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青菜に塩 (あおなにしお) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression
feeling sad or downhearted ; down in the dumps
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression likening a person's drooping spirits to fresh greens wilting when salt is sprinkled on them. Used to describe someone who is visibly dejected or crestfallen.
彼かの 女じょ は 失しつ 恋れん し て 青あお 菜な に 塩しお の 状じょう 態たい だ 。
She's heartbroken and down in the dumps.
Kanji 菜 vegetable, side dish, greens Similar words しょんぼり しょんぼり is an adverb describing a dejected or dispirited manner, while 青菜に塩 is a set phrase that paints a vivid picture of wilting like salted greens.
意い 気き 消しょう 沈ちん 意気消沈 is a more formal, Sino-Japanese compound meaning 'depression of spirits', whereas 青菜に塩 is a colloquial, metaphorical idiom.
Etymology From the image of fresh greens (青菜) wilting when salt (塩) is sprinkled on them, used metaphorically for a person's spirits drooping. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional Japanese idiom.
