Proverb / Kotowaza
貧すれば鈍する
Poverty can dull the mind and impair a person's judgment.
When you become poor, you become dull.
Quick Answer
Poverty can dull the mind and impair a person's judgment.
- Literal Image
- When you become poor, you become dull.
- How to Use It
- Used to describe how financial hardship can cloud someone's judgment or lead to poor choices due to a lack of mental leeway.
Meaning
When people fall into poverty, the constant struggle to make ends meet can exhaust their mental energy. This pressure can lead to a decline in cognitive ability, wisdom, and the capacity to make sound decisions that they would otherwise be capable of making.
Literal Image
When you become poor, you become dull.
How to Use It
Used to describe how financial hardship can cloud someone's judgment or lead to poor choices due to a lack of mental leeway.
Tone
This proverb is observational and serves as a caution regarding the psychological effects of hardship.
Examples
お金に困って冷静な判断ができなくなっている。貧すれば鈍するとはこのことだ。
Short of money and unable to make calm judgments. This is exactly what is meant by 'hinsureba donsuru'.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic kanji in an idiomatic conditional structure ('suru' becomes 'sureba') which is characteristic of proverbs.
貧する
ひんする / hinsuru
to become poor
鈍する
どんする / donsuru
to become dull or slow-witted
Usage Profile
Usage note: It describes the mental effect of poverty rather than just the lack of money itself.
Misread Risk
Avoid using this as a direct insult to someone's intelligence; it specifically identifies financial hardship as the cause of impaired judgment.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This expression describes a psychological state where being pushed by poverty causes a loss of mental leeway, preventing a person from exercising their natural wisdom and judgment.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
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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.