Proverb / Kotowaza
明日は我が身
The misfortune that strikes someone else today could happen to you tomorrow.
Tomorrow [it could be] my own self
Quick Answer
The misfortune that strikes someone else today could happen to you tomorrow.
- Literal Image
- Tomorrow [it could be] my own self
- Closest Equivalent
- There but for the grace of God go I
- How to Use It
- Used when observing someone else's failure, accident, or hardship to remind oneself to stay alert and humble. It can apply to situations like job loss or sudden illness to show that such events are not just 'someone else's problem'.
Meaning
This proverb serves as a warning that no one is immune to the misfortunes or disasters that befall others. Instead of viewing someone else's trouble as a distant matter or something to mock, one should recognize that they could easily end up in the same situation. It emphasizes the unpredictability of life.
Literal Image
Tomorrow [it could be] my own self
Equivalent Proverbs
There but for the grace of God go I
Expresses the same realization that one could easily be in another's unfortunate shoes.
How to Use It
Used when observing someone else's failure, accident, or hardship to remind oneself to stay alert and humble. It can apply to situations like job loss or sudden illness to show that such events are not just 'someone else's problem'.
Tone
Cautionary and reflective.
Examples
同僚がリストラされたと聞いて、他人事とは思えなかった。「明日は我が身」と自分も気を引き締めた
Hearing that a colleague had been laid off, I couldn't feel like it was someone else's business. I braced myself, thinking, 'Tomorrow it could be me.'
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic kanji for 'tomorrow', but the term 'wagami' (myself/my body) and the philosophical nuance make it an intermediate-level expression.
明日
あした / ashita
tomorrow
我が身
わがみ / wagami
oneself; my own body
Usage Profile
Usage note: Avoid using it in a way that sounds like you are looking down on the person currently suffering.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret 'tomorrow' literally; it refers to the uncertain future in general.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This proverb points to the uncertainty and impermanence of human fate. It is used to encourage the awareness that anyone can encounter disaster and that no one is truly an exception to life's hardships.
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