Proverb / Kotowaza
贔屓の引き倒し
Favoring someone excessively can unintentionally harm them or damage their reputation.
Pulling someone down by showing them favor.
Quick Answer
Favoring someone excessively can unintentionally harm them or damage their reputation.
- Literal Image
- Pulling someone down by showing them favor.
- Closest Equivalent
- Too much of a good thing is worse than none at all.
- How to Use It
- Used when warning someone that their excessive support or favoritism for a person is actually causing that person trouble.
Meaning
Giving someone too much special treatment or praise can backfire. Instead of helping, this overbearing support may cause others to resent the person or cause their social standing to drop.
Literal Image
Pulling someone down by showing them favor.
Equivalent Proverbs
Too much of a good thing is worse than none at all.
A general warning that excess of anything positive can lead to negative results.
How to Use It
Used when warning someone that their excessive support or favoritism for a person is actually causing that person trouble.
Tone
Cautionary and slightly critical of the person showing the favoritism.
Examples
あまり息子を褒めすぎると、贔屓の引き倒しになりかねないよ。
If you praise your son too much, you might end up bringing him down through favoritism.
Warns about the risk of over-praising a child.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The kanji for 'hiiki' are complex and the phrase is a metaphorical idiom used in mature social contexts.
贔屓
ひいき / hiiki
favoritism; patronage; partiality
引き倒し
ひきたおし / hikitaoshi
pulling down; knocking over
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be careful not to use it in a way that sounds like you are simply envious of the person's support.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as a reason to never help others; the proverb specifically targets 'excessive' or 'blind' support that ignores the recipient's reputation.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The word 'hiiki' refers to showing special favor or taking a special interest in someone. This proverb warns that such favor can become counterproductive and lead to the recipient's downfall. It has been used since the Edo period.
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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.