Japanese meaning of 無い袖は振れぬ
Reading:
ないそではふれぬ (nai sode wa furenu)
English Translation:
You can’t get blood from a stone
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
You can’t give what you don’t have.
Cultural Context:
Well-known Japanese metaphor. Often used in financial or resource discussions.
ないものは出せない、無い袖は振れないという意味。
日本で広く知られる比喩。金銭や資源の話題で使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 無い (nai) = negative adjective meaning “not existing” or “none”
• 袖 (sode) = “sleeve” (noun)
• は (wa) = topic particle, marking “sleeve” as the topic
• 振れぬ (furenu) = classical negative form of 振れる (fureru, “to wave/shake”), meaning “cannot wave”
The phrase uses a topic–comment structure with a classical negative ending to state an impossibility in a concise, proverbial way.
Trap for English Speakers
English speakers may translate sleeves literally instead of as a metaphor for resources.
Example
Basic Example
追加予算は無理だよ。無い袖は振れぬ。
We can’t approve more funds—You can’t get blood from a stone.
Applied Example
ポーション切れだ、もう無茶はできない。無い袖は振れぬ。
Out of potions—don’t ask for miracles; You can’t get blood from a stone.