Demon Slayer Season 1 Episode 12
The Boar Bares Its Fangs, Zenitsu Sleeps (猪は牙を剥き 善逸は眠る)
Inosuke often shouts the phrase, ‘猪突猛進(chototsu moushin)’.
For some reason, the English translation is ‘Comin’ through! Comin’ through!’.
This does not make sense.
I will explain why it was translated this way and what it really means.
How did this translation come about?
You can tell by listening to the words Inosuke speaks, but they are very short.
In Roman characters, it is ‘chototsu moushin’.
This is because each Kanji has its own meaning, and four-character compounds, which are made by combining these characters, have many meanings, although the words are short.
However, there is no corresponding English word for this term, so an exact translation would be very long.
When translators try to give a translation that is short and close enough to fit the dialogue, the meaning and nuances are lost.
True meaning
‘猪突猛進’ is a four-character idioms composed of Kanji.
The true meaning can only be understood by understanding the meaning of the kanji.
‘猪’ means a wild boar.
‘突’ means rush.
‘猪突’ means to rush forward in a straight line, without thinking about anything else, like a wild boar.
‘猛’ means ferocious.
‘進’ means to push forward.
‘猛進’ means to push forward, fiercely.
Therefore, ‘猪突猛進’ means to push forward straight and furiously, like a wild boar.
With this thought in his heart, Inosuke shouts ‘猪突猛進’ and keeps on running.
The English translation “Comin’ through” has a different nuance.
‘Headlong rush’ might be a better translation.
In closing
This word can be used for emotions as well as actual movements.
Inosuke is a ‘猪突猛進’ in both emotion and action. 🙂
From now on, let’s shout ‘猪突猛進(chototsu moushin)’ as it is in Japanese.
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