[Japanese Idioms by Flashcards]
後ろ髪を引かれる思い
“a feeling as if one’s hair is being pulled back”
(a feeling of much reluctance, a feeling of leaving one’s heart behind)
A deep feeling of guilt for discarding one option in life in favor of another. Japanese feel a lingering tug of loyalty toward the discarded option. The tug, however, is not at the heart strings but at the hairs at the back of the head.
Sample text:
(Style: written/informal)
Ima kara sannen mae, toshioita fubo o nokoshite Tookyoo ni dete kita. Sono toki no ushirogami o hikareru omoi wa ima mo wasurerarenai.
今から三年前、年老いた祖母を残して東京に出てきた。その時の後ろ髪を引かれる思いは今も忘れられない。
Three years ago, I left my aged parents and moved to Tokyo. I still can’t forget that strong feeling of reluctance I felt then.
Japanese Idioms
