Tongue-cut sparrow

Japanese: 舌切雀 - したきりすずめ

〘Noun〙① Animal folktale. An angry old woman cuts off the sparrow's tongue and chases it away, as she is angry when the sparrow, kept by a good old man, licks the glue. The old man searches for the sparrow's whereabouts and arrives at the sparrow's inn, where he is welcomed and given a gift of a box containing treasure. Envious, the old woman tries to imitate her, but this time the box contains snakes and poisonous insects. In the "Uji Shui Monogatari," there is a tale of a sparrow whose back is broken and two old women, which tells of an old style, and similar tales have been passed down throughout Asia. It is classified as an animal tale of gratitude, next to the old man type. ※Haikai Gyokukaishu (1656) 2 "Rainu ya Shita-kiri Suzume Hototogisu (Sadamuro)"② Like a sparrow with its tongue cut out, unable to express what is on one's mind. Being unable to express things well. Also, the person. ③ (figuratively from ①) Being chased away from one's master. To be kicked out of one's home. Also, the person who is kicked out.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 動物昔話。善良な老爺の飼っていた雀が糊をなめたのに腹を立てた老婆が、雀の舌を切って追い出す。老爺は雀の行方を求めて雀の宿に至って歓待を受け、土産に宝のはいっているつづらをもらって帰る。それをうらやんで、老婆もまねるが、今度のつづらには蛇、毒虫などがはいっていたという話。「宇治拾遺物語」には古い型を伝える、腰を折られた雀と二人の老婆の説話が見え、類話はアジアの各地に伝わる。隣の爺型の動物報恩説話に分類される。※俳諧・玉海集（1656）二「来啼ぬや舌きり雀ほととぎす〈貞室〉」② 舌を切られた雀のように、心に思うことを口に出せないこと。うまく言い表わせないこと。また、その人。③ (①から比喩的に) 主人のもとを追い出されること。家を追い出されること。また、その人。

出典　精選版日本国語大辞典精選版日本国語大辞典について　情報

<<: Thought - Shitaku

>>: Shitakisou - Shitakisou