Proverb / Kotowaza
人のうわさも七十五日
Rumors and gossip are naturally forgotten by the public as time passes.
Even a rumor about a person lasts only seventy-five days.
Quick Answer
Rumors and gossip are naturally forgotten by the public as time passes.
- Literal Image
- Even a rumor about a person lasts only seventy-five days.
- Closest Equivalent
- A wonder lasts but nine days
- How to Use It
- Used to comfort someone who is the subject of gossip or to advise that one should not worry about temporary criticism, as the situation will eventually settle down.
Meaning
This proverb suggests that no matter how much people talk or gossip, public interest will fade after about seventy-five days. It serves as a reminder that the attention of society is fleeting and that news or scandals eventually lose their impact and stop being discussed.
Literal Image
Even a rumor about a person lasts only seventy-five days.
Equivalent Proverbs
A wonder lasts but nine days
Both expressions highlight that public interest in something scandalous or novel is short-lived.
How to Use It
Used to comfort someone who is the subject of gossip or to advise that one should not worry about temporary criticism, as the situation will eventually settle down.
Tone
Primarily used as a form of reassurance or consolation.
Examples
人のうわさも七十五日」と言うから、気にするだけ無駄だよ。
They say "rumors only last seventy-five days," so it is pointless to worry about them.
今は色々と騒がれているけど、「人のうわさも七十五日」と言うから、そのうち落ち着くよ。
There is a lot of noise right now, but they say "rumors only last seventy-five days," so things will settle down eventually.
スキャンダルが報道されたが、人の噂も七十五日、そのうち忘れられるだろう。
A scandal was reported, but rumors only last seventy-five days; it will likely be forgotten soon.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the vocabulary is basic, the use of a specific historical timeframe (75 days) as a symbolic idiomatic unit involves conceptual and idiomatic opacity.
人
ひと / hito
person / people
うわさ
うわさ / uwasa
rumor / gossip
七十五日
しちじゅうごにち / shichijugo nichi
seventy-five days
Usage Profile
Usage note: It is important to note that this proverb is not intended to dismiss the seriousness of an issue, but rather to provide perspective on the fleeting nature of public attention.
Misread Risk
Ensure the listener understands the 'seventy-five days' is a symbolic period for public memory, not a literal countdown.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The 'seventy-five days' mentioned in the proverb refers to a period of roughly two to three months, which was considered the duration of a rumor's 'shelf life' during the Edo period. While there are several theories regarding the specific choice of seventy-five days, one theory suggests it relates to the changing of seasons in Onmyōdō (traditional Japanese cosmology).
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