Japanese meaning of 針小棒大
Reading:
しんしょうぼうだい (shinshou boudai)
English Translation:
Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
To greatly exaggerate minor issues, turning insignificant problems into major ones and often causing unnecessary concern or confusion.
本来は取るに足らない小さな問題を、必要以上に大げさに話してしまうこと。冷静さを失い、物事の本質を見誤る危険があります。
Cultural Context:
Originating from Chinese idioms, it is used in journalism, gossip, and debate to criticize overstatement.
中国の成語に由来し、報道や噂話、議論で誇張を批判する際に使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase used with “に言う” to indicate exaggeration.
Trap for English Speakers
May be taken literally as objects of different sizes, missing the exaggeration meaning.
Example
Basic Example
彼は話を針小棒大にして伝えた。
He exaggerated the story from a needle to a stick.
Applied Example
小さな失敗を針小棒大に広められ、彼は肩を落とした。
A small mistake was blown completely out of proportion, and he hung his head.