★青菜(あおな) に 塩(しお) [Japanese Proverb]

Do you know what happens when you sprinkle some salt on fresh green vegetables? They shrivel up.
When your friend seem down who is always happy and cheerful, we have a saying for this situation.

青菜(あおな) に 塩(しお)

・青菜(あおな) means green vegetables.
In Japan, we often describes the color green as blue.
For example, we call green traffic light as 青信号(あおしんごう) blue light, fresh green leaves as 青葉(あおば) etc.

・塩(しお) means salt.

**********************************************************************************
★Let's use this proverb in the conversation!

A:どうしたの？まるで、青菜(あおな) に 塩(しお)だね。
What's wrong? You look like shriveled vegetables.

B:先生(せんせい)に怒(おこ)られた。
My teacher yelled at me.

A:元気(げんき)をだして！チョコレートあげるから。
Cheer up, let me give you some chocolate.

**********************************************************************************