Proverbs
Japanese meaning of 蓼食う虫も好き好き
Reading:
Voice sample:
たでくうむしもすきずき (tade kū mushi mo sukizuki)
English Translation:
To each his own
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
To each his own.
日本語で読む
好みや価値観は人それぞれという意味。
Cultural Context:
Resonates with Japanese social norms of avoiding direct conflict by respecting differences.
日本語で読む
意見や好みの違いを受け入れ、衝突を避ける日本的な社会規範と共鳴する。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 蓼 (tade) = “water pepper” (a pungent plant) (noun)<br>• 食う (kuu) = “to eat” (verb, plain form)<br>• 虫 (mushi) = “insect” (noun)<br>• も (mo) = particle meaning “even” or “also”<br>• 好き好き (sukizuki) = “likes and dislikes” (noun, reduplicated form for emphasis)<br>A compound clause where the first part is a relative clause modifying “insect,” followed by も and a noun expressing individual preference.
日本語で読む
• 蓼 = 独特の辛味を持つ植物「蓼（たで）」を表す名詞<br>• 食う = 動詞「食う」の基本形<br>• 虫 = 「虫」を表す名詞<br>• も = 「〜も」の意味を持つ助詞<br>• 好き好き = 好みや嗜好を意味する名詞で、強調のための畳語<br>前半が「蓼を食う虫」という連体修飾句になっており、それに「も 好き好き」が続く構造で、多様な嗜好を表します。
Trap for English Speakers
Could be taken literally as eating knotweed or insects instead of personal taste.
日本語で読む
食文化や植物の話と思われがちだが、人の好みは多様だという比喩。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
そのデザイン、賛否あるね。蓼食う虫も好き好き。
That design divides opinions—To each his own.
Example 2Applied Example
推しキャラの好みは人それぞれ。蓼食う虫も好き好き。
Everyone’s waifu picks are different—To each his own.
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「蓼食う虫も好き好き」 mean?