【No. 2135】Kyūso Neko wo Kamu (窮鼠猫を噛む - A Cornered Mouse Bites a Cat)
Aug 26, 2023 20:31
Kyūso Neko wo Kamu
When the weak are pushed into a desperate situation, they may fight back against the strong with all their might.
The proverb kyūso neko wo kamu (窮鼠猫を噛む) describes such a situation.
Since kyūso (窮鼠) means "cornered mouse," neko (猫) means "cat," and kamu (噛む) means "to bite," the literal meaning of this proverb is "a cornered mouse bites a cat."
Even when there is a difference in strength, as between a cat and a mouse, the mouse might defeat the cat if it becomes desperate in a critical situation.
In other words, this proverb contains two lessons: "Do not give up even if your opponent is strong" and "Do not guard down even if your opponent is weak."
When the weak are pushed into a desperate situation, they may fight back against the strong with all their might.
The proverb kyūso neko wo kamu (窮鼠猫を噛む) describes such a situation.
Since kyūso (窮鼠) means "cornered mouse," neko (猫) means "cat," and kamu (噛む) means "to bite," the literal meaning of this proverb is "a cornered mouse bites a cat."
Even when there is a difference in strength, as between a cat and a mouse, the mouse might defeat the cat if it becomes desperate in a critical situation.
In other words, this proverb contains two lessons: "Do not give up even if your opponent is strong" and "Do not guard down even if your opponent is weak."
窮鼠猫を噛む
絶体絶命の窮地に追い詰められると、弱者も必死になって反撃することがあります。
「窮鼠猫を噛む」ということわざは、このような状況を表しています。
「窮鼠」は「追い詰められて逃げ場を失ったねずみ」、「猫」は "cat"、「噛む」は "to bite" を意味するので、「窮鼠猫を噛む」の文字どおりの意味は "" となります。
猫と鼠のように力の差があったとしても、窮地で必死になれば鼠が猫を負かすかもしれません。
すなわちこのことわざは、「相手が強くても諦めてはいけない」「相手が弱くても油断してはいけない」の2つの教訓を含んでいます。
絶体絶命の窮地に追い詰められると、弱者も必死になって反撃することがあります。
「窮鼠猫を噛む」ということわざは、このような状況を表しています。
「窮鼠」は「追い詰められて逃げ場を失ったねずみ」、「猫」は "cat"、「噛む」は "to bite" を意味するので、「窮鼠猫を噛む」の文字どおりの意味は "" となります。
猫と鼠のように力の差があったとしても、窮地で必死になれば鼠が猫を負かすかもしれません。
すなわちこのことわざは、「相手が強くても諦めてはいけない」「相手が弱くても油断してはいけない」の2つの教訓を含んでいます。
Corrections (1)
No. 1 O-Star
- Kyūso Neko wo Kamu (窮鼠猫を噛む - A Cornered Mouse Bites a Cat)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Kyūso Neko wo Kamu
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- When the weak are pushed into a desperate situation, they may fight back against the strong with all their might.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- The proverb 'kyūso neko wo kamu' (窮鼠猫を噛む) describes such a situation.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Since 'kyūso' (窮鼠) means "cornered mouse," 'neko' (猫) means "cat," and 'kamu' (噛む) means "to bite," the literal meaning of this proverb is "a cornered mouse bites a cat."
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- Even when there is a difference in strength, as between a cat and a mouse, the mouse might defeat the cat if it becomes desperate in a critical situation.
- Even when there is a vast difference in strength, just like how it is between a cat and a mouse, the mouse might defeat the cat if it becomes desperate in a critical situation.
- In other words, this proverb contains two lessons: "Do not give up even if your opponent is strong" and "Do not guard down even if your opponent is weak."
- In other words, this proverb contains two lessons: "do not give up even if/when your opponent is strong" and "do not let your guard down even if/when your opponent is weak."
Toru
Thank you for the corrections!
Thank you for the corrections!
O-Star
You're welcome!
You're welcome!