Japanese meaning of 壁に耳あり障子に目あり
Reading:
かべにみみありしょうじにめあり (kabe ni mimi ari shōji ni me ari)
English Translation:
Walls have ears
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Walls have ears.
Cultural Context:
Parallels historical Japanese architecture like paper walls (shoji) where privacy is limited.
どこで誰が聞いているかわからないという意味。
障子や襖など音や声が漏れやすい日本の家屋構造とも関連する。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 壁 (kabe) = “wall” (noun)
• に (ni) = particle indicating location
• 耳 (mimi) = “ear” (noun)
• あり (ari) = classical form of ある (aru, “to exist”)
• 障子 (shōji) = “paper sliding door” (noun)
• に (ni) = particle indicating location
• 目 (me) = “eye” (noun)
• あり (ari) = classical form of ある (aru, “to exist”)
Two parallel clauses with identical structure (noun + に + noun + あり), creating rhythm and emphasizing caution.
Trap for English Speakers
May be interpreted only as a physical warning, missing the point about secrecy being hard to keep.
Example
Basic Example
内緒話は控えめにすべきで、壁に耳あり障子に目ありを忘れてはならない。
We must be discreet, remembering that walls have ears.
Applied Example
ギルドの噂話は危険だ、壁に耳あり障子に目ありだからな。
Guild gossip is risky—remember, walls have ears.