Netsuke - Sheep 根付「ひつじ」と不可算名詞

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is a netsuke titled Sheep, carved from amber with makie painting by Japanese artist Kinuyo Hariya.

It has a black sheep on it, so I searched for information about what the carver meant by it, but couldn't find anything and instead it reminded me of something.... Why can't we say two "sheeps" in English? It doesn't make sense (to me, who is Japanese) that sheep are uncountable. Why can't we say 'two sheeps' in English? As a Japanese speaker, it doesn't make sense to me that 'sheep' has the same form for both singular and plural.

Japanese features a complex system of counter words that change depending on the object being counted. For instance, small animals like sheep use hiki, while large animals like cattle or horses use tō. Although memorizing these distinctions can be difficult, the language does not use the English-style countable and uncountable noun division; instead, almost all nouns require a specific counter.

Furthermore, Japanese has no masculine or feminine nouns, and speakers often omit the subject when it is obvious. To see the tragic misunderstandings this can cause, check out another post of mine, Lost in Translation: A Case of A Pale View of Hills.

Returning to our focus, the subtle translucency of the netsuke evokes a sense of cool serenity. Both this piece and the sheep sculptures can be viewed at the Tokyo National Museum. If you love netsuke, check out A List of Netsuke to see more than 40 pieces!

"Sheep" by Kinuyo Hariya　ひつじ - 針谷絹代

Carved from amber with makie painting of sheep
琥珀＆蒔絵　黒い羊の意味は｡｡｡？

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針谷絹代作の根付「ひつじ」です。琥珀に蒔絵が施されています。きれいかつ可愛いです。

英語で「black sheep（黒い羊）」はグループ内、特に家族内の変わり者、厄介者を意味します。欅坂４６の歌でご存じの方も多いのではないでしょうか。

ところで羊と言えば、英語で面倒な不可算名詞。羊は不可算なので以下のようになります。

The sheep is herded by the sheepdog.　その羊はそのシープドッグが誘導している。

The sheep are herded by the sheepdog.　その羊の群れはそのシープドッグが誘導している。

出典：BBC Learning English

「sheep」は単複両方で使われ、動詞（is / are）だけ変わります。集合名詞（例：staff, police）も間違いやすいですね。「staff」、「police」等は（ほぼ）常に複数扱いです。

Many staff were surprised by the appointment.　多くの職員がその任命に驚いた。

Police in this area are currently investigating 74 allegations.　この地域の警察は現在７４の訴えについて捜査している。

出典：BBC Learning English

「ひつじ」は東京国立博物館で見ることができます。根付がお好きな方はこちらの記事もどうぞ！

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