【No. 2025】Iwanu ga Hana (言わぬが花 - Silence Is Gold)
May 8, 2023 13:52
Iwanu ga Hana
Sometimes it is better to be modest and say less rather than saying everything that comes to mind.
The proverb iwanu ga hana (言わぬが花) describes such a situation.
Since iwa/iu (言わ/言う) means "to say," nu (ぬ) is a negative suffix, and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of iwanu ga hana is "to say nothing is a flower."
In other words, by deliberately not saying anything (or saying less), one can create a modest and graceful atmosphere like a flower.
A similar English proverb is "Speech is silver, silence is golden."
Sometimes it is better to be modest and say less rather than saying everything that comes to mind.
The proverb iwanu ga hana (言わぬが花) describes such a situation.
Since iwa/iu (言わ/言う) means "to say," nu (ぬ) is a negative suffix, and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of iwanu ga hana is "to say nothing is a flower."
In other words, by deliberately not saying anything (or saying less), one can create a modest and graceful atmosphere like a flower.
A similar English proverb is "Speech is silver, silence is golden."
言わぬが花
なんでもかんでも思ったことを言ってしまうより、ときには何も言わないほうが、奥ゆかしく好ましいことがあります。
「言わぬが花」は、そのような状況を表したことわざです。
「言わ/言う」は "to say"、「ぬ」は否定語、「花」は "flower" を意味するので、「言わぬが花」の文字どおりの意味は "to say nothing is a flower" です。
あえて言わない（または口数を減らす）ことで、花のような奥ゆかしい雰囲気を出すことができるというわけです。
よく似た英語のことわざに、"Speech is silver, silence is gold" (雄弁は銀、沈黙は金) があります。
なんでもかんでも思ったことを言ってしまうより、ときには何も言わないほうが、奥ゆかしく好ましいことがあります。
「言わぬが花」は、そのような状況を表したことわざです。
「言わ/言う」は "to say"、「ぬ」は否定語、「花」は "flower" を意味するので、「言わぬが花」の文字どおりの意味は "to say nothing is a flower" です。
あえて言わない（または口数を減らす）ことで、花のような奥ゆかしい雰囲気を出すことができるというわけです。
よく似た英語のことわざに、"Speech is silver, silence is gold" (雄弁は銀、沈黙は金) があります。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 O-Star
- Iwanu ga Hana (言わぬが花 - Silence Is Gold)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Iwanu ga Hana
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Sometimes it is better to be modest and say less rather than saying everything that comes to mind.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- The proverb 'iwanu ga hana' (言わぬが花) describes such a situation.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Since 'iwa/iu' (言わ/言う) means "to say," 'nu' (ぬ) is a negative prefix, and 'hana' (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of 'iwanu ga hana' is "to say nothing is a flower."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- In other words, by deliberately not saying anything (or saying less), one can create a modest and graceful atmosphere like a flower.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- A similar English proverb is "Speech is silver, silence is golden."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
The late Jiang Zemin (China's former leader who succeeded Deng Xiaoping) once said, "say nothing, and you'll make a fortune" in English.
Toru
Thank you for reading my entry and letting me know that!
These sayings are very similar :)
Thank you for reading my entry and letting me know that!
These sayings are very similar :)
O-Star
You're welcome!
You're welcome!