29Where Does “O-dachin”
Come From?

Packhorse (Image courtesy of the International
Research Center for Japanese Studies)
Research Center for Japanese Studies)
Back in the day, people
used horses to carry
loads over land.
That makes sense
for heavy stuff—
much easier!
Indeed. Carrying
goods by horse was
called “da,” and the
fee for that service
was called “dachin.”
The word “o-dachin,”
meaning a small
reward or tip, comes
from that term.
Then if I carry
something, I should
get o-dachin too!