Japanese meaning of 医者の不養生
Reading:
いしゃのふようじょう (isha no fuyōjō)
English Translation:
Physician, heal thyself
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
One should fix their own flaws before advising others.
他人を助ける前に自分の問題を解決すべきという意味。
Cultural Context:
Derived from a biblical proverb. Often used in professional or advisory settings.
聖書の格言に由来。専門職や助言を行う場面で使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 医者 (isha) = “doctor” (noun)
• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle, linking “doctor” and “poor health care”
• 不養生 (fuyōjō) = “neglecting one’s own health” or “poor health habits” (noun; negative prefix 不 + 養生 “taking care of one’s health”)
The phrase is a noun phrase formed by linking two nouns with の, where the second noun carries a negative nuance through the prefix 不-.
Trap for English Speakers
May be misunderstood as just “a sick doctor” rather than irony about not following one’s own advice.
Example
Basic Example
健康指導してるのに自分は運動不足だなんて、医者の不養生だ。
Giving health advice while skipping workouts—Physician, heal thyself.
Applied Example
回復魔法の使い手が寝不足でふらふらって、医者の不養生だよ。
A healer running on no sleep? Physician, heal thyself.