Yudan Taiteki (油断大敵 - Don't Be Careless)

Yudan Taiteki

Previously, I introduced you to the word 'yudan' (油断), which means to let one's guard down or to be careless.

This word is often used in the famous four-character idiom, 'yudan taiteki' (油断大敵).

'Tai/dai' (大) means "big" or "great," and 'teki' (敵) means "enemy."

That is to say, yudan taiteki means that yudan (carelessness) is a big enemy because if you are in a state called yudan (if you are careless), you can cause a catastrophe.

This idiom can be translated into English as "Security/carelessness is the greatest enemy" or "Don't be careless."

油断大敵

以前私は、気を緩めたり注意を怠ることを意味する「油断」という言葉を紹介しました。

油断を使った有名な四字熟語に、「油断大敵」というものがあります。

「大」は "big," 「敵」は "enemy" を意味します。

すなわち「油断大敵」とは、気を緩めたり注意を怠ると大失敗を招くから、そのような「油断」は十分に気をつけるべき大きな敵であることを意味します。

英語では "Security/carelessness is the greatest enemy" や "Don't be careless" のように訳されます。

• Previously, I introduced you to the word 'yudan' (油断), which means to let one's guard down or to be careless.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• This word is often used in the famous four-character idiom, 'yudan taiteki' (油断大敵).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• 'Tai/dai' (大) means "big" or "great," and 'teki' (敵) means "enemy."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• That is to say, yudan taiteki means that yudan (carelessness) is a big enemy because if you are in a state called yudan (if you are careless), you can cause a catastrophe.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• This idiom can be translated into English as "Security/carelessness is the greatest enemy" or "Don't be careless."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

I don’t know if we have an equivalent idiom in English, but there’s “haste makes waste” (if you hurry you’ll make mistakes).