Proverb / Kotowaza
人の褌で相撲を取る
Using someone else's resources, power, or efforts for one's own personal gain.
To wrestle a sumo match in someone else's loincloth
Quick Answer
Using someone else's resources, power, or efforts for one's own personal gain.
- Literal Image
- To wrestle a sumo match in someone else's loincloth
- Closest Equivalent
- To ride on someone else’s coattails
- How to Use It
- Used to criticize opportunistic behavior, especially when someone profits from another's efforts or assets.
Meaning
This expression describes a shameless act where someone uses another person's belongings, money, or influence to achieve their own goals. It criticizes the behavior of taking advantage of others' hard work or preparations without contributing anything yourself.
Literal Image
To wrestle a sumo match in someone else's loincloth
Equivalent Proverbs
To ride on someone else’s coattails
Refers to using another's success to advance oneself.
How to Use It
Used to criticize opportunistic behavior, especially when someone profits from another's efforts or assets.
Tone
Critical and disapproving of shameless or parasitic behavior.
Examples
他社のアイデアを真似して商品を売るなんて、人の褌で相撲を取るようなものだ。
Selling products by imitating another company's ideas is like wrestling in someone else's loincloth.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the grammar is straightforward, it contains specific vocabulary like fundoshi and sumou used in a metaphorical sense.
人
ひと / hito
other people / someone else
褌
ふんどし / fundoshi
loincloth (sumo belt)
相撲
すもう / sumou
sumo wrestling
取る
とる / toru
to perform / to take
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a critical expression; using it about yourself or a superior may be inappropriate.
Misread Risk
It is not used for simply borrowing something, but specifically for using another's resources to gain profit or success shamelessly.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
From the act of borrowing the fundoshi (mawashi) necessary for a sumo match from someone else to wrestle, it came to refer to the act of using another person's things without preparing anything oneself.
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.