Proverb / Kotowaza
当たるも八卦当たらぬも八卦
Fortune-telling is a matter of chance, being sometimes right and sometimes wrong.
The eight trigrams may hit, and the eight trigrams may not hit.
Quick Answer
Fortune-telling is a matter of chance, being sometimes right and sometimes wrong.
- Literal Image
- The eight trigrams may hit, and the eight trigrams may not hit.
- Closest Equivalent
- It’s a toss-up.
- How to Use It
- This proverb is used when discussing fortunes, predictions, or uncertain outcomes to remind oneself or others to maintain a balanced perspective and not be overly influenced by the result.
Meaning
This expression suggests that the results of divination or fortune-telling are not absolute. Since predictions can be either accurate or inaccurate, one should not take them too seriously but rather use them as a casual reference or for entertainment.
Literal Image
The eight trigrams may hit, and the eight trigrams may not hit.
Equivalent Proverbs
It’s a toss-up.
Refers to a 50/50 chance of being right or wrong.
Time will tell.
Suggests waiting for the truth to be revealed.
How to Use It
This proverb is used when discussing fortunes, predictions, or uncertain outcomes to remind oneself or others to maintain a balanced perspective and not be overly influenced by the result.
Tone
Neutral and practical; it can be used to dismiss a bad fortune or temper expectations for a good one.
Examples
今日の占いは最悪だったけど、当たるも八卦当たらぬも八卦だから、気にしないでおこう。
Today's fortune was the worst, but since fortune-telling is hit-or-miss, I'm not going to worry about it.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the classical negative form 'ataranu' and specialized vocabulary 'hakke', though the overall meaning is straightforward.
当たる
あたる / ataru
to hit; to come true
八卦
はっけ / hakke
the eight trigrams; divination
当たらぬ
あたらぬ / ataranu
not hit; not come true (classical negative)
Usage Profile
Usage note: Do not use this to dismiss serious scientific predictions or professional advice; it is specifically for divination.
Misread Risk
Avoid interpreting 'hakke' as literally only about ancient Chinese symbols; in modern use, it represents all forms of fortune-telling.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
The term '八卦' (Hakke) refers to the eight basic trigrams used in ancient Chinese divination (I Ching). While fortune-telling results are interpreted based on these trigrams, the interpretations are diverse and not always accurate. This led to the creation of the proverb to express that divination is hit-or-miss.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
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.