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Apparently 開き means "opening" but お開き means "closure", which seems very
counter intuitive. What is going on here? Are there any other similar cases in
Japanese language?
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2016-05-20T20:41:44.403
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2019-12-01T14:09:00.980
2016-05-27T09:49:57.690
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words etymology
Counter intuitive meaning of お開き
**_Euphemism vs. Taboo Words_**

**[婉曲語法]{えんきょくごほう} vs. [忌]{い}み[言葉]{ことば}**

「[閉]{と}じる」 ("to close") is considered a taboo word for auspicious events such
as a wedding party (even though the word itself is something we use without
thinking on a daily basis). Thus, we choose to say 「お[開]{ひら}きにする」 to mean
"bring (a happy event) to an end".

「閉じる」 is not the only 忌み言葉 that one needs to avoid using if one is giving a
speech at a wedding party. Words with negative meanings in the particular
context of "marriage" are to be avoided - [終]{お}わる (to end)、[出]{で}る (to
leave)、[別]{わか}れる (to part), etc.

Other examples:

「[葦]{あし}」⇒「[葭]{よし}」: " ** _Reed_** ". 「あし」 sounds like 「[悪]{あ}し」("bad"), so
let's call it 「よし」 so that it will sound like 「[良]{よ}し」("good")!

「[梨]{なし}」⇒「ありの[実]{み}」: " ** _Pear_** ". 「なし」 sounds like
「[無]{な}し」("nothingness", "non-existent"), so let's change it to
「ありの実」(literally, "fruit of the 'being/existing' kind")!

「スルメ」⇒「アタリメ」: " ** _Dried squid_** ". 「する/掏る」 means "to steal" and it can also
mean "to lose" in gambling. That does not sound too positive so let's make it
sound like "to win (money or object)" = 「[当]{あ}たる」!

(I chose the examples that I thought would be more interesting instead of the
obvious ones used in weddings and funerals.)
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2016-05-21T00:44:13.450
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I wouldn't touch upon the provenances of お開き as a mean to avoid 忌み言葉 - ominous
word / phrase as they were detailed by other users, and most of today's people
wouln't give any thought about it. I wonder how many Japanese would associate
it with 忌み言葉 today unless they are oct or nonagenarians.

I just would like to say お開き is very popular word which is used in both
business and social life as in;

これでお開きにしましょう - Let's finish the meeting.

ぼつぼつお開きです - The party will end soon.

では部長、お開きの言葉をお願いします Well, Director, would you give a closing remark of the get-
together?

まだお開きは早いんじゃないの？ Isn't it too early to close the party?

An alternative to お開き is 締め (tightening) as in;

"ではこの辺りで締めましょう - Now, let's conclude the discussion (meeting) at this poit."

"会長、締めをお願いします - Chairman, please wrap up the gathering."

It is customary to wrap up a celebration party such as a New Year and Year-end
party and any get-together by performing "三本 (or 一本)締め" by clapping hands of
all perticipants thrice (or once) in accord by the lead of party leader in
Japanese society.
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2016-05-24T06:38:26.153
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2016-05-24T20:17:59.727
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