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瀬踏み (せぶみ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

瀬せ踏ぶみ

せ

ぶ

み

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

sounding out; measuring the depths

Literally, wading into a river to gauge its depth; figuratively, testing the waters or probing a situation before committing.

川かわの瀬せ踏ぶみをしてから渡わたることにした。
We decided to cross after sounding out the river's depth.
新あたらしい市し場じょうに参さん入にゅうする前まえ

に

、

まず

瀬せ

踏ぶ

み

を

する

必ひつ

要よう

が

ある

。

Before entering a new market, we need to test the waters first.

Kanji

瀬rapids, current, torrent
踏step, trample, carry through

Similar words

探さぐり
探り is a general term for probing or investigating, while 瀬踏み specifically implies a cautious, preliminary test, often with a physical or metaphorical 'stepping in' nuance.

Etymology

Compound of 瀬 (se, 'shallows, rapids') and 踏み (fumi, 'stepping'), literally 'stepping into the shallows'. The figurative sense developed from the practice of wading into a river to check its depth before crossing.