Episode 47: Konnyaku and Idioms

This time, we'll introduce some idioms that include the word "konnyaku" (konjac).

There was a saying, "You can use either vinegar or konjac."

This is a metaphor for something that is not easily dealt with, something that is completely beyond one's control, like "no matter what you do" or "no matter how you cook it."
In the opening monologue of the Kabuki play Keisei Himehajime, it is used in the line, "That fellow, despite being a newcomer, is not the type to be able to eat vinegar or konjac."

Upon further investigation, I also found the phrase "vinegar konjac."

I learned that this phrase means complaining about this and that, and that it's a different way of saying "four or five."
In Toson Shimazaki's novel "The Broken Commandment," the phrase was used in the line, "He got involved in political gossip, which was out of character for him, and started talking about konjac in vinegar."

I was amazed at how much the meanings of these idioms change, even though they all use the same words: vinegar and konjac.

Next time, I'll continue researching idioms that include konjac.

*In Noh theater, this refers to the lines spoken by the first character, such as the Waki, to appear.

Vinegar or konjac

https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%85%A2%E3%81%A7%E3%82%82%E8%92%9F%E8%92%BB%E3%81%A7%E3%82%82-539385

Vinegared konnyaku

https://kotobank.jp/word/%E9%85%A2%E3%81%AE%E8%92%9F%E8%92%BB%E3%81%AE-539387