Proverb / Kotowaza
朝雨は女の腕まくり
Morning rain stops quickly, much like a woman's spirited enthusiasm is said to be short-lived.
Morning rain is like a woman rolling up her sleeves.
Quick Answer
Morning rain stops quickly, much like a woman's spirited enthusiasm is said to be short-lived.
- Literal Image
- Morning rain is like a woman rolling up her sleeves.
- How to Use It
- Used when predicting that morning rain will soon clear, or when commenting on a person whose initial enthusiasm for a task fades rapidly.
Meaning
This proverb draws a parallel between the weather and human behavior. Just as rain that starts in the morning clears up quickly, the image of a woman rolling up her sleeves in a show of determination suggests a burst of energy that does not last. It is used both as a weather prediction and a commentary on fleeting spirit.
Literal Image
Morning rain is like a woman rolling up her sleeves.
How to Use It
Used when predicting that morning rain will soon clear, or when commenting on a person whose initial enthusiasm for a task fades rapidly.
Tone
Informal; reflects a traditional gender-based comparison regarding fickle behavior.
Examples
今日は朝から雨が降っているが、「朝雨は女の腕まくり」というから、そのうち止むだろう
It has been raining since this morning, but they say 'morning rain is like a woman rolling up her sleeves,' so it should stop before long.
Used as a prediction for the weather.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the specific noun 'udemakuri' and a comparative structure. The metaphorical link between weather and behavior requires idiomatic context to interpret correctly.
朝雨
あさあめ / asaame
morning rain
女
おんな / onna
woman
腕まくり
うでまくり / udemakuri
rolling up one's sleeves
Usage Profile
Usage note: The gendered nature of the proverb may be perceived as stereotypical in modern contexts.
Misread Risk
The image of rolling up sleeves represents a show of spirit or determination, not necessarily physical labor or aggression.
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Origin
Morning rain falls during a time of day when the weather is unstable and prone to quick changes. This proverb overlaps that meteorological observation with the image of a woman rolling up her sleeves in a burst of enthusiasm, only to have her mind change shortly after. Thus, it describes things that start with energy but end quickly.
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