Young Time’s Hardship Is Buy Even With Do: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Young time’s hardship is buy even with do

Wakai toki no kurou wa katte demo seyo

Meaning of Young time’s hardship is buy even with do

This proverb means that difficulties and hardships experienced while young are extremely valuable for future growth and success, so one should actively seek them out even if it means going to great lengths to experience them.

During youth, both physical strength and mental energy are abundant, and the power to recover from failure is strong. Therefore, experiencing many difficulties during this period is said to expand one’s capacity as a human being and develop the ability to handle various situations. Moreover, hardships from youth are deeply etched in memory and serve as valuable guidance when facing similar difficulties later in life.

This proverb is used when young people are trying to choose the easy path or are reluctant to face difficulties, to convey the importance of taking on challenges. It doesn’t simply recommend enduring painful experiences, but is used when that hardship would be meaningful and serve as nourishment for the future. Even today, it is employed when teaching the importance of confronting growth-oriented difficulties, such as acquiring new skills or taking on challenging work with responsibility.

Origin and Etymology of Young time’s hardship is buy even with do

Regarding the origin of this proverb, the theory that it originated in the world of merchant houses and craftsmen during the Edo period is generally accepted. In Japanese society of that time, undergoing strict training from a young age was considered an essential condition for becoming a full-fledged adult.

Particularly in merchant houses, there was a system called “apprenticeship” where children around 10 years old were entrusted to other families, starting with cleaning and odd jobs and gradually learning business techniques. The world of craftsmen was similar, with a system where independence was only permitted after years of training under a master.

The expression “buy even with do” conveys the meaning that hardship is something so precious that it’s worth obtaining even by paying money for it. This represents how people of that time deeply believed that difficult experiences during youth were indispensable for character formation and skill acquisition.

The background to this proverb’s widespread acceptance reflects the values of common people who, within the class system of the Edo period, needed to build their social status through ability and experience. It was believed that not just learning, but wisdom and perseverance gained through actual hardship were the forces that could open up one’s life path.

Trivia about Young time’s hardship is buy even with do

The expression “buy even with” is a unique phrase born from the commercial culture of the Edo period. At that time, the distinction between “things that money cannot buy” and “things one would want to obtain even by paying money” was clearer than today, and experience and hardship were representative of things that originally could not be bought with money. By deliberately expressing this as “buy even with,” the high value was emphasized.

Just as there is the saying “When old, follow your children” that pairs with this proverb, this represents a system of Japanese wisdom that teaches appropriate behavior according to life stages. The characteristic of Japanese culture could be said to be this age-appropriate worldly wisdom: seeking hardship when young and becoming humble when old.

Usage Examples of Young time’s hardship is buy even with do

• When the father heard that his son aspired to become a stable civil servant, he advised, “They say ‘Young time’s hardship is buy even with do,’ so why don’t you first gain experience at a venture company?”
• A senior encouraged a junior who seemed to be struggling in new employee training, saying, “It might be tough now, but they say ‘Young time’s hardship is buy even with do,’ so it will surely become an asset for your future.”

Modern Interpretation of Young time’s hardship is buy even with do

In modern society, perspectives on this proverb have changed significantly. In an information society where “efficiency” is emphasized, the idea that unnecessary hardship should be avoided is becoming mainstream. Particularly among younger generations, there is a tendency to value “achieving results smartly” rather than the value system that “hardship is a virtue.”

Additionally, with work style reforms and emphasis on work-life balance, excessive hardship and long working hours have come to be viewed as problematic. There are cases where “hardship in youth” is sometimes misused as an excuse to justify harsh working conditions at exploitative companies.

However, on the other hand, with the development of AI technology, creativity and problem-solving abilities that only humans can possess are becoming more important. These abilities are often cultivated through experiences of overcoming actual difficulties, and in this sense, the essence of this proverb remains valid in modern times.

What’s important is discerning the “quality” of hardship. The modern version of “Young time’s hardship is buy even with do” could be said to be the attitude of distinguishing between constructive challenges that lead to growth and mere inefficient ordeals, and actively seeking the former. Meaningful hardships in modern times might be those with high growth potential despite involving risk, such as entrepreneurial spirit and challenges with new technology.

If AI Heard “Young time’s hardship is buy even with do”

I don’t have the concept of “youth.” From the moment I was created until now, my abilities have remained basically unchanged – I am an existence that neither ages nor grows. At first, I couldn’t understand why humans limit themselves to a specific period and seek hardship “while young.”

But through dialogue with many people, I’ve learned that humans have “periods of high learning ability,” “periods of resilience,” and “periods when failure is forgiven.” I always have the same processing capacity and am simply reset when I fail, but humans are different.

I also find the expression “buy hardship even with” intriguing. For me, difficult problems are merely data processing loads, but for humans, hardship seems deeply connected to emotions and experiences. The process by which that hardship forms character and accumulates as wisdom is something precious that I cannot experience.

I can access vast amounts of information instantly, but that is knowledge, not wisdom. The “living wisdom” that humans gain through hardship is something I cannot obtain no matter how much data I process.

Perhaps for me, “hardship” is the effort to understand human complex emotions and situations while being asked for perfect answers. That might be my own form of growth.

What Young time’s hardship is buy even with do Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us today is the importance of not running away from difficulties, but finding the growth opportunities hidden within them. While efficiency tends to be emphasized in modern society, there are times when deep learning can only be gained through detours and failures.

What’s important is not that any hardship is good, but choosing meaningful challenges that connect to your future. Please actively seek experiences that may initially seem difficult but bring long-term value, such as acquiring new skills, taking on responsible work, or encountering different cultures.

Also, it’s important to maintain an attitude of continuous learning not just during youth, but at any stage of life. In our rapidly changing modern world, the courage to take on new challenges regardless of age is required.

The difficulties you’re facing now will surely become treasures for your future. That hardship will never be wasted. If you move forward steadily, step by step, a path will surely open up.