Proverb / Kotowaza
人は落ち目が大事
A person's true character and the sincerity of their relationships are revealed when they face a decline in fortune.
For a person, the time of decline is what matters.
Quick Answer
A person's true character and the sincerity of their relationships are revealed when they face a decline in fortune.
- Literal Image
- For a person, the time of decline is what matters.
- Closest Equivalent
- A friend in need is a friend indeed.
- How to Use It
- Used to reflect on how people behave when they lose their status, or to emphasize the importance of helping those going through hard times.
Meaning
This proverb teaches that someone's true nature and character come to the surface when their luck or status is on the decline. It also emphasizes that providing support and kindness to those in such difficult circumstances is truly important. Adversity serves as a test that reveals the real value of a person and the strength of their social bonds.
Literal Image
For a person, the time of decline is what matters.
Equivalent Proverbs
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Focuses on the relationship aspect revealed in hardship.
Adversity is the test of character.
Matches the claim that hardship reveals one's true nature.
How to Use It
Used to reflect on how people behave when they lose their status, or to emphasize the importance of helping those going through hard times.
Tone
Reflective and observational, can be used to point out moral truths about character.
Examples
人は落ち目が大事というように、会社が倒産して初めて、誰が本当の友人かがわかった。
As they say, the time of decline is what matters; it wasn't until my company went bankrupt that I realized who my true friends were.
人は落ち目が大事というが、昇進して傲慢になった彼は、降格された途端に周りから人が離れていった。
They say that a person's decline is what counts; he became arrogant after his promotion, but as soon as he was demoted, everyone left him.
人は落ち目が大事で、苦しい時に声をかけてくれた人のことは、一生忘れられない。
The time of decline is important for a person; I will never forget the person who reached out to me during my hardest days.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The individual words are relatively simple, but 'ochime' is a specific idiomatic term, and the sentence structure requires understanding the nuanced use of 'daiji' in this context.
人
ひと / hito
person; people
落ち目
おちめ / ochime
declining luck; on the wane; a downturn
大事
だいじ / daiji
important; crucial; what matters
Usage Profile
Usage note: Can sound a bit cold if used to describe someone else's misfortune without visible empathy.
Misread Risk
Do not think this means decline itself is a 'good' thing to seek; it means the period of decline is the 'important' time for judging true character and value.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The term 'ochime' refers to a state where one's momentum is fading and things are going downhill. The proverb teaches that a person's true essence, which remains hidden during prosperous times, is revealed only in hardship. It suggests that adversity is the ultimate test of human character and relationships, and that a person's true worth is determined by how they handle such decline.
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Source Note
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