A1 Proverb Neutre

弘法にも筆の誤り

koubou ni mo fude no ayamari

Even Kobo makes mistakes

Phrase in 30 Seconds

A comforting proverb reminding us that even the greatest experts occasionally make simple errors.

  • Means: Everyone, no matter how skilled, is capable of making a mistake.
  • Used in: Comforting someone who failed, or admitting your own minor slip-up.
  • Don't confuse: It is not an excuse for laziness, but for human fallibility.
Expert + Ink Blot = Human connection

Explanation at your level:

This phrase means even smart people make mistakes. Use it when someone is sad about a small error.
It is a Japanese proverb. It tells us that even experts like Kobo Daishi make mistakes. It is a kind way to say that everyone is human.
Used to console others, this proverb highlights the fallibility of experts. By referencing a historical master, it suggests that errors are universal and should not be a source of deep shame.
This proverb serves as a cultural mechanism for social cohesion. By acknowledging that even the most esteemed figures are prone to error, it mitigates the pressure of perfectionism in professional and social hierarchies.
The proverb functions as an idiomatic mitigation strategy. It leverages the cultural prestige of Kobo Daishi to normalize failure, effectively reframing individual incompetence as a universal human condition, thereby reducing social friction.
This proverb is a quintessential example of Japanese cultural pragmatics. It employs a historical allusion to deconstruct the binary of 'expert vs. amateur' regarding error, providing a rhetorical device that fosters empathy and collective resilience in high-stakes environments.

Signification

Even a master calligrapher like Kobo Daishi makes mistakes. No one is infallible.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Kobo Daishi is a revered figure in Buddhism, making this proverb deeply rooted in history. The concept of 'mastery' is universal, and every culture has a version of this proverb. In Japanese business, this is used to maintain harmony (wa) after a mistake.

💡

Use it to be kind

This is a great phrase to use when someone is feeling down about a mistake.

Signification

Even a master calligrapher like Kobo Daishi makes mistakes. No one is infallible.

💡

Use it to be kind

This is a great phrase to use when someone is feeling down about a mistake.

Teste-toi

Fill in the missing particle.

弘法___筆の誤り

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : にも

The particle 'ni' + 'mo' (even in) is the correct structure.

🎉 Score : /1

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

1 questions

Use it carefully. It can sound patronizing if not said with genuine empathy.

Expressions liées

🔄

猿も木から落ちる

synonym

Even monkeys fall from trees.

Où l'utiliser

📝

Typo in a report

Colleague: I'm so sorry, I made a typo in the report.

You: Don't worry, 弘法にも筆の誤りだよ。

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Kobo (the monk) wrote with a brush, but even he made a blot. Remember: Kobo = Brush = Mistake.

Visual Association

Imagine a famous monk writing a beautiful scroll, then suddenly dropping a big ink blob on the paper.

Story

Kobo Daishi was writing a sign. He was so fast he missed a stroke. People saw it and laughed, but then realized: even he makes mistakes!

Word Web

弘法筆誤り達人失敗人間

Défi

Use this phrase next time you see someone apologize for a small typo.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hasta el mejor escribano echa un borrón.

The Spanish version focuses on the 'scribe' while Japanese focuses on a specific historical monk.

French moderate

Il arrive même au meilleur cheval de trébucher.

Animal vs. Human expert.

German moderate

Auch ein Meister fällt mal vom Himmel.

German is more dramatic (falling from the sky).

Japanese high

猿も木から落ちる

This one is more about physical skill rather than intellectual/artistic skill.

Arabic moderate

لكل جواد كبوة

Arabic focuses on the 'stumble' of a horse.

Easily Confused

弘法にも筆の誤り vs 河童の川流れ

Both refer to experts failing.

Kappa is for physical skill (swimming), Kobo is for artistic skill (writing).

FAQ (1)

Use it carefully. It can sound patronizing if not said with genuine empathy.

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