Proverb / Kotowaza
早かろう悪かろう
Doing work too quickly results in poor quality.
If it is fast, it will be bad
Quick Answer
Doing work too quickly results in poor quality.
- Literal Image
- If it is fast, it will be bad
- Closest Equivalent
- Haste makes waste
- How to Use It
- Used when someone finishes a task too quickly and makes mistakes, or as a warning to prioritize carefulness over speed.
Meaning
This proverb suggests that when work is rushed or finished too fast, the quality of the result is low. It serves as a reminder that speed and high quality are difficult to achieve at the same time.
Literal Image
If it is fast, it will be bad
Equivalent Proverbs
Haste makes waste
Same lesson regarding the risks of rushing, though the imagery differs.
How to Use It
Used when someone finishes a task too quickly and makes mistakes, or as a warning to prioritize carefulness over speed.
Tone
Cautionary and somewhat critical of rushed work.
Examples
急いで作った商品は不良品が多かった。早かろう悪かろうで、丁寧さが大切だ。
The products made in a hurry had many defects. As they say, 'if it's fast, it's bad'—carefulness is important.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the adjectives are simple, the use of the classical '-karou' suffix for conjecture/conditionality is more advanced grammar.
早い
はやい / hayai
fast; quick
悪い
わるい / warui
bad; poor quality
-かろう
-karou
adjective suffix expressing conjecture or 'if it is...'
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a direct criticism of someone's work speed and output quality.
Misread Risk
This proverb specifically critiques speed; it is not a general comment on all types of failure.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression is paired with 'Yasukarou Warukarou' (If it is cheap, it will be bad). It is based on the experience that prioritizing speed (or low price) over quality inevitably leads to a decline in the standard of the outcome.
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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.