“Were Your Parents Killed by Coriander?” Japanese Slang Expression

Definition

“… に親おやでも殺ころされたのか”, meaning “Were your parents or someone killed by …” is a sarcastic and provocative Japanese expression used on the internet. It is used against those who show their excessive hatred, anger and hostility toward someone/something, as if they hold a grudge since their parents were killed by them. For instance, when you see someone always ranting on about the taste of coriander, you may say ”パクチーに親でも殺されたのか？” meaning “Were your parents or someone killed by coriander?” As you might guess, the more bizarre and unlikely the sentence is, the funnier it sounds.

Word Structure

に親でも殺されたのか is roughly divided into the following 5 parts.

1. に: a versatile particle, which means “by” in this expression.
2. 親おや: a noun meaning “parent(s)”
3. でも: a versatile binding particle, which means “or someone/something” in this expression. (e.g. “お茶でも飲む？” means “Do you want some tea or something?”)
4. 殺ころされた: a passive form of “殺す”, meaning “be killed”
5. のか: the combination of the two particles “の” and “か, which forms an interrogative sentence.

On the whole, this expression means “Were your parents or someone killed by (something)”

Example Sentences

Ex1

彼かれのサラダにアボカドを入れたら、狂くるったようにキレられた。アボカドに親でも殺されたのか？

When I put some avocado in his salad, he became completely mad at me like crazy. Were his parents or someone killed by avocado?

Ex2

A: Apple製品せいひんはマジでくそ。絶対ぜったいにに買かうなよ。買かう奴やつはマジ情弱じょうじゃく

B: お前まえ、Appleに親でも殺されたのか？

A: Apple products are sh*t. Don’t buy them. If you but them, you are so 情弱 (stupid).

B Were your parents or someone killed by Apple?

(Note)

Learn more about 情弱 in the following post:

情弱 (joujaku): Japanese Internet slang for “lacking in common knowledge”

Synonyms: None
Synonyms in English: “Were your parents or someone killed by (something)?”

Related words and phrases: 親おや (parents), 殺ころす (kill), でも (or someone/something)