PhraseNinja

Proverbs

Japanese meaning of 武士は食わねど高楊枝

ぶしはくわねどたかようじ (Bushi wa kuwanedo takayōji)

English Translation:

A samurai picks his teeth even when he hasn't eaten / Keep up appearances

Scene:

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Even when poor and hungry, a samurai acts as if he has just eaten well. This proverb describes keeping one's pride in hard times, and may also be used to tease someone too proud to admit they need help.
日本語で読む
武士は貧しくて食事ができなくても、食べたふりをして悠々と楊枝を使うという意味。苦しくても誇りを保つ姿勢を表し、やせ我慢をからかう時に使うこともあります。

Cultural Context:

Reflects the samurai ideal of honor over comfort in the Edo period, when many samurai were actually poor.
日本語で読む
江戸時代には生活の苦しい武士も多く、体面を重んじる武士の気風を表しています。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

食わねど (kuwanedo) combines the classical negative ね with ど ("even though"): "even though he hasn't eaten."
日本語で読む
「食わねど」は否定の「ね」と逆接の「ど」の組み合わせで、「食べていないけれど」という意味です。

Trap for English Speakers

高楊枝 is not a tall toothpick; it means picking one's teeth leisurely, as if well-fed.
日本語で読む
「高楊枝」は高い楊枝ではなく、満腹のふりをしてゆったり楊枝を使う様子を表します。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 給料日前でお金がないのに、おごると言い張る。武士は食わねど高楊枝だね。

    He's broke before payday but insists on treating everyone. He's keeping up appearances.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 三日何も食べていない忍びが、敵の前で平然と笑ってみせた。武士は食わねど高楊枝、忍びもまた誇りは捨てない。

    Not having eaten for three days, the ninja calmly smiled before his enemy. A samurai picks his teeth even when he hasn't eaten — and a ninja never throws away his pride either.

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Quick check

Meaning

What does 「武士は食わねど高楊枝」 mean?

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