Proverb / Kotowaza
五十歩百歩
There is essentially no difference between two things, even if there is a minor difference in degree.
Fifty steps and a hundred steps
Quick Answer
There is essentially no difference between two things, even if there is a minor difference in degree.
- Literal Image
- Fifty steps and a hundred steps
- Closest Equivalent
- The pot calls the kettle black
- How to Use It
- Used to point out that two options are equally bad, or to criticize someone for judging others when they have made similar mistakes.
Meaning
This expression is used when someone criticizes or laughs at another person's actions despite being in nearly the same situation themselves. While there may be a small numerical or technical difference, the fundamental nature or outcome remains identical. It serves as a reminder that minor distinctions are irrelevant when the core problem is shared.
Literal Image
Fifty steps and a hundred steps
Equivalent Proverbs
The pot calls the kettle black
Both involve criticizing others for a flaw that the critic also possesses.
How to Use It
Used to point out that two options are equally bad, or to criticize someone for judging others when they have made similar mistakes.
Tone
Carries a critical or dismissive nuance regarding the lack of meaningful difference.
Examples
遅刻が五分か十分かの違いは五十歩百歩だ。どちらも問題だ。
The difference between being five minutes late or ten minutes late is essentially the same. Both are a problem.
どちらの案も欠陥だらけで五十歩百歩だ。根本から見直そう。
Both plans are full of flaws and are practically identical. Let's reconsider them from the ground up.
他人の失敗を笑うが、自分も似たようなものだ。五十歩百歩である。
You laugh at others' failures, but you are in a similar position yourself. It is the same thing.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji for numbers are simple, but the reading 'juppo' and the idiomatic nature of the phrase require higher-level understanding.
五十歩
ごじゅっぽ / gojuppo
fifty steps
百歩
ひゃっぽ / hyappo
one hundred steps
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be careful when using this to describe people, as it can sound dismissive of their efforts or specific circumstances.
Misread Risk
It does not simply mean 'a small difference'; it specifically implies that the difference is meaningless because the core situation is the same.
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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.