Looking away
Idioms, Stage 3chunk 6 of 22Noticing & the mind
Choosing not to see something, plus missing what's right under your nose.
- me o tsuburuturn a blind eye, overlookliterally “shut the eyes”
- me o somukerulook away from, refuse to faceliterally “turn the eyes away”
- mite minu furi o surupretend not to see, look the other wayliterally “seeing, yet putting on not seeing”
- toudai moto kurashiyou overlook what's right next to youliterally “below the lamp stand is dark”
Mix-ups me o tsuburu (let it slide) vs me o somukeru (refuse to face it) vs mite minu furi (pretend you didn't see); toudai moto kurashi is overlooking by accident, not by choice.
me o tsuburu
polite me o tsuburimasu
“shut the eyes”
turn a blind eye, overlook
In English: let it slide
Said by someone in charge who lets a small fault slide: konkai dake me o tsuburu (I'll overlook it this once). It also means accepting a downside you can live with: tashou no ketten ni wa me o tsuburu. The same words literally mean close your eyes, so context decides; mite minu furi is the disapproving version, ignoring something that's wrong.
Also said me o tsumuru.
konkai dake wa me o tsuburu yo.
I'll overlook it just this once.
今回だけは目をつぶるよ。
konkai dake wa me o tsuburimashou.
I'll overlook it just this once.
今回だけは目をつぶりましょう。
Written 目をつぶる · めをつぶるHeard 110× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside me o somukeru, mite minu furi o suru
me o somukeru
polite me o somukemasu
“turn the eyes away”
look away from, refuse to face
Said about avoiding an unpleasant truth or sight: genjitsu kara me o somukenaide. It's also literal, turning your eyes from something painful to see. Mite minu furi is pretending not to see so you needn't get involved; me o somukeru is not facing something because it hurts to look.
More everyday: me o sorasu (genjitsu kara me o sorasanaide), which is also looking away from someone's gaze.
genjitsu kara me o somukenaide.
Don't close your eyes to reality.
現実から目を背けないで。
genjitsu kara me o somukenaide kudasai.
Please don't close your eyes to reality.
現実から目を背けないでください。
Written 目を背ける · めをそむけるHeard 44× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside me o tsuburu, mite minu furi o suruMain list -naide (Stage 2)
mite minu furi o suru
polite mite minu furi o shimasu
“seeing, yet putting on not seeing”
pretend not to see, look the other way
In English: look the other way
Disapproving: ignoring bullying, cheating or someone in trouble because getting involved is a hassle. Mite minu furi wa dekinai means I can't just look the other way, and o is often dropped. Me o tsuburu is the forgiving version, letting a small fault go on purpose.
Casual alternative: shiranpuri suru (act like you don't know).
sonna no, mite minu furi dekinai yo.
I can't just look the other way.
そんなの、見て見ぬふりできないよ。
sore wa mite minu furi dekimasen yo.
I can't just look the other way.
それは見て見ぬふりできませんよ。
Written 見て見ぬふりをする · みてみぬふりをするHeard 30× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitlesLearn alongside me o tsuburu, me o somukeruMain list miru (Stage 2), suru (Stage 1)
toudai moto kurashi
“below the lamp stand is dark”
you overlook what's right next to you
In English: right under your nose
Said when a lost thing turns up somewhere obvious (keys in your pocket, glasses on your head), or when the answer was close by all along. Toudai here is an old oil-lamp stand, not a lighthouse, though many people picture a lighthouse.
megane, atama no ue ni atta. toudai moto kurashi da.
My glasses were on my head. Right under my nose!
メガネ、頭の上にあった。灯台下暗しだ。
megane, atama no ue ni arimashita. toudai moto kurashi desu ne.
My glasses were on my head. Right under my nose!
メガネ、頭の上にありました。灯台下暗しですね。
Written 灯台下暗し · とうだいもとくらしHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles