Proverb / Kotowaza
有る時払いの催促なし
Lending money on the condition that it can be repaid whenever the borrower is able, without any reminders.
Payment when there is [money], and no demand for repayment.
Quick Answer
Lending money on the condition that it can be repaid whenever the borrower is able, without any reminders.
- Literal Image
- Payment when there is [money], and no demand for repayment.
- How to Use It
- Used when someone offers an extremely lenient loan, or to describe a situation where money is lent without a strict expectation of getting it back.
Meaning
This expression describes a loan agreement where the borrower is only expected to pay back the debt when they have the means to do so, while the lender promises not to send reminders or demands. In many contexts, it implies that money lent under such loose conditions is unlikely to ever be returned. It reflects a generous but potentially risky approach to financial help.
Literal Image
Payment when there is [money], and no demand for repayment.
How to Use It
Used when someone offers an extremely lenient loan, or to describe a situation where money is lent without a strict expectation of getting it back.
Tone
Can express genuine generosity or a cynical awareness that the loan might effectively become a gift.
Examples
「困っているなら貸してあげる。有る時払いの催促なしでいいから」と言われ、助かった。
They told me, 'I'll lend you the money since you're in trouble. You can pay me back whenever you have it, and I won't press you for it,' and it really saved me.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic kanji like 有 and 払, but the term 催促 (saisoku) for demanding payment is specific intermediate vocabulary.
有る時
あるとき / arutoki
when one has [money]
払い
はらい / barai
payment
催促
さいそく / saisoku
demand; reminder; pressing for
なし
なし / nashi
none; without
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be aware that using this phrase as a lender might signal you don't expect to be paid back.
Misread Risk
Learners might interpret this as a simple financial term, but it carries a specific nuance about the low probability of repayment.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from customs during the Edo period. It originally referred to a lenient way of lending money where the borrower was permitted to return the funds only when they had sufficient surplus, without being pressured by the lender.
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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.