ことわざ・四字熟語 of the Week

[Fuga]

Hey everyone!

I hope everyone is surviving the heat, and for those who live in places that stay cooler during the summer, I am very jealous of you!

Starting this week I thought that it would be a good idea to start a thread where I post a ことわざ・四字熟語 every week. I will be posting many kinds of ことわざ・四字熟語 (ranging from common to rare), but my main goal is to post common ones that could be used and ones that you may hear or read in the wild!

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Goals

The main goal of this thread is to expose ことわざ・四字熟語 to our students.

Why?

The reason behind this is because as you start immersing yourself in native content, you may see them while reading or you may hear it in conversations, and knowing them before hand could save some potential headaches when trying to understand them. Since ことわざ・四字熟語 is rooted into our culture, learning them could potentially allow you to understand the Japanese culture and morals a little more.

As mentioned above, I will aim to post common ことわざ・四字熟語, but may switch it up at times and post more rare ones that I think are interesting.

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ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

腐っても鯛。
くさってもたい

Translation:
Even if it rots, it’s still a sea bream. (A sea bream is a sea bream even if it rots)

Meaning:
A fine thing (product) will remain as a fine thing (product) even if the quality slightly declines.

Context:
鯛（たい）, sea bream, was and still is considered to be an expensive fish that is usually eaten in celebratory situations because they are thought to bring good fortune (めでたい). Due to this, their value and status stays higher than any other fish, even if it’s damaged or rotted.

When is it used?

It is usually used to express that someone or something still holds weight despite them being older or worn.

Example:

先生はもう引退して結構経つけど、やっぱり先生の踊りはすごいと思う。まさに腐っても鯛だ。

It’s been quite a while since sensei retired, but I still think his dancing is amazing. He’s truly a master of your craft.

Caution:

Due to the use of the word 腐る (to rot), depending on the context and the person it is used towards, it could sound a bit insulting since it emphasizes that they have aged or that their skills have slightly deteriorated.

[JamesBunpro]

Looking forward to these! My favourite 四字熟語 (used for study motivation) which no one seems to know: 一暴十寒

[Fuga]

ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

河童の川流れ
かっぱのかわながれ

Translation:
Even a kappa can drown.

Meaning:
It doesnt’ matter how good you are at something, there will be times where you will fail.

Context:
河童（かっぱ）is a water type yōkai that lives in rivers. They are known to be very good swimmers because they spend most of their time swimming.

When is it used?

This proverb is usually used remind someone that even a master of something has their bad days, so they should not be too hard on themself. It is also used to express surprise when someone that is usually perfect makes a mistake.

Example:

いつもあんなに綺麗に歌ってる先生が音程を外すなんて信じられない。これこそ河童の川流れっていうやつか。

I can’t believe that my teacher, who always sings so beautifully, is out of tune. I guess this what you call a drowning kappa (I guess this is what it means when people say ‘Even the best swimmers drown’).

Related ことわざ:

猿も木から落ちる
さるもきからおちる

[SoreWaMaichiru]

Love ことわざ thanks for this mini series!

[BreadmanNin]

What an awesome topic for a weekly thread. I’m going to love learning about these.

My daft brain didn’t notice this thread last week and it looks like I missed the first ことわざ. Is it still OK if I ask a question about last week’s ことわざ? What I’m wondering is, should I worry about sensitivities when using 腐っても鯛 to describe a person’s performance? See, I’m sure it’s safe to use 腐っても鯛 when descibing a worn tool that still works great, but if I’m praising a person, won’t I be hit with a “who are you calling a rotten sea bream?” 口は災いの元, after all.

[Fuga]

I hope you enjoy the series!

[Fuga]

You could definitely use 腐っても鯛 to describe a person’s performance! However, because 腐る does not have a positive nuance, it should not be used towards someone in a higher position or someone that is older than you. It is usually used towards peers or to talk about celebrities. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use it towards a 目上の人, especially if you have a good, friendly, casual relationship with them!

[BreadmanNin]

Interesting! Thank you very much!

[Fuga]

ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

塵も積もれば山となる
ちりもつもればやまとなる

Translation:
Even dust could form a mountain if they pile up.

Meaning:
Every little bit counts/Step by step

English Equivalent
Many a little makes a mickle.

Context:
It is said that this proverb came from a Mahāyāna Buddhist treatise called the Da Zhidu Lun. The original proverb that was written in the treatise was 微塵（みじん）も積（つ）もり積（つ）もれば、山（やま）となり動（うご）かせなくなる and was used to express that even the slightest anger or desire, when piled up, makes it harder for the soul to be saved. It was originally used with a negative nuance, but over time, it has been shortened and became common to use it with a positive nuance.

When is it used?

This proverb is used to to express that every little step taken towards a specific goal is a step taken in the right direction. It is usually used when someone wants to reassure someone (or themselves) that working towards a goal, even if it seems pointless, could lead them to accomplishment.

Example:

「５００円ぐらいならケチるな」と思うかもしれないけど、塵も積もれば山となる。

You might be thinking, ‘Don’t be so worried about saving 500 yen’, but every little bit counts.

You may also see this abbreviated as チリツモ.

[Fuga]

ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

灯台下暗し
とうだいもとくらし

Translation:
The base of a lighthouse is dark.

Meaning:
It is easy to miss facts that are put in front of you. The more familiar something is, the harder it is to notice.

English Equivalent
It’s hard to see what’s under your nose.

Context:
People often think that this 灯台 refers to a light house, however it actually refers to a candle that was used during the Edo period to light up a room.

Due to the design of the candle stand, it did not provide light directly under the stand.

When is it used?

This proverb is used in many situations where a person wants to express that they missed an obvious facts, or that they were too focused on something less important that they missed something more important.

Example:

友人達には感謝の気持を伝えていたが、自分の妻には全く伝えていなかったことに気づいた。まさに灯台下暗しだ。

I realized that I have been expressing my gratitude to my friends, but not at all to my own wife. It’s truly hard to see what’s under your nose.

Similar ことわざ

魚の目に水見えず
うおのめにみずみえず

[Fuga]

ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

花より団子
はなよりだんご

Translation:
Dango over flowers.

Meaning:
This ことわざ is used to express that it is better to make a decision based on practicality over aesthetics.

Context:
団子 （だんご）is more practical since you can eat it and it can fill you up, unlike flowers which are just good to look at.

It is said that this ことわざ originated when 花見 became popular among normal people. Back in the days, 花見 was considered to be an elegant activity that was done by rich people and eating 団子 was not the main purpose of this activity. When this practice reached the common folks, people started to enjoy the ‘eating 団子’ part instead of the ‘花見’ aspect of the activity. Originally, the ことわざ 花より団子 was created to make fun of people who chose enjoy the pragmatic aspect of the event instead of enjoying the elegant and refined part of 花見.

When is it used?
Due to how this ことわざ originated, it is still used when someone wants to express that someone has no class because they pick practicality over elegance, but it is more common to see/hear this used in situations where the speaker wants to express that practicality is more important than aesthetics.

Example:

初めての海外旅行は楽しかったし、いろんな美しい観光スポットに行けたけど、私は花より団子で、現地の料理を食べれたことが何より嬉しかった。

My first trip abroad was fun, and I got to go to various beautiful tourist spots, but because I am a ‘dango over flower’ kind of person, I was most happy that I got to eat the local foods.

Caution:

Due to the negative nuance it carries, you should be careful when using it towards someone else since they could think that you are implying that they have no class or elegance for the choice they made.

[JamesBunpro]

I think this one needs a 2025 update to 花よりストゼロ

[cattail]

can i say 団子より花 to express the oppsite way? like pick elegance over practical to use when someone want to be 派手

[Fuga]

Although, that isn’t an actual proverb, I think that will get the point across!

An antonym for 花より団子 is 馬子にも衣装, which means ‘even a boring person could look impressive if they have a fancy costume’.

[Fuga]

ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

初心忘るべからず
しょしんわするべからず

Translation:
Don’t forget your original intentions.

Meaning:
You should never forget the enthusiasm and humility you had when you started something new.

Context:
初心 derives from the Buddhist word 初発心, which is a word that describes the first time a person’s mind awakens to seek enlightenment.

It is said that this proverb comes from a Buddhist text that explains how the path to enlightenment is already open when your mind seeks enlightenment. This text is written to remind people that it is always important to remember their initial intentions since that is what leads them to enlightenment.

When is it used?
This proverb is usually used towards yourself or people that are getting cocky or too comfortable with something they are doing, to remind them not to become arrogant.

This could be used in a wide range of activities such as work, lessons, or even something like driving. For example, if a student is getting too arrogant in class because they are getting better/doing better compared to other students, a teacher will use this proverb to remind them to stay humble because they still have space for improvement.

Example:

現場仕事は慣れた頃ほど気をつけないといけないと先輩に言われたけど、まさに初心忘るべからずだな。

My senpai told me that the more comfortable you get on a construction site, the more careful you have to be. I guess this is what people mean when they say, that you shouldn’t forget your original intentions.

[Fuga]

ことわざ of the week

This week’s ことわざ is :

鴨の水掻き

かものみずかき

Translation:

A duck’s webbed feet.

Meaning:

You never know the struggles a person is going through or the amount of effort a person has put in by just looking at them.

Context:

For additional context, the duck that this proverb is referring to is a duck that is floating in a flowing river and not a pond.

When you see a duck just floating in the river, it may seem like that’s all they are doing, but in order to stay in one spot, they are paddling their feet to stay in that spot.

Just like these peaceful looking ducks just floating about, sometimes there is more going on in a person’s life that can’t be noticed on the surface.

When is it used?

This ことわざ is usually used in two different kinds of situations.

One of them is to describe that even though someone may appear happy, they may be going through some things in life.

Another situation is to describe that although a person may seem like they are just naturally good at something, they are actually putting in a lot of effort to be that good at something where people can’t see.

Example:

友達A：アイツはいつもニコニコしてて、悩みとかなさそうだから羨ましいわ。

友達B：実際そうかもだけど、鴨の水掻きっていうようにアイツもアイツなりの悩みとかあるんじゃない？

Friend A: He is always cheerful, and doesn’t seem to have any worries, so I am jealous of him.

Friend B: That might be the case, but, you know how they say ‘a duck’s webbed feet’? He might be going through some stuff (but we’ll never know).