PhraseNinja

Proverbs

Japanese meaning of 鬼のいぬ間に洗濯

おにのいぬまにせんたく (Oni no inu ma ni sentaku)

English Translation:

Do the washing while the demon is away / When the cat's away, the mice will play

Scene:

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Relaxing and enjoying yourself while a strict or scary person is not around.
日本語で読む
怖い人や気をつかう相手がいない間に、のんびりくつろぐという意味。

Cultural Context:

The 鬼 usually stands for a strict boss, teacher, or parent. It may also be used jokingly when a family member is away on a trip.
日本語で読む
「鬼」は厳しい上司や先生、親などのたとえです。家族が留守のときに、冗談めかして使うこともあります。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

いぬ is the classical negative of いる (to be there), so 鬼のいぬ間 means "while the demon is not here."
日本語で読む
「いぬ」は「いない」の古い言い方で、「鬼のいぬ間」は「鬼がいない間」という意味です。

Trap for English Speakers

洗濯 here is not laundry. It means 命の洗濯, relaxing to refresh yourself. いぬ is not 犬 (dog), either.
日本語で読む
ここでの「洗濯」は服を洗うことではなく、くつろいで気分を晴らす「命の洗濯」のことです。「いぬ」も「犬」ではありません。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 部長が出張中だから、今日はみんなのんびりしてるね。鬼のいぬ間に洗濯だ。

    The manager is away on a business trip, so everyone's relaxing today. When the cat's away, the mice will play.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 厳しい師匠が城下へ出かけると、忍びの弟子たちは修行を休んで昼寝を始めた。鬼のいぬ間に洗濯である。

    When their strict master went down to the castle town, the ninja apprentices stopped training and took a nap. Doing the washing while the demon is away.

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Quick check

Meaning

What does 「鬼のいぬ間に洗濯」 mean?

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