Proverb / Kotowaza
人には飽かぬが病に飽く
One never tires of the company of others, but a long-term illness becomes exhausting and unbearable.
One does not grow tired of people, but one grows tired of illness
Quick Answer
One never tires of the company of others, but a long-term illness becomes exhausting and unbearable.
- Literal Image
- One does not grow tired of people, but one grows tired of illness
- Closest Equivalent
- A long illness is tiresome even to the patient.
- How to Use It
- This expression is used when describing the mental and physical exhaustion caused by a sickness that persists for a long time.
Meaning
While human relationships can remain engaging and even deepen over time, the experience of a chronic or lingering illness eventually leads to a sense of weariness and mental fatigue. It describes the emotional toll and psychological burden that comes with prolonged physical suffering.
Literal Image
One does not grow tired of people, but one grows tired of illness
Equivalent Proverbs
A long illness is tiresome even to the patient.
Matches the core message that chronic illness leads to exhaustion even for the sufferer.
How to Use It
This expression is used when describing the mental and physical exhaustion caused by a sickness that persists for a long time.
Tone
The tone is reflective and somber, emphasizing the difficulty of long-term patient life.
Examples
人には飽かぬが病に飽くというが、三ヶ月も寝たきりが続き、さすがに病気の生活には嫌気がさしてきた。
They say you never tire of people but you tire of illness; I've been bedridden for three months now, and I'm finally getting sick of this lifestyle.
人には飽かぬが病に飽くで、長引く風邪に彼はすっかり参っていた。
True to the saying that one tires of illness but not of people, he was completely worn down by a lingering cold.
年を取ると人には飽かぬが病に飽くという言葉が身に染みる。病気が続くと気力まで失われていく。
As you get older, the saying 'one tires of illness but not of people' really hits home. When a sickness lingers, you even start to lose your willpower.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the classical negative ending 'akanu' (not tiring) and the contrastive particle 'ga', requiring an understanding of slightly more advanced grammar and idiomatic phrasing.
人
ひと / hito
people; person
飽かぬ
あかぬ / akanu
not growing tired of; not becoming weary of
病
やまい / yamai
illness; disease
飽く
あく / aku
to grow tired of; to become weary of
Usage Profile
Usage note: While reflective, ensure it is used with empathy when referring to someone else's illness.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as meaning you should avoid sick people; it refers to the patient's own mental weariness toward their condition.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
This proverb reflects the reality of the human heart: while relationships with others do not grow stale and instead tend to deepen over time, one becomes utterly weary of a long-lasting illness. It frankly expresses the mental toll of chronic conditions and long-term care. It indicates that since ancient times, the suffering of illness has been recognized as being psychological and mental as much as it is physical.
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