Japanese meaning of 一難去ってまた一難

Reading:
いちなんさってまたいちなん (ichinan satte mata ichinan)

English Translation:

Out of the frying pan into the fire

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:


Troubles often come one after another.

Cultural Context:


Used in news, disaster talk, and everyday complaints; common in headlines.

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• 一難去って = “one difficulty passes” (noun + verb in te-form)
• また一難 = “another difficulty again” (adverb + noun)
Two-part expression showing difficulties coming in succession.

Trap for English Speakers

Literal meaning may confuse learners; it highlights that troubles often come one after another.

Example

Basic Example

一つの問題が解決したと思ったら、すぐに別の問題が起きた。一難去ってまた一難だ。

One problem ended, and another began—out of the frying pan into the fire.


Applied Example

やっと付き合えたと思ったら遠距離に…一難去ってまた一難だな。

We finally started dating, but now it’s long distance—out of the frying pan into the fire.