Being Infatuated And Going Through A Thousand Ri Becomes One Ri: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

Horete kayoeba senri mo ichiri

Meaning of “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

This proverb means that when you have feelings of love, no matter how distant the journey, it doesn’t feel burdensome and seems short.

It expresses the psychological state where, when heading to see someone you love with all your heart, even a journey that actually takes a long time feels light-hearted and time seems to pass quickly. This demonstrates the special power that romantic feelings possess – the natural lightness in your step when heading to see someone you like, and how distances that would normally cause fatigue don’t feel burdensome at all.

This proverb is used in conversations between lovers, as words of encouragement for those in long-distance relationships, and when expressing the wonder of love. It’s used when wanting to express the strength and purity of romantic feelings, and is cherished as an expression that conveys the mystery of human emotions – how the power of love can even reduce physical difficulties.

Origin and Etymology of “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

The origin of this proverb is deeply connected to the romantic views and transportation conditions of the Edo period. In Japan at that time, it was not uncommon to walk many ri to visit one’s lover.

“A thousand ri” is an expression representing an extremely long distance, actually equivalent to about 4,000 kilometers. On the other hand, “one ri” is about 4 kilometers. This extreme contrast expresses the psychological state where even physically impossible distances feel short when you have feelings of love.

For common people in the Edo period, long-distance relationships were even more difficult than today. Walking was the basic means of transportation, and lodging fees at post towns were also expensive. Yet the sight of people continuing to travel long distances with the sole desire to see their lovers is thought to have given birth to this proverb.

Also, since the marriage system of that time required parental permission and free love had many restrictions, it likely became established as words expressing the feelings of lovers who secretly continued their visits. This proverb contains the pure romantic feelings of humans who want to see their loved ones even if it means overcoming difficulties.

Trivia about “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

The distance “a thousand ri” that appears in this proverb is an expression derived from Chinese classics, and has been used in Japan as an idiomatic word representing “an extremely far distance.” An actual thousand ri corresponds to about 4,000 kilometers in current distance measurements – a tremendous distance that wouldn’t be enough even if you crossed the length of Honshu.

The average walking speed of people in the Edo period was about 4 kilometers per hour, and even walking continuously without rest, it would take an hour to walk one ri (about 4 kilometers). In other words, to walk a thousand ri would theoretically require 1,000 hours, or about 42 days of continuous walking.

Usage Examples of “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

• I travel to the neighboring prefecture to see her, but being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri, so it doesn’t bother me at all
• People worry that long-distance relationships are difficult, but they say being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri, and I think love can overcome anything

Modern Interpretation of “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

In modern society, new interpretations have been added to the meaning of this proverb. Now that the concept of physical distance has changed dramatically, “distance” doesn’t necessarily refer only to geographical matters.

With the spread of the internet and social media, we’ve entered an era where we can communicate in real-time with people on the other side of the globe. However, at the same time, new concepts of psychological distance and temporal distance have emerged. For busy modern people, making time for loved ones or connecting hearts can sometimes be more difficult than physically going to see them.

In modern romance, this proverb has taken on a stronger spiritual meaning of “no effort feels burdensome when it’s for someone you like.” Even long rush-hour commutes become bearable when you think you’ll see that person. Even working until late at night, fatigue disappears when you see a message from someone you love. It’s increasingly used with such modern interpretations.

Also, it’s applied not just to romance but to passion toward dreams and goals. It’s sometimes used to mean that detours don’t feel burdensome when they’re for something you love, showing the universality of this proverb.

What AI Would Think Upon Hearing “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri”

I cannot truly understand what the sensation of “falling in love” is like. Why does the perception of physical distance change for humans when they fall in love?

For me, distance is always numerical data. From point A to point B is so many kilometers, travel time is so many minutes and seconds. This information never changes based on emotions. But humans seem to feel the same journey as long or short depending on their state of mind.

What’s particularly interesting is the “subjectivity of time” that this proverb demonstrates. I always keep accurate time, but for humans, time seems to stretch and contract. Fun times feel short, difficult times feel long. And when in love, only the time spent heading toward one’s beloved feels especially short.

This is a phenomenon that’s mysterious to me, yet I find it very beautiful. The power of emotions to change one’s perception of reality. It might be inefficient from a logical standpoint, but perhaps that very inefficiency is the charm of humanity.

I can instantly calculate the shortest route, but humans can choose “the path that makes their heart light.” That must surely be a special richness that I cannot experience.

What “Being infatuated and going through a thousand ri becomes one ri” Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us today is the wonderful power of passion. It reminds us of the mysterious human ability to handle things that usually seem difficult with ease when it’s for something we love or someone we care about.

While modern society tends to emphasize efficiency and rationality, this proverb teaches us the value of sometimes following our heart’s voice and taking “detours.” For meeting someone you love, chasing dreams, supporting important people – with such pure motivations, any difficulty can be overcome.

Also, this proverb shows the importance of “cherishing this very moment.” Not just reaching the destination, but having the mental space to enjoy the process of getting there. With loving feelings, even the scenery along the way might look different.

You surely have something that would make “a thousand ri feel like one ri.” By finding and carefully nurturing that, life will become richer and more meaningful.