Make(mah-ke)

Wild chickens here on Kauai are getting stronger and stronger. Yesterday, I saw a big fat cat ran away from chickens.   The word "chicken" is supposed to mean "coward."  But they are not "chicken" anymore.  For me, a cat seemed to be "chicken" or "a loser. "

In Japanese, a loser is called "Make(mah keh)-inu" which literally means "defeated dog" or "beaten dog."  This is very similar to the English word "underdog" but "Make(mah keh)-inu" usually indicate the loser who makes excuse for any defeat or failure or mistakes.  

 I think the reason why a "dog " is chosen to mean "a loser" is maybe because dogs bark even when they feel scared.  It is not comfortable to hear the baking from the dog.  In like manner, we don't like hearing excuses or complaints from losers.  So the word "Make-inu" means more than a loser.  It never intend to blame you just because you couldn't win.   Rather "Make-inu" intends to blame you because you don't admit your mistakes or defeat.

Interestingly enough, there is a word "Make (mah-ke)" in Hawaiian language, too. "Make(mah-ke)" means "dead" or "to die" while Japanese "Make(mah-ke) means "defeated" which could also mean to die.  I'm not sure if this is just happening or not.  But since both Japanese and Hawaiian languages have so many similar words and their meanings,  I am guessing some words are originally Japanese which were used by Japanese immigrants more than 100 years ago.   Because one century is very long enough for human forget, people mixed up to understand some Japanese words as Hawaiian words.