Mottainai (wasteful) and moushiwakenai (sorry)

Today's first word is

勿体無い もったいない　mottainai

It means 'it's a waste', 'wasteful', 'worth keeping'. For instance, my grandmother used to keep little bits of string because she considered it to be もったいない　to throw them away. Letting the tap run when you're brushing your teeth, throwing away plastic bags and so on were all もったいない for her.　(Aren't most grandmothers like this? They are from a generation where you needed to carefully conserve your resources and possessions.)

The word もったいない　has been appropriated by the green/eco movement in recent years. There is even a non-profit organization called MOTTAINAI.

A big もったいない　situation for Japanese people, especially older folk, is to leave grains of rice in your rice bowl. Rice has a special place in Japanese culture, and wasting it is several levels worse than wasting any other kind of food.

Besides もったいない、the other word that comes into play is:

申し訳ない　もうしわけない　moushiwakenai

This is a bit difficult to translate to English, but it means feeling ashamed, being apologetic. Used on its own to address someone, it means "I'm sorry". (You saw a lot of Japanese bankers using this phrase in the early '90s or so, while bowing their heads deep to the ground.)

So, whenever I'd leave little bits of rice in my rice bowl growing up, one of my parents would invariobly say もったいない, and then お百姓様に申し訳ない.

お百姓様に申し訳ない おひゃくしょうさまにもうしわけない　

ohyakushousama ni moushiwakenai

お百姓様 is a very polite word for farmer(s). So the entire phrase means, to feel shameful or apologetic towards the honorable farmer(s) who grew the rice.

Think of the starving children in (blank)

Another thing my parents used to say when we left food uneaten was, 'Think of the children in (some starving country)'.

(country) の子供のことを考えなさい　(country) のこどものことをかんがえなさい　 - (country) no kodomo no koto o kangaenasai

I thought it was only Japanese parents who did this, but I've since found out that parents all over the place say the same thing! I always thought that it was illogical. Why would me clearing my plate when I was full already, help the poor starving children in (some starving country)? But then, who said parents had to be logical...

You could probably guess the age of someone by which starving country their parents used to guilt them into cleaning their plates. For me, it was usually Ethiopia and Bangladesh I think. For an older generation in America it was the starving children of Europe. What country was it for you and your parents? Do you use the same tactic for your kids?

Comments

[yoko]

My parents said the same thing, too. I was a brat and replied, "Send my rice to [country] then-- I don't want it." Probably Ethiopia.

[Dan Jones]

My parents usually said China, and, like Yoko, I always called them out on it.

"You know, there are starving kids in China who would love this food."
"Then why don't you send it to them?"

I sure hope I never use that on my kids when I become a father.

[bk201]

It was the African children for me

[hknk]

My parents would refer to their parents saying "There are starving children in China!"

I always thought it was illogical too.

[デボン]

For me it was Somalia. Of course I thought it was illogical too however it did get me thinking what to be thankful for. However I wonder if many American families are continuing to say this because with America's obesity problems we no longer think our kids always have to clean their plates.

[Eric H.]

I grew up in the states and the starving country my mother always used was Ethiopia. When I got a little older I started doing the same thing that Yoko did and told her to box up my food and mail it to those starving kids. She stopped using the starving kids idea rather quickly.

[Caitlyn]

Haha... I think it's actually the parents' fault for cooking too much! And this is pretty common in the Asian context. My mum-in-law is one of those people who believes that it's better to have more food on the table than less.

[Eve]

I was born in America in 1988 and for me it's always been a rather generic "Africa," which is also what I seem to hear used nowadays by other people trying to encourage their kids. Unfortunately I didn't like questioning my parent's authority and ended up with a weight problem :(

It's funny you mention the rice thing - I always thought it was more polite to actually leave grains of rice in your bowl to show that you've had enough to eat (?!) but I may be thinking of a different culture. I guess I'd better do my best to finish my rice from now on! ^^;

[Momo]

I come from Italy and my mother (as well as my grandmother) told me never to waste bread. Of course it is a pity to throw away other food, but with bread it was particular. When sometimes there was some left, they tried (and still do) to re-use it in some recipes, because they always say that it is もったいない to throw it away. In those rare cases they were really forced to do so (when bread was hard as a stone) they use to kiss it before throwing it away. I still feel awful when I have to leave some bread or pizza in my dish after a big meal. I grew up with my mother always telling me: "think of poor children in Africa, they have nothing to eat and you waste what you have!". In italian culture bread is somehow linked to religion, so throwing it away is like rejecting what Jesus has done. I think bread in my culture has the same status as rice in oriental culture.

PS for Eve - I think the tradition of leaving food in your plate is arabic, or something of the sort: if you eat all that you have in your plate it means you're still hungry, if you leave something then you are satisfied with your meal.