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粋が身を食う (すいがみをくう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-u)
too much pleasure ruins a man ; playing the dandy ruins a man
proverb
Proverb warning that excessive pursuit of stylish or pleasure-seeking behavior, especially in the context of geisha and prostitutes, leads to one's downfall. Often used in a moralistic or cautionary tone.
He ruined himself by frequenting the pleasure quarters. It's exactly a case of 'too much pleasure ruins a man.'
Written forms 粋すい が 身み を 食く う
Standard kanji spelling for this proverb.
すいが 身み を 食く う
Kana spelling is sometimes used for clarity or in informal writing.
Kanji 身 somebody, person, one's station in life Similar words 身み を 持も ち 崩くず す A more general expression meaning 'to ruin oneself' or 'to go to ruin,' not limited to pleasure-seeking.
遊あそ び 人にん Refers to a 'playboy' or 'man about town,' a person who indulges in pleasure, but without the proverbial warning nuance.
Etymology A traditional Japanese proverb. 粋 (すい) refers to stylishness or chic, especially in the pleasure quarters, and 身を食う (みをくう) literally means 'eats one's body/self,' metaphorically meaning 'ruins oneself.' The exact origin is uncertain, but it reflects Edo-period moral attitudes.
