1.
wearing two hats; juggling two professions
Having two different occupations or roles simultaneously. Originally from the longer proverb 二足のわらじを履く (to wear two pairs of straw sandals). Often used with the verb 履く.
二足のわらじを履いている。
He's wearing two hats.
医者と小説家の二足のわらじを履く。
To work as both a doctor and a novelist.
会社員と農家の二足のわらじを履きながら、どちらも手を抜かない。
While juggling the roles of office worker and farmer, she doesn't cut corners in either one.
Literally "two pairs of straw sandals." The full expression is 二足のわらじを履く (to wear two pairs of sandals). Originates from the Edo period, when it was said that a person could not wear sandals for two different roles at the same time — specifically, a gambler could not also serve as a constable.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- AとBの二足のわらじを履く: to hold the dual roles of A and B
- 二足のわらじで活躍する: to be active in two roles
NUANCE:
In modern usage, the expression has largely lost its negative connotation. It is now used admiringly to describe someone who successfully balances two demanding roles. The original proverb implied that trying to do two things at once meant neither would be done well.
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 兼業: side job, dual occupation — a more formal and neutral way to describe having two jobs
- 副業: side business — specifically a secondary job alongside a main job
- 二刀流: two-sword style — used for someone excelling in two fields (popularized by baseball player Ohtani Shohei)