Japanese meaning of 弱り目に祟り目
Reading:
よわりめにたたりめ (yowarime ni tatarime)
English Translation:
When it rains, it pours
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Misfortune tends to attract further misfortune.
Cultural Context:
Fixed phrase in everyday talk and tabloids; echoes older beliefs about curses/ill omens.
不運が重なりやすいという意味。
日常会話や大衆紙での決まり文句。祟り・凶兆への古い観念とも響く。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 弱り目 (yowarime) = “troubled/weakened condition” (noun phrase)
• に (ni) = particle meaning “in” or “during”
• 祟り目 (tatarime) = “cursed/ill-fated condition” (noun phrase)
Two noun phrases linked by に, showing misfortune compounded by further misfortune.
Trap for English Speakers
Literal meaning may confuse learners; it captures misfortune piling on when you’re already down.
Example
Basic Example
悪いことは続くもので、弱り目に祟り目だ。
Bad things come together—when it rains, it pours.
Applied Example
連敗中に主力が怪我…弱り目に祟り目だよ。
On a losing streak and then our ace gets injured—when it rains, it pours.