「我田引水」の意味と英訳
読み方：
がでんいんすい (gaden insui)
英訳
Acting in one's own interest. / Self-serving.
意味と文化的な背景
意味：
自分だけが得をしようとして、他人の立場や迷惑を顧みずに自分勝手な行動をとること。他者の利益や社会のルールを無視した、利己的で身勝手な振る舞いを指します。
To act only in one's own interest, even at the expense of others, and to manipulate situations for personal gain. It criticizes selfish or opportunistic behavior that ignores the well-being of others.
文化的な背景：
農業の比喩に由来し、現代では政治、ビジネス、人間関係の批判で広く使われる。
Originating from an agricultural metaphor, it is now widely used in politics, business, and interpersonal criticism in Japan.
英訳文法・学習のポイント
英訳文法のポイント
• "Acting in one's own interest." / "Self-serving." = Used to describe behavior that puts one's own needs above others.
• Often used in a negative or critical sense.
英訳の注意ポイント
Be careful not to translate too literally as "drawing water to one's own field"; it is an idiom meaning selfishness or self-serving actions.
例文
基本の例文
会議での彼の発言は我田引水だった。
His comments in the meeting were acting in his own interest.
応用例
「その案、お前の得になるだけだろ。我田引水じゃないか。」
That plan only benefits you. That’s acting in your own interest.