Proverb / Kotowaza
池魚の災い
To be caught up in an unexpected disaster or trouble through no fault of one's own.
The calamity of the pond fish
Quick Answer
To be caught up in an unexpected disaster or trouble through no fault of one's own.
- Literal Image
- The calamity of the pond fish
- How to Use It
- Used when describing a situation where someone is harmed or inconvenienced by an event they were not involved in. It can apply to fire-related damage or organizational scandals.
Meaning
This expression describes being negatively affected by a situation created by others. It specifically refers to being a bystander who suffers collateral damage, such as a neighbor's house catching fire or being implicated in a scandal involving another department.
Literal Image
The calamity of the pond fish
How to Use It
Used when describing a situation where someone is harmed or inconvenienced by an event they were not involved in. It can apply to fire-related damage or organizational scandals.
Tone
Formal and literary. It conveys a sense of unfortunate and undeserved misfortune.
Examples
隣の部署の不祥事のとばっちりで、我々も調査を受けた。池魚の災いだ。
We were investigated because of a scandal in the neighboring department; it was truly collateral damage.
近隣の火事で延焼を受けるとは、まさに池魚の災いである。
Having one's house catch fire because of a fire nearby is exactly the 'calamity of the pond fish'.
自分は何もしていないのに巻き込まれるのは、池魚の災いというほかない。
Being dragged into trouble when you have done nothing yourself can only be described as an unexpected misfortune.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary 'chigyo' (pond fish) and 'wazawai' (calamity) are advanced, and the phrase uses a classical possessive structure.
池
いけ / ike
pond
魚
ぎょ / gyo
fish
災い
わざわい / wazawai
calamity, disaster, misfortune
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a formal expression and may sound overly dramatic in very casual conversation.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to describe a disaster you caused yourself; it specifically refers to misfortune caused by external factors.
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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.