Yakeishi ni Mizu
Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb “yakeishi ni mizu.”
焼け石に水
The literal meaning is “water to a burnt stone,” and it expresses that any effect cannot be expected if your effort or help is a little bit.
今日は「焼け石に水」という日本のことわざを紹介します。
The derivation is very simple: it’s because if you put a little water on a burnt stone, the water will evaporate quickly.
「焼け石に水」は、少しの努力や援助では何の効果も期待できないということを表します。
There is another proverb that has the similar meaning, “nikai kara megusuri,” whose literal meaning is “eye-drops from a second-floor.”
由来はとても単純で、熱した石に少しの水をかけてもすぐに蒸発してしまうためです。
This proverb also means “it’s frustrating that things don’t work out smoothly,” in addition to “any effect cannot be expected.”
似た意味を持つことわざとして、「二階から目薬」があります。
