Proverb / Kotowaza
偃鼠河に飲めども腹を満たすに過ぎず
Even with an abundance of resources, an individual can only consume or use what is necessary for their own measure.
Even if a mole drinks from a river, it can drink no more than its belly can hold.
Quick Answer
Even with an abundance of resources, an individual can only consume or use what is necessary for their own measure.
- Literal Image
- Even if a mole drinks from a river, it can drink no more than its belly can hold.
- How to Use It
- Used to advise against greed or to point out that excessive wealth and power are ultimately unnecessary because human needs are limited.
Meaning
Just as a mole drinking from a vast river is limited by the capacity of its own stomach, a person has a finite limit to what they truly need. It suggests that one should be satisfied with what is appropriate for their station or capacity, rather than pursuing endless wealth or power that cannot be fully utilized.
Literal Image
Even if a mole drinks from a river, it can drink no more than its belly can hold.
How to Use It
Used to advise against greed or to point out that excessive wealth and power are ultimately unnecessary because human needs are limited.
Tone
Literary and philosophical.
Examples
巨万の富があっても人が必要とする量は限られている。偃鼠河に飲めども腹を満たすに過ぎずだ。
Even with vast wealth, the amount a person actually needs is limited. A mole drinking from a river can only fill its belly.
大きな権力を手にしても使い切れるものではない。偃鼠河に飲めども腹を満たすに過ぎずである。
Even if one gains great power, it is not something that can be fully used. Just as a mole can only drink so much from a river.
欲張りすぎても意味がない。偃鼠河に飲めども腹を満たすに過ぎずと心得よう。
There is no point in being too greedy. Let us remember that a mole drinking from a river cannot drink more than its stomach holds.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
This expression uses classical grammar (nomedomo, sugizu) and specialized vocabulary (enso) from Chinese classics, making it highly literary.
偃鼠
えんそ / enso
mole (specifically a large mole or water rat)
河
かわ / kawa
river
満たす
みたす / mitasu
to fill
過ぎず
すぎず / sugizu
no more than / does not exceed
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a very formal and literary expression; using it in casual conversation may seem overly stiff.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to criticize someone's lack of ambition; it is intended as a reflection on natural limits and the wisdom of satisfaction.
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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.