JoJo's Bizarre Puns: Nehorihahori

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Chapter 68 of Vento Aureo formally introduces the character Ghiaccio. Here, Ghiaccio recalls the order given to him by the Hitman Team, to find Team Bucciarati no matter what. He also recalls the expression they used in the order; however, he finds the expression nonsensical and proceeds to rant about it.

The expression in question varies between different languages. This blog will go over some of these rants.

Note: This list is incomplete, so feel free to add more to this list.

Japanese

“

ヤツらを探し出すために……………………『根掘り葉掘り聞き回る』の…『根掘り葉掘り』……ってよォ～～～～～『根を掘る』ってのはわかる………スゲーよくわかる　根っこは土の中に埋っとるからな…だが「葉掘り」って部分はどういう事だああ～～～～～っ！？葉っぱが掘れるかっつーのよーーーーーーーッ！ナメやがって　この言葉ァ 超イラつくぜぇ～～～～ッ！！葉っぱ掘ったら裏側へやぶれちまうじゃあねーか！掘れるもんなら掘ってみやがれってんだ！チクショーーーッ

”

Here, Ghiaccio is ranting about the Japanese phrase "nehorihahori" (根掘り葉掘り), which directly translates to "thoroughly" but literally translates to "root digging (and) leaf digging". The phrase is defined by its first half, "nehori" (根掘り, lit. "root digging"), making the implication that something is not done thoroughly until the roots are pulled out. The second half of the phrase, "hahori" (葉掘り, lit. "leaf digging"), is added to create a euphonious Japanese wordplay, like "lovey dovey" or "super duper". However, the reason why many translations don't retain this expression is because there's no such expression in their respective languages that has something to do with digging up roots and leaves to find something.

Ghiaccio is taking the phrase literally and rants about how leaves are not found underground and therefore can't be "dug up".

English

“

I've gotta find them... Come hell or high water... That phrase, "hell or high water"... I get the "high water" part... I totally get it... 'Cause maybe a flood could happen or something... But what the fuck does the "come hell" part mean!? Who thinks hell can just move around!? What a stupid fucking phrase! It seriously pisses me off! You think hell's just gonna grow arms and legs and crawl out of the ground, huh!? Fuck no, you dumb shit! Hell stays right underground where it belongs!

”

“

If I'm going to find them... I'll need to work my fingers to the bone and put in some elbow grease. Elbow grease... I understand someone "working their fingers to the bone." That makes perfect sense. But what the hell is elbow grease?! I'm supposed to think elbows make grease? Are you kidding me? That phrase pisses me off like crazy! How does an elbow make grease? And even if they did, how is that supposed to help with anything?! Whoever came up with that phrase ought to squeeze their own damn elbows and see what they get. Dammit!

”

“

I was told to leave no stone unturned and take a leaf out of someone's book if I have to, in order to find them... I get the "leave no stone unturned" part. I totally get it. I mean, you have to turn stones over to find stuff. But what the hell does it mean to take a leaf out of someone's book?! What's a leaf doing inside a book?! Damn it! What's that supposed to mean?! Why the hell is there a leaf in a book?! You think I'm stupid?! Damn it!

”

“

There's only one way to catch these guys. Leave no stone unturned and think outside the box, they said. I get leaving no stone unturned, any idiot would. I mean, who hasn't turned over rocks to find stuff? But what the hell is "thinking outside the box" even supposed to mean? Maybe I think better in there! Damn it! So my brain's in a box now? That's the dumbest thing I ever heard! You big dumb idiot!

”

For those who are curious, "come hell or high water" means whatever difficulties may occur. "Working one's fingers to the bone" and "putting in elbow grease" are essentially synonymous, both meaning working hard to accomplish something. For the "take a leaf out of someone's book" expression, the "leaf" refers to a sheet of paper, and it means to do the same thing someone did. And "think outside of the box" should be self-explanatory.

French

Currently, there are no transcripts available here. However, in the French version of the manga, Ghiaccio rants about the French phrase "turning every rock and every blade of grass", and he rants about how nothing can hide behind a blade of grass.

In the anime's French dub, Ghiaccio rants about the expression "move heaven and earth", which is an idiom that implies one achieving something by all means necessary.

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