Japanese meaning of 一寸先は闇
Reading:
いっすんさきはやみ (issun saki wa yami)
English Translation:
The future is uncertain
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
The future is unpredictable.
将来は何が起こるか分からないという意味。
Cultural Context:
A long-used Japanese proverb. Common in political commentary and cautionary speech.
古くからある日本のことわざ。政治評論や注意喚起の場面で使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 一寸 (issun) = a traditional unit of length, about 3 cm (noun)
• 先 (saki) = “ahead” or “in the future” (noun)
• は (wa) = topic particle, marking “ahead” as the topic
• 闇 (yami) = “darkness” (noun)
A topic–comment structure consisting of nouns, expressing uncertainty or danger immediately ahead.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken literally as “darkness ahead” instead of meaning unpredictability.
Example
Basic Example
市況は一寸先は闇だ、慎重にいこう。
The market can turn quickly—The future is uncertain.
Applied Example
迷宮は一寸先は闇。松明を忘れるな。
In the labyrinth, anything can happen—The future is uncertain.