Proverb / Kotowaza
馬鹿に付ける薬は無い
There is no cure for foolishness or stupidity.
There is no medicine to apply to a fool.
Quick Answer
There is no cure for foolishness or stupidity.
- Literal Image
- There is no medicine to apply to a fool.
- Closest Equivalent
- Stupid is as stupid does.
- How to Use It
- Used to express frustration or resignation regarding someone who repeats foolish behavior and seems incapable of change.
Meaning
While medicine can treat physical illnesses, it cannot fix a person's innate foolishness or their refusal to learn from experience. This expression is used when a person continues to make the same mistakes or act irrationally despite receiving advice or being warned multiple times.
Literal Image
There is no medicine to apply to a fool.
Equivalent Proverbs
Stupid is as stupid does.
The English focus is on behavior defining character, whereas the Japanese focuses on the inability to fix the trait.
How to Use It
Used to express frustration or resignation regarding someone who repeats foolish behavior and seems incapable of change.
Tone
This is a blunt and critical expression that can be highly insulting; use with caution.
Examples
何度言っても同じ失敗を繰り返す。馬鹿に付ける薬は無いと嘆きたくなる。
No matter how many times I tell them, they keep making the same mistake. It makes me want to lament that there is no medicine for a fool.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary is relatively simple, but the use of the verb 'tsukeru' for applying medicine and the idiomatic construction require intermediate knowledge.
馬鹿
ばか / baka
fool, idiot
付ける
つける / tsukeru
to apply (medicine/ointment)
薬
くすり / kusuri
medicine
無い
ない / nai
does not exist, none
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is an insulting phrase; avoid using it directly to someone unless you intend to be offensive.
Misread Risk
Do not use this in formal or professional settings as it is considered a very harsh judgment of character.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The proverb comes from the comparison between physical ailments and intellectual or behavioral folly. While illnesses have medicine that can be applied to treat them, there is no such remedy for curing a person's stupidity. It reflects a sense of lamentation over folly that is impossible to fix.
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Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.