【Reading】ひよっこ

【English Name】Hiyokko (greenhorn)

"Hiyokko" is a Japanese idiomatic expression referring to an inexperienced, immature person. In the world of sushi, it is sometimes used to refer to an apprentice artisan who has just begun training, or a young worker not yet recognized as fully fledged.

The word's origin lies in a chick of a chicken (hiyoko). Because a newly hatched chick cannot regulate its body temperature well and cannot survive sufficiently on its own, it became established as a metaphor for a half-fledged, novice person. "Hiyokko" is a colloquial form derived from "hiyoko."

Sushi artisan training is traditionally said to span a long period, as in the saying "three years to cook the rice, eight years to form the nigiri." Starting from washing dishes and cleaning, one acquires skills step by step, through preparing the vinegared rice and the pre-processing of fish. Within this strict apprenticeship system, a senior artisan may use the expression "still a hiyokko" when admonishing a junior.

Words with similar meaning include "aonisai" (greenhorn), "hanninmae" (half-fledged), and "kakedashi" (beginner), all used as expressions indicating lack of experience.