Proverb / Kotowaza
火の車
A state of extreme financial distress or struggling to make ends meet.
a flaming cart
Quick Answer
A state of extreme financial distress or struggling to make ends meet.
- Literal Image
- a flaming cart
- How to Use It
- Can be used to describe desperate economic conditions, such as a business on the verge of bankruptcy or a household unable to pay its bills.
Meaning
This expression describes a situation where a household, business, or individual is in severe financial difficulty. It refers to the struggle of managing expenses when funds are critically low. The term originally comes from a Buddhist image of a flaming cart used to transport sinners to hell, which later became a metaphor for the 'heat' of financial suffering.
Literal Image
a flaming cart
How to Use It
Can be used to describe desperate economic conditions, such as a business on the verge of bankruptcy or a household unable to pay its bills.
Tone
The tone is serious and indicates a state of crisis or desperation.
Examples
家計が火の車で、毎月のやりくりに頭を悩ませている。
The household budget is in dire straits, and I struggle every month to make ends meet.
会社の経営は火の車で、いつ倒産してもおかしくない状態だ。
The company's management is in a desperate state, and it could go bankrupt at any time.
出費がかさんで火の車だが、なんとか乗り越えなければならない。
With expenses piling up, our finances are in a crisis, but we must find a way to get through it.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji for fire and car are simple, but the metaphorical application of the Buddhist term to finance makes the expression less transparent for beginners.
火
ひ / hi
fire
車
くるま / kuruma
car or cart
やりくり
やりくり / yarikuri
managing or making do
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a strong expression of financial crisis; using it for minor, temporary shortages may sound exaggerated.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this literally as a vehicle on fire; the focus is on the extreme difficulty of financial management.
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Origin
The term originates from Buddhist descriptions of hell, specifically a flaming cart (Kasha) that carries sinners who accumulated evil deeds during their lifetime. This image of being trapped in a burning vehicle of suffering was eventually applied to the 'heat' and pain of severe financial distress and the struggle to manage debt.
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Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.