Proverb / Kotowaza
日暮れて道遠し
Having a great deal left to accomplish when time is running out.
The sun has set, but the road ahead is still long.
Quick Answer
Having a great deal left to accomplish when time is running out.
- Literal Image
- The sun has set, but the road ahead is still long.
- Closest Equivalent
- The day is short and the work is long.
- How to Use It
- Used to express a sense of urgency, pressure, or regret when one realizes that the time remaining is insufficient for the tasks at hand.
Meaning
A metaphor describing the situation of reaching old age with many goals still unfulfilled. It is also used more when a deadline is approaching but much work remains to be done.
Literal Image
The sun has set, but the road ahead is still long.
Equivalent Proverbs
The day is short and the work is long.
Both express the same lesson about insufficient time, though the imagery differs slightly.
How to Use It
Used to express a sense of urgency, pressure, or regret when one realizes that the time remaining is insufficient for the tasks at hand.
Tone
Carries a serious and sometimes heavy tone of regret or persistent determination.
Examples
定年まであと5年、まだ夢の半分も達成できていない。日暮れて道遠しの心境だ。
With only five years until retirement, I haven't even achieved half of my dreams. I feel like the sun is setting while the road ahead is still long.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary is relatively accessible, but the use of the classical 'tooshi' ending and the idiomatic context make it less transparent for beginners.
日暮れて
ひぐれて / higurete
the sun sets / evening falls
道
みち / michi
road / way / path
遠し
とおし / tooshi
far / distant (classical form)
Usage Profile
Usage note: Note that 'tooshi' is a literary form of 'tooi' (far).
Misread Risk
While the imagery is about walking a road at sunset, it is used as a metaphor for time and life goals, not literal travel.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression originates from the words of Wu Zixu (伍子胥) recorded in the 'Shiji' (Records of the Grand Historian), specifically in the 'Biographies of Assassins' (刺客列伝) section. It reflects his sentiment that despite growing old, he could not give up on his quest to avenge his father because his path was still long.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
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.