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Proverbs

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.
日本語で読む
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.
日本語で読む
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)<br>• 先 (saki) = “ahead” or “in the future” (noun)<br>• は (wa) = topic particle, marking “ahead” as the topic<br>• 闇 (yami) = “darkness” (noun)<br>A topic–comment structure consisting of nouns, expressing uncertainty or danger immediately ahead.
日本語で読む
• 一寸 = 約3センチを表す昔の長さの単位<br>• 先 = 「先・行く先・未来」を表す名詞<br>• は = 主題を示す助詞<br>• 闇 = 「暗闇・先が見えない状態」を表す名詞<br>名詞のみで構成された主題–述部型の構造で、すぐ先の不確実さや危険を表します。

Trap for English Speakers

Might be taken literally as “darkness ahead” instead of meaning unpredictability.
日本語で読む
距離や暗闇の物理的描写に意識が行き、将来の不確実さを指すことに気づきにくい。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 市況は一寸先は闇だ、慎重にいこう。

    The market can turn quickly—The future is uncertain.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 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.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「一寸先は闇」 mean?

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