What Does “Ottori Gatana de Kaketsukeru” Mean?
Have you ever heard the Japanese expression “Ottori Gatana de Kaketsukeru” (おっとり刀で駆けつける)? At first glance, you might assume that “ottori” means “calm” or “relaxed,” leading to the misunderstanding that this phrase refers to slowly arriving at a scene. However, the actual meaning is quite the opposite!
This expression means to rush to a place immediately, often in an emergency. For example:
“When I heard about the fire, I rushed over ‘ottori gatana’.”
So, why does a word that sounds like “calm” actually imply urgency?
What Does “Ottori Gatana” Mean?
The key to understanding this phrase lies in the word “Ottori Gatana” (おっとり刀), which refers to a sword that remains sheathed while rushing into action.
In traditional samurai culture, drawing one’s sword before engaging in battle was a standard practice. However, if a samurai was in such a hurry that they didn’t even have time to unsheathe their sword, it signified extreme urgency.
Thus, “Ottori Gatana de Kaketsukeru” paints the image of someone so rushed that they don’t even have time to prepare properly before running to the scene.
When to Use This Expression?
Even though samurai no longer exist, this phrase is still used in modern-day Japanese to describe situations where someone rushes to respond to an urgent matter.
1. Emergency Situations
- “I received a sudden complaint from a client and rushed over ‘ottori gatana’.”
- “When I saw the earthquake alert, I immediately ran home ‘ottori gatana’ to check on my family.”
2. Rushing to a Meeting or Event
- “My boss called for me urgently, so I dashed into the meeting room ‘ottori gatana’.”
- “When I heard my friend was in an accident, I ran to the hospital ‘ottori gatana’.”
Although we don’t carry swords today, the phrase still conveys the idea of “rushing into action without hesitation”.
Conclusion
Despite its misleading appearance, “Ottori Gatana de Kaketsukeru” actually means “to rush to a location immediately”, not “to arrive in a relaxed manner.” The phrase originates from the image of a samurai rushing into action without even drawing his sword.
This expression is still commonly used in business and daily life to describe quick and urgent responses. Now that you understand its meaning, try using it the next time you need to emphasize speed and urgency in Japanese!
