” This is essentially the modern concept of “fact-checking.”
What’s particularly noteworthy is that this proverb says “ask and then doubt” rather than simply “doubt.” This represents what we now call “active information gathering” – showing an attitude of actively accessing multiple information sources rather than passively receiving information flowing through social media feeds.
In fact, digital literacy research shows that spotting fake news requires verification through at least three or more independent sources. The fact that Japanese people 300 years ago set an even more cautious standard of “seven times” suggests an approach to information that modern people should learn from. Now that viral controversies and misinformation spread daily, the value of this classical wisdom deserves renewed recognition.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is the very important truth that true trust relationships cannot be built overnight. In our rapidly changing modern society, we tend to seek immediate results, but human relationships, now as in the past, are something that must be nurtured over time.
What’s important is knowing the difference between doubting someone and trying to understand them. Doubting distances you from others, but repeatedly asking questions to understand actually brings you closer to them. Words like “Why do you think so?” and “Please tell me more details” are expressions of interest and respect for the other person.
Also, this proverb is a warning to ourselves. If we want to be trusted by others, we too must make the effort to honestly answer their questions and take time to be understood.
This ancient wisdom shines especially bright in modern times. Precisely because we live in an age overflowing with information, the attitude of carefully confirming each piece becomes the power that protects you and builds rich human relationships. Caution is not cowardice. It is courageous action that discerns what is truly important.
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