Proverb / Kotowaza
羊の番に狼
Entrusting the care or management of something to a person who is likely to cause harm or damage to it.
A wolf guarding the sheep
Quick Answer
Entrusting the care or management of something to a person who is likely to cause harm or damage to it.
- Literal Image
- A wolf guarding the sheep
- How to Use It
- Use this to criticize a poor choice of appointment or management, such as giving access to sensitive resources to someone with a history of abusing them.
Meaning
This proverb describes a dangerous and foolish situation where a predator-like individual is put in charge of protecting their natural targets. It highlights a critical error in judgment regarding personnel selection or security management, warning that such a contradiction inevitably invites disaster.
Literal Image
A wolf guarding the sheep
How to Use It
Use this to criticize a poor choice of appointment or management, such as giving access to sensitive resources to someone with a history of abusing them.
Tone
The tone is cautionary and critical and can be used to satirize a clear failure in judgment.
Examples
公金を横領したことのある人物を会計係にするなんて、まさに羊の番に狼だ。
Appointing someone who has embezzled public funds as an accountant is truly like putting a wolf in charge of the sheep.
泥棒に家の鍵を預けるようなもので、それでは羊の番に狼を置くような結果になるのは目に見えている。
It is like handing a house key to a thief; it is obvious that the result will be like letting a wolf guard the sheep.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of words like 'sheep' and 'wolf', but the conceptual structure and its application as a cautionary idiom require a more advanced understanding of Japanese communication.
羊
ひつじ / hitsuji
sheep
番
ばん / ban
guarding; watching; keeping watch
狼
おおかみ / ookami
wolf
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a strong criticism of someone's judgment; use it to point out a logical contradiction in security or management rather than a simple mistake.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to describe a simple accident; it must involve a deliberate (and poor) choice of who is in charge.
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Origin
This expression describes a contradictory and extremely dangerous situation by depicting a wolf—the natural predator of sheep—being put in charge of the flock. It is believed to originate from Western fables, such as those by Aesop, and has been adopted in Japanese to satirize mistakes in personnel selection or management that invite trouble.
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Source Note
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