Proverb / Kotowaza
火のない所に煙は立たぬ
A rumor cannot exist without some underlying truth or cause.
Smoke does not rise where there is no fire
Quick Answer
A rumor cannot exist without some underlying truth or cause.
- Literal Image
- Smoke does not rise where there is no fire
- Closest Equivalent
- There is no smoke without fire
- How to Use It
- It is used when people suspect there is some truth behind a scandal or a piece of gossip, especially when the person involved denies it. It implies that 'something must have happened' to start the talk.
Meaning
This proverb suggests that rumors and gossip do not appear out of nowhere. Just as smoke is physical proof that something is burning, the existence of a rumor implies that there is some factual basis or a specific event that triggered the talk, even if the details have been distorted.
Literal Image
Smoke does not rise where there is no fire
Equivalent Proverbs
There is no smoke without fire
Almost identical in imagery and meaning.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
Focuses on the presence of smoke as evidence.
How to Use It
It is used when people suspect there is some truth behind a scandal or a piece of gossip, especially when the person involved denies it. It implies that 'something must have happened' to start the talk.
Tone
Can be used in a skeptical or cynical tone regarding denials.
Examples
週刊誌に不祥事をスクープされた彼は「事実無根だ」と否定しているが、火のない所に煙は立たぬと言うし、何かしら思い当たる節があるのではないだろうか。
He denies the scandal reported in the weekly magazine as groundless, but they say there is no smoke without fire, so there might be some truth to it after all.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of basic nouns and verbs, but the classical 'nu' negative ending and the overall length of the idiomatic phrase make it more suitable for intermediate learners.
火
ひ / hi
fire
煙
けむり / kemuri
smoke
立つ
たつ / tatsu
to rise (smoke); to stand
Usage Profile
Usage note: Using this can sound like you are already judging someone based on a rumor.
Misread Risk
Do not assume the proverb means the rumor is 100% accurate; it only claims there is a logical cause or starting point for it.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This proverb is based on the natural law of cause and effect: smoke is the physical result of combustion and cannot exist without fire. This logic is applied to social behavior, suggesting that a rumor (the result) must have an underlying fact or event (the cause) that set it in motion.
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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.