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後釜に座る (あとがまにすわる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ru)
succeed to someone's post ; take someone's place ; step into someone's shoes
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to sit in the successor's seat'. Used when someone fills a vacated position, often in a work or organizational context.
部ぶ 長ちょう の 後あと 釜がま に 座すわ る の は 大たい 変へん な 責せき 任にん だ 。
Taking over the department manager's position is a heavy responsibility.
Written forms 後あと 釜がま に 座すわ る
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
後あと 釜がま にすわる
Kana spelling of the verb part; less common but still encountered.
Kanji 釜 kettle, cauldron, iron pot Similar words 後こう 任にん 後任 is a noun meaning 'successor' or 'replacement', while 後釜に座る is a verb phrase describing the act of taking over a position.
跡あと を 継つ ぐ 跡を継ぐ means 'to succeed' or 'to inherit' a role, often with a nuance of continuing a legacy, whereas 後釜に座る focuses more on filling a vacated seat or position.
Etymology From 後釜 (successor, literally 'after kettle') + に + 座る (to sit). The image is of sitting in the seat left by a predecessor. The exact origin of 後釜 is uncertain, but it likely derives from the idea of a kettle being passed on or replaced.
