Proverb / Kotowaza
あちら立てればこちらが立たぬ
Satisfying one side results in a disadvantage for the other.
If you set up that side, this side will not stand.
Quick Answer
Satisfying one side results in a disadvantage for the other.
- Literal Image
- If you set up that side, this side will not stand.
- Closest Equivalent
- You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
- How to Use It
- Used when facing a dilemma where a choice to improve one area negatively impacts another, making a perfect solution impossible.
Meaning
If you handle one matter or side effectively, it causes an inconvenience or problem for another. It expresses the difficulty of satisfying two conflicting demands or requirements at the same time.
Literal Image
If you set up that side, this side will not stand.
Equivalent Proverbs
You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Both express the impossibility of having two conflicting things at once.
How to Use It
Used when facing a dilemma where a choice to improve one area negatively impacts another, making a perfect solution impossible.
Tone
Neutral and reflective; can be used when discussing difficult decisions or trade-offs.
Examples
予算を増やせば品質は上がるが利益は減る。あちら立てればこちらが立たぬで、なかなか難しい判断だ。
If we increase the budget, quality goes up but profit goes down. It is a difficult decision because satisfying one side means the other suffers.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of basic pronouns, but the use of the provisional 'ba' form and the classical negative 'nu' ending increases the grammatical complexity.
あちら
あちら / achira
that side; that way
立てれば
たてれば / tatereba
if [one] sets up; if [one] supports
こちら
こちら / kochira
this side; this way
立たぬ
たたぬ / tatanu
does not stand; does not work
Usage Profile
Usage note: It specifically highlights that helping one side hurts the other, rather than just being a general failure.
Misread Risk
Do not confuse this with a simple mistake; it refers specifically to the trade-offs between two different interests.
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Kanji in This Proverb
Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression is said to have originated from a construction setting where setting up or erecting one pillar would cause another pillar to fall over.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.