Skip to content

【No. 1953】Kiyō Binbō (器用貧乏 - Jack of All Trades and Master of None)

Aug 31, 2021 18:20
Kiyō Binbō

There is the word kiyō (器用), which means "dexterity."

In addition, there is the word binbō (貧乏), which means "poverty."

Combining these two words, we get the four-character idiom, kiyō binbō (器用貧乏).

Kiyō binbō is used to describe a person who can do various things with dexterity but is unable to accomplish anything significant and is half-hearted.

Here, the latter word binbō means something like "not having anything remarkable," derived from the meaning of "not having money (poverty)."

Note that this idiom sometimes has a positive nuance but usually carries a negative connotation.
器用貧乏

"Dexterity" を意味する「器用」という言葉があります。

また、"poverty" を意味する「貧乏」という言葉があります。

これらを繋げると、「器用貧乏」という四字熟語になります。

「器用貧乏」は、何でも器用にこなすことができるけれども、一つのことに集中できず、中途半端である人を指す言葉です。

ここで「貧乏」は、「お金を持っていない」の意味から転じて、「秀でたものを持っていない」のような意味で使われているというわけです。

「器用貧乏」はポシティブなニュアンスが含まれることもありますが、ネガティブが意味合いが強いので、注意してください。

Corrections (1)

No. 1 hakuame
  • Kiyō Binbō (器用貧乏 - Jack of All Trades and Master of None)
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Kiyō Binbō
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • There is the word 'kiyō' (器用), which means "dexterity."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • In addition, there is the word 'binbō' (貧乏), which means "poverty."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Combining these two words, we get the four-character idiom, 'kiyō binbō' (器用貧乏).
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • 'Kiyō binbō' is used to describe a person who can do various things with dexterity but is unable to accomplish anything significant and is half-hearted.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Here, the latter word 'binbō' means something like "not having anything remarkable," derived from the meaning of "not having money (poverty)."
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
  • Note that this idiom sometimes has a positive nuance but usually carries a negative connotation.
  • This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Interesting. I see this often... people are highly skilled yet they lack business sense to make money so the companies take advantage of them. However, I doubt that the binbo would refer to business/street smart required to make money.

Toru
Thank you for reading my post!
I sometimes see people like that too. Hmm, such people can be described as 'takara no mochigusare' (宝の持ち腐れ).
hakuame
Thank you for teaching another expression!

Comments