Japanese meaning of 弘法にも筆の誤り
Reading:
こうぼうにもふでのあやまり (kōbō ni mo fude no ayamari)
English Translation:
Even Homer nods
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Even experts make mistakes.
Cultural Context:
Alludes to Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) missing a brush stroke; used in education, QA, and reviews.
どれほどの達人でも誤りはあるという意味。
弘法大師の書き損じ逸話に由来。教育・品質管理・レビュー場面で使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 弘法 (Kōbō) = “Kōbō Daishi,” a famous Buddhist monk (proper noun)
• にも (nimo) = particle に (“even to”) + も (“also”)
• 筆の誤り (fude no ayamari) = “slip of the brush” (noun phrase), meaning a mistake in writing
Example using a respected figure to show that even experts make mistakes.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken as actually a calligraphy anecdote; the point is that even experts make mistakes.
Example
Basic Example
優れた人でも時には失敗することがある。弘法にも筆の誤りだ。
Even the best make mistakes—Even Homer nods.
Applied Example
恋愛マスターの先輩も告白で噛んだ、弘法にも筆の誤りってやつだ。
Even the love guru senpai stumbled over his confession—Even Homer nods.