Proverb / Kotowaza
網呑舟の魚を漏らす
Laws or regulations that are too loose allow major criminals to escape justice.
The net lets a fish that could swallow a ship escape
Quick Answer
Laws or regulations that are too loose allow major criminals to escape justice.
- Literal Image
- The net lets a fish that could swallow a ship escape
- How to Use It
- Used to criticize legal loopholes or instances where high-profile criminals avoid punishment due to administrative oversight or loose enforcement.
Meaning
Literally, a net with meshes so wide that it fails to catch even a fish large enough to swallow a boat. It is used as a metaphor for a system of laws or regulations that is too imprecise or lenient, resulting in the failure to apprehend major offenders or significant figures.
Literal Image
The net lets a fish that could swallow a ship escape
How to Use It
Used to criticize legal loopholes or instances where high-profile criminals avoid punishment due to administrative oversight or loose enforcement.
Tone
Critical or cautionary.
Examples
大規模な捜査にもかかわらず首謀者を取り逃がした。網呑舟の魚を漏らすだ。
Despite the large-scale investigation, the mastermind escaped. It is truly a case of the net letting the giant fish slip through.
厳しい規制があっても巧みに逃れる者がいる。網呑舟の魚を漏らすこともある。
Even with strict regulations, some manage to escape skillfully. Sometimes the net lets the giant fish slip through.
法の網も万全ではない。網呑舟の魚を漏らすことのないよう、制度の見直しが必要だ。
The legal net is not perfect. We must review the system to ensure that no giant fish slip through the net.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Features advanced literary vocabulary such as 'donshu' and utilizes a classical Chinese-derived structure.
網
あみ / ami
net
呑舟
どんしゅう / donshu
swallowing a ship
魚
うお / uo
fish
漏らす
もらす / morasu
to let escape; to leak
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a formal expression reserved for systemic or high-level failures, not personal mishaps.
Misread Risk
Do not use this for minor errors or small items being lost; it specifically refers to major figures or high-profile criminals escaping loose systems.
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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.