Proverb / Kotowaza
秋の扇
A metaphor for a woman who has lost a man's love, or anything that was once valued but is now neglected after its time has passed.
an autumn fan
Quick Answer
A metaphor for a woman who has lost a man's love, or anything that was once valued but is now neglected after its time has passed.
- Literal Image
- an autumn fan
- How to Use It
- This proverb is used to describe the sadness of losing favor or relevance. While it traditionally refers to romantic relationships, it can also apply to fading trends or people who are no longer needed in a professional or social context.
Meaning
This expression compares a person's situation to a fan that is used constantly in summer but ignored once autumn arrives. It specifically refers to a woman who has lost the affection of a man. More, it is used to describe objects or people who were once highly valued or popular but have since been forgotten or discarded as circumstances changed.
Literal Image
an autumn fan
How to Use It
This proverb is used to describe the sadness of losing favor or relevance. While it traditionally refers to romantic relationships, it can also apply to fading trends or people who are no longer needed in a professional or social context.
Tone
The tone is literary and somber, carrying a sense of loneliness or neglect.
Examples
夏が過ぎれば必要とされなくなる。秋の扇のように捨てられるのは悲しいことだ。
Once summer passes, it is no longer needed. It is a sad thing to be discarded like a fan in autumn.
かつては重用されたが、今では秋の扇のように忘れ去られている。
I was once highly valued, but now I am forgotten like a fan in autumn.
流行が去った途端に見向きもされない。秋の扇とはこのことだ。
As soon as the trend passed, no one would even look at it. This is exactly what is meant by a fan in autumn.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji are basic, but the metaphorical usage and literary origin from the Wen Xuan make it less transparent for beginners.
秋
あき / aki
autumn
扇
おうぎ / ogi
folding fan
Usage Profile
Usage note: It carries a very strong nuance of being discarded or forgotten, so use it carefully when describing people.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to simply mean a fan used in autumn; it is strictly a metaphor for something that has lost its usefulness or favor.
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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.