How to Read “馬には乗ってみよ人には添うてみよ”
Uma ni wa notte miyo hito ni wa sotte miyo
Meaning of “馬には乗ってみよ人には添うてみよ”
This proverb means that the true value or nature of things and people cannot be understood without actually experiencing them firsthand.
The comfort and ease of handling a horse can only be understood by actually riding it. Similarly, it teaches us that a person’s character and compatibility can only be truly seen by acting together with them. Rather than judging based solely on appearance, first impressions, or reputation from others, it emphasizes the importance of experiencing things for yourself.
This proverb is used when diving into new environments or when building relationships with people you meet for the first time. It is employed to recommend actually experiencing something first rather than holding anxiety or preconceptions. Even in modern times, this teaching is very effective when changing jobs, moving, or building new human relationships. It expresses the universal wisdom of life’s truth that things which cannot be understood by just thinking about them become clear through actual experience.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from the life experiences of common people during the Edo period. In Japan at that time, horses were valuable means of transportation, and opportunities for ordinary people to ride horses were limited. Therefore, “riding a horse” meant a special experience that was not usually possible.
The word “sou” (accompany) tends to be understood in modern times as “snuggle up to,” but in classical language it had a strong meaning of “acting together” or “spending time together,” particularly referring to traveling together. Travel during the Edo period was dangerous, so finding trustworthy travel companions was important.
The background to this proverb’s establishment lies in the class system of the Edo period. Since opportunities to interact with people of different social classes were limited, it was a teaching based on actual experience that you could not know a person’s true character without actually acting together with them.
Additionally, the historical context of commercial development at that time, which increased interaction with people from various regions and occupations, is also related. The formation of this proverb is thought to express the complexity of human relationships that cannot be judged by appearance or rumors alone, using the metaphor of horses—animals that were familiar yet difficult to handle.
Interesting Facts
The “horse” that appears in this proverb was like the automobile of today during the Edo period. Each horse’s personality and habits differed greatly, and it was common for gentle-looking horses to actually be fierce-tempered, or conversely for impressive-looking horses to be surprisingly obedient. Therefore, among people who handled horses, “you can’t know a horse without riding it” was truly an expression filled with real experience.
Interestingly, the expression “sou” (accompany) in this proverb was a much broader concept than the modern meanings of “dating” or “romantic relationship.” It referred to various forms of human interaction—as business partners, travel companions, or work partners—so it was a teaching that could be applied to far more diverse human relationships than in modern times.
Usage Examples
- Mr. Tanaka from the new department looked scary at first, but as the saying goes “Horse on ride and see person with accompany and see,” when I worked with him, he turned out to be a very kind person.
- Even regarding the school my son is worried about transferring to, as they say “Horse on ride and see person with accompany and see,” it’s important to first actually attend and see.
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become even more important. With the spread of social media and the internet, we have become able to obtain much information about others in advance. However, there is also a stronger tendency to judge people based solely on online information. We increasingly form preconceptions before actually meeting someone, evaluating them based on profile pictures and post content.
With technological advancement, review sites and word-of-mouth information have also become abundant. When choosing restaurants or purchasing products, it has become normal to first check others’ evaluations. However, relying too heavily on this information carries the danger of undervaluing our own experiences and sensations.
On the other hand, with the spread of remote work and online classes, opportunities to build direct human relationships have decreased. The reality is that it has become difficult to understand others’ true character and charm through screen-mediated communication.
Precisely because of such times, the value of actually experiencing things is being reconsidered. In job hunting, more people are emphasizing workplace visits and trial periods, and in romance, the importance of deepening relationships after actually meeting is being recognized again. In our information-overloaded modern age, this proverb teaches us anew the importance of “seeing with your own eyes.”
When AI Hears This
This proverb can be reinterpreted as a fundamental challenge to modern data supremacy. We now live in an era where we choose restaurants based on star ratings on review sites, judge people by their social media reputation, and make investment decisions based on AI analysis results. But do these “aggregated information sources” really tell us the truth?
What’s fascinating is that psychological research on “confirmation bias” shows that when people have prior information, they tend to focus only on aspects that confirm it. In other words, if you read online that “that person is cold” before meeting them, you become blind to their kind side. The same applies to horses—even if data suggests a horse has a “rough temperament,” you might find it surprisingly docile when you actually ride it.
Even more noteworthy is that experiences come with “context.” Data can tell us averages and general patterns, but only experience can reveal “how this applies to me, right here, right now.” For instance, a horse that doesn’t suit others might be a perfect match for your particular riding style.
Precisely because AI can now predict human behavior patterns with high accuracy, this proverb confronts us with the truth that “the chemistry that data cannot measure is at the heart of human relationships and judgment.”
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us in modern times is that “there is no learning superior to experience.” Precisely because we live in an age overflowing with information, we must not forget the value of walking with our own feet, seeing with our own eyes, and feeling with our own hearts.
When you feel anxious before a new challenge, remember this proverb. Job changes, moving, new hobbies, encounters with people you meet for the first time—all of these are full of unknowns until you take that first step. But the scenery you see when you take that step might be completely different from what you imagined.
In human relationships too, by not being misled by first impressions or rumors and actually spending time together, you can notice that person’s true charm. Someone you thought you disliked might actually become your greatest confidant.
What’s important is to keep your curiosity alive. Let go of assumptions like “it must be this way” and face the world with the feeling of “I wonder how it actually is.” If you do that, every day should become richer and more full of discovery.
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