Proverb / Kotowaza
秋の日は釣瓶落とし
The autumn sun sets extremely quickly, as if a bucket were falling straight down into a well.
The autumn sun is a falling well bucket.
Quick Answer
The autumn sun sets extremely quickly, as if a bucket were falling straight down into a well.
- Literal Image
- The autumn sun is a falling well bucket.
- How to Use It
- Used to remark on how quickly it becomes dark in the evening during autumn, or to warn that time for outdoor activities is limited.
Meaning
This proverb compares the rapid descent of the autumn sun to a 'tsurube'—a bucket used for drawing water from a well. When the rope of such a bucket is released, it drops instantly to the bottom. Similarly, in autumn, the transition from daylight to darkness feels sudden and fast compared to other seasons.
Literal Image
The autumn sun is a falling well bucket.
How to Use It
Used to remark on how quickly it becomes dark in the evening during autumn, or to warn that time for outdoor activities is limited.
Tone
A neutral seasonal observation that carries a practical cautionary nuance.
Examples
つるべ落としと言われる通り、さっきまで明るかったのにもう辺りは真っ暗だ。
Just as the saying 'tsurube otoshi' suggests, it was bright until just a moment ago, but now the surroundings are already pitch black.
秋の山歩きは、日の入りが早いことを計算に入れないと、秋の日は釣瓶落としで遭難の危険がある。
When hiking in the mountains in autumn, if you don't take the early sunset into account, you risk getting lost because the autumn sun sets as fast as a falling bucket.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary 'aki no hi' and 'otoshi' is basic, but 'tsurube' (well bucket) is a specific noun that requires understanding the mechanical metaphor of traditional wells.
秋の日
あきのひ / aki no hi
autumn day; autumn sun
釣瓶
つるべ / tsurube
well bucket (attached to a rope)
落とし
おとし / otoshi
falling; dropping
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is specifically about the speed of the sunset; it does not refer to the temperature or other seasonal changes.
Misread Risk
Do not use this for sunsets in summer or winter; the imagery is tied to the specific visual experience of rapid autumn dusk.
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Origin
A 'tsurube' is a bucket attached to the end of a rope used for drawing water from a well. When the rope is let go, the weight of the bucket causes it to drop instantly to the bottom. This proverb was born from the practical observation of how noticeably earlier and faster the sun sets in autumn compared to the long days of summer, likening the celestial movement to the swift drop of a mechanical tool.
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