Ja no Michi wa Hebi (蛇の道は蛇 - The Expert Know Best)

Ja no Michi wa Hebi

In yesterday's post, I introduced the saying 'mochi wa mochiya' (餅は餅屋), which means that the expert will always do a much better quality job than amateurs.

Another saying, 'ja no michi wa hebi' (蛇の道は蛇), has a similar meaning to 'mochi wa mochiya'.

Both 'ja' (蛇) and 'hebi' (蛇) has the same Chinese character 蛇, meaning "snake," but 'ja' refers specifically to giant snakes, whereas 'hebi' refers to smaller snakes.

In addition, 'michi' (道) means "path."

Therefore, the literal meaning of 'ja no michi wa hebi' is "the path of a giant snake is (well known to) small snakes."

In other words, snakes understand other snakes well.

蛇の道は蛇

昨日は、専門家に任せるのがよいことを意味する「餅は餅屋」という言葉を紹介しました。

「餅は餅屋」と似た意味を持つ言葉に、「蛇の道は蛇」があります。

「蛇（じゃ）」と「蛇（へび）」はどちらも "snake" を意味しますが、「蛇（じゃ）」は特に大蛇を、「蛇（へび）」はそれよりも小さい蛇を表します。

また、「道」は "path" を意味します。

すなわち、「蛇の道は蛇」の文字どおりの意味は、"the path of a giant snake is (well known to) small snakes" となります。

大蛇の通る道は、同種の蛇であればよくわかるということです。

• In yesterday's post, I introduced the saying 'mochi wa mochiya' (餅は餅屋), which means that the expert will always do a much better quality job than amateurs.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Another saying, 'ja no michi wa hebi' (蛇の道は蛇), has a similar meaning to 'mochi wa mochiya'.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Both 'ja' (蛇) and 'hebi' (蛇) has the same Chinese character 蛇, meaning "snake," but 'ja' refers specifically to giant snakes, whereas 'hebi' refers to smaller snakes.
• Both 'ja' (蛇) and 'hebi' (蛇) share/have the same Chinese character 蛇, meaning "snake," but 'ja' refers specifically to giant snakes, whereas 'hebi' refers to smaller snakes.

• In addition, 'michi' (道) means "path."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Therefore, the literal meaning of 'ja no michi wa hebi' is "the path of a giant snake is (well known to) small snakes."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• In other words, snakes understand other snakes well.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Ja no Michi wa Hebi (蛇の道は蛇 - The Expert Know Best)
• Ja no Michi wa Hebi (蛇の道は蛇 - The Experts Know Best)

• In yesterday's post, I introduced the saying 'mochi wa mochiya' (餅は餅屋), which means that the expert will always do a much better quality job than amateurs.
• In yesterday's post, I introduced the saying 'mochi wa mochiya' (餅は餅屋), which means that the experts will always do a much bhighetter -quality job than amateurs.

• Another saying, 'ja no michi wa hebi' (蛇の道は蛇), has a similar meaning to 'mochi wa mochiya'.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Both 'ja' (蛇) and 'hebi' (蛇) has the same Chinese character 蛇, meaning "snake," but 'ja' refers specifically to giant snakes, whereas 'hebi' refers to smaller snakes.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• In addition, 'michi' (道) means "path."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Therefore, the literal meaning of 'ja no michi wa hebi' is "the path of a giant snake is (well known to) small snakes."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• In other words, snakes understand other snakes well.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

Toruさん、you always explain a lot of interesting, useful idioms in Japanese. I'm very grateful to be able to read all these helpful posts from you!