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Proverbs

Japanese meaning of 遠くの親類より近くの他人

とおくのしんるいよりちかくのたにん (Tōku no shinrui yori chikaku no tanin)

English Translation:

A neighbor nearby is better than relatives far away

Scene:

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

In an emergency, people who live close by can help you more than relatives who live far away.
日本語で読む
いざというときには、遠くに住む親類より、近くに住む他人のほうが頼りになるという意味。

Cultural Context:

It expresses the value of getting along with your neighbors.
日本語で読む
ご近所づきあいの大切さを表すことわざです。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

•「AよりB」= B rather than A. •「他人」= someone who is not family.
日本語で読む
•「AよりB」で「AよりBのほうがよい」という意味。•「他人」は家族や親類でない人。

Trap for English Speakers

It does not say relatives are bad; it says distance matters in an emergency.
日本語で読む
親類が悪いという意味ではなく、いざというときは距離が大事だという意味です。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 停電の夜、ろうそくを貸してくれたのは隣の家の人で、遠くの親類より近くの他人だと思った。

    On the night of the blackout, it was our next-door neighbor who lent us candles. A neighbor nearby really is better than relatives far away.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 里の外の一族より、となりの家の忍び。まさに遠くの親類より近くの他人だ。

    The ninja next door helped more than his clan outside the village: a neighbor nearby is better than relatives far away.

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Quick check

Meaning

What does 「遠くの親類より近くの他人」 mean?

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