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胸を借りる (むねをかりる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

胸むねを借かりる

JLPTN1

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

practice with a stronger partner; spar with a superior

Idiomatic expression, originally from sumo, where a weaker wrestler is allowed to practice with a stronger one. Now used more broadly in sports and skill training to mean receiving guidance or practice from someone more skilled.

See also: 胸を貸す

若わか手て力りき士しが横よこ綱づなの胸むねを借かりて稽けい古こする。
The young sumo wrestler practices by borrowing the chest of the yokozuna.

テニス部ぶの後こう輩はいが先せん輩ぱいの胸むねを借かりて練れん習しゅうしている。

The junior tennis club member is practicing with a senior as a stronger partner.

Kanji

胸bosom, breast, chest
借borrow, rent

Similar words

胸むねを貸かす
胸を貸す is the opposite perspective: a stronger person agrees to practice with a weaker one. 胸を借りる is from the weaker person's side, asking for or receiving that practice.

Etymology

Literally 'to borrow someone's chest'. The expression comes from sumo, where a weaker wrestler would practice by pushing against the chest of a stronger wrestler. The stronger wrestler 'lends' their chest (胸を貸す), and the weaker one 'borrows' it (胸を借りる).