# \[Japanese help\]What does this text means? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2018, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329 "2018-08-09T09:41:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/1 "2018-08-09T09:41:38Z")
I have this wooden board, with Japanese text. > **[20180809 061038 hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/hFSWR1d)** > > Image 20180809 061038 hosted in ImgBB From what I managed to learn, it means something like “know where your feet are”, but it doesn’t make sense to me. Can you help with the literal and/or broader meaning? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/2 "2018-08-09T10:17:00Z")
I read Japanese and it’s not. However my Taiwanese wife says it’s Chinese. The first two characters mean to “take care” or “mind” and the last two mean “feet.” Signs in native English tend to say “Mind your step.” ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/3 "2018-08-09T10:43:27Z")
Thanks! Can you please tell me which side is up…? \ ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/4 "2018-08-09T13:12:22Z")
No problem! Needs to be rotated 90 deg clockwise with the simplest character on the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/5 "2018-08-09T14:14:57Z")
Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/6 "2018-08-09T14:21:00Z")
Apparently it’s a Zen buddhist phrase. The sign may actually be from Japan because it’s also used in religious context in Japan, and those characters (照顧脚下) are standard Japanese kanji, though they may be identical in Chinese. I’ve looked at a few Japanese-language Google hits [like this](http://tobifudo.jp/newmon/etc/kyakasho.html) - apparently it is a sign commonly seen at the entrance of Zen buddhist temples. The literal meaning is “watch your step” as **TokyoBayer** explained, but most references say it carries a deeper meaning about self-reflection and organizing your thoughts through organizing your shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Puzzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d07c76/32.png) [@Puzzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Puzzler)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/japanese-help-what-does-this-text-means/819329/7 "2018-08-09T17:37:40Z")
scr4 - thank you so much for the effort and the elaborated answer!