Japanese meaning of 災い転じて福となす

Reading: AI

わざわいてんじてふくとなす (wazawai tenjite fuku to nasu)

English Translation:

Blessing in disguise

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Turning a setback into an advantage.

Cultural Context:

Linked to Buddhist/Confucian views on karma and resilience; common in disaster-recovery narratives and corporate crisis communications in Japan.

不運やトラブルを活かして好機・利益に変えること。
仏教・儒教的な因果観やレジリエンス観と関連。災害復興の語りや企業の危機対応・広報で頻出。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• 災い (wazawai) = “misfortune” (noun)
• 転じて (tenjite) = te-form of 転ず (tenzu, “to turn/change”), classical form of 転じる
• 福 (fuku) = “fortune” (noun)
• と (to) = particle meaning “as” or “into”
• なす (nasu) = “to make” (verb, plain form)
Clause + と + verb structure expressing transformation from one state to another.

Trap for English Speakers

Literal meaning may confuse learners; it’s about turning misfortune into opportunity.

Example

Basic Example

大失敗がきっかけで新しい道が開けた、まさに災い転じて福となすだ。

A big failure opened up a new path—truly a blessing in disguise.

Applied Example

魔王に負けたおかげで仲間が増えた、災い転じて福となすってやつか。

We lost to the demon lord, but gained new allies—a blessing in disguise.