Proverb / Kotowaza
百発百中
Hitting the target with every shot, or having every plan or prediction come true with perfect accuracy.
a hundred shots, a hundred hits
Quick Answer
Hitting the target with every shot, or having every plan or prediction come true with perfect accuracy.
- Literal Image
- a hundred shots, a hundred hits
- Closest Equivalent
- Never miss the mark
- How to Use It
- Used to describe someone with perfect skill in shooting or sports, or to talk about predictions and fortune-telling that are always correct.
Meaning
Originally describing a master who never misses a shot with a bow or gun, this expression is used when every single attempt or shot hits its mark. By extension, it refers to a situation where someone's predictions, plans, or guesses are consistently and perfectly correct.
Literal Image
a hundred shots, a hundred hits
Equivalent Proverbs
Never miss the mark
Focuses on the result of hitting the target every time.
How to Use It
Used to describe someone with perfect skill in shooting or sports, or to talk about predictions and fortune-telling that are always correct.
Tone
The tone is neutral but admiring of skill or accuracy.
Examples
彼の予言は百発百中だ。
His predictions are always one hundred percent accurate.
この占いは百発百中だと評判だ。
This fortune-telling is rumored to never miss the mark.
百発百中の腕前を持つスナイパー。
A sniper with the skill to hit the target every single time.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Consists of basic kanji for numbers and actions, but the specific reading 'patsu' (euphonic change) and its status as a four-character idiom add complexity to the structure.
百
ひゃく / hyaku
hundred
発
はつ / hatsu
shot; counter for shots
中
ちゅう / chu
hitting the mark; center
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be sure not to limit its use only to weapons; it can refer to accuracy in various fields.
Misread Risk
Do not assume this only applies to weapons; It can apply to abstract targets like predictions or business plans.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
Derived from an anecdote in the Chinese classic 'Zhan Guo Ce' (Strategies of the Warring States) regarding a master archer.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
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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.