Proverb / Kotowaza
鳩が豆鉄砲を食ったよう
To look surprised and dazed after an unexpected event.
Like a pigeon being hit by a bean popgun.
Quick Answer
To look surprised and dazed after an unexpected event.
- Literal Image
- Like a pigeon being hit by a bean popgun.
- How to Use It
- Used to describe someone's blank expression when they encounter an unexpected situation. It appears in the form '...ような顔をする' to depict a person who is momentarily unable to process what just happened.
Meaning
Describes a person who is stunned and blank-faced because of a sudden occurrence. It visualizes the reaction of a pigeon being hit by a small bean from a toy gun, appearing momentarily frozen and confused by the surprise.
Literal Image
Like a pigeon being hit by a bean popgun.
How to Use It
Used to describe someone's blank expression when they encounter an unexpected situation. It appears in the form '...ような顔をする' to depict a person who is momentarily unable to process what just happened.
Tone
Informal and descriptive, can be used to depict someone's comical or bewildered expression.
Examples
突然の昇進発令に、彼は鳩が豆鉄砲を食ったような顔をしていた。
When the sudden promotion was announced, he looked like a pigeon hit by a bean popgun.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses specific vocabulary like 'mamedeppou' (bean popgun) and an informal verb form. While the structure is simple, the idiomatic meaning requires knowledge of the specific imagery.
鳩
はと / hato
pigeon
豆鉄砲
まめでっぽう / mamedeppou
bean popgun; toy gun that shoots beans
食った
くった / kutta
to be hit by; to take (a blow); literally to eat
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
This proverb describes a state of surprise and blankness, not necessarily a negative failure or a state of physical injury.
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Origin
This expression comes from the image of a pigeon being hit by a 'mamedeppou' (a toy gun that shoots beans). The pigeon, struck by something unexpected but not severely harmful, simply stands there looking stunned and bewildered.
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