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青菜に塩 (あおなにしお, aonanishio) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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しお
の
よう
だっ
た
。
He failed the exam and looked completely dejected.
She's heartbroken and down in the dumps.
Kanji 菜 vegetable, side dish, greens Related 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.
