How to Say ‘Keeping something to yourself / hogging’ in Japanese
ひとりじめ
hitorijime
[hee-toh-ree-jee-meh]
💬 Usage Tip: Noun meaning “hogging.” Common with [〜しないで]. In soccer: [ボールのひとりじめ].
🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese coaching often frames sharing as manners + teamwork, not just tactics.
Phrase Breakdown
ひとりじめ
hitorijime
[hee-toh-ree-jee-meh]
keeping it all to yourself
Not sharing or not passing; in kids’ soccer it’s used to discourage dribbling forever and ignoring teammates.
ボールのひとりじめはやめよう。
Let’s stop keeping the ball all to yourself.
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