胸むねに畳たたむ

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-mu)

Idiomatic expression meaning to keep something (often a secret, thought, or feeling) hidden in one's heart or mind, not revealing it to others.

彼かれはその秘ひ密みつを胸むねに畳たたんで、誰だれにも話はなさなかった。
He kept the secret to himself and told no one.

彼かの女じょの言こと葉ばを胸むねに畳たたんで、これから頑がん張ばろうと思おもう。

I'll bear her words in mind and do my best from now on.

Kanji

胸bosom, breast, chest
畳tatami mat, counter for tatami mats, fold

Similar words

胸むねに秘ひめる
胸に秘める also means to keep something hidden in one's heart, but it emphasizes secrecy more strongly. 胸に畳む can imply a deliberate act of folding away a thought or feeling, often with a nuance of cherishing or enduring it.
心こころに留とめる
心に留める means to keep something in mind or remember it, but it is more about mental note-taking and less about hiding or cherishing. 胸に畳む has a stronger emotional or secretive connotation.

Etymology

The expression combines 胸 (chest/heart) with 畳む (to fold), literally 'to fold in one's chest'. It metaphorically refers to tucking away thoughts or feelings inside oneself, similar to folding and storing something away. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a natural extension of the physical action of folding into an emotional context.