Proverb / Kotowaza
瓢箪鯰
Describes something slippery and difficult to grasp, or a person who is evasive and elusive.
A catfish caught with a gourd
Quick Answer
Describes something slippery and difficult to grasp, or a person who is evasive and elusive.
- Literal Image
- A catfish caught with a gourd
- How to Use It
- Used when describing an elusive person, a vague response that misses the point, or a negotiation where the other party keeps dodging the issue.
Meaning
Originally referring to the difficulty of catching a slippery catfish with a smooth gourd, this expression is used to describe something that cannot be easily pinned down. It characterizes people who avoid giving clear answers or situations where it is impossible to get a definitive result because the subject is noncommittal.
Literal Image
A catfish caught with a gourd
How to Use It
Used when describing an elusive person, a vague response that misses the point, or a negotiation where the other party keeps dodging the issue.
Tone
Carries a frustrated or critical nuance regarding a person's lack of clarity or directness.
Examples
はぐらかされてばかりで、まるで瓢箪鯰のようだ。
I keep getting dodged; it’s just like trying to catch a catfish with a gourd.
彼の返答はいつも要領を得ない。瓢箪鯰で手の打ちようがない。
His answers are always vague. He’s so elusive that there's nothing I can do.
交渉相手がのらりくらりとかわすので、瓢箪鯰の状態が続いている。
Since the negotiator is evasive and noncommittal, the situation remains slippery and unresolved.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
While the nouns for gourd and catfish are concrete, the idiomatic use to describe evasive personality traits is more advanced.
瓢箪
ひょうたん / hyoutan
gourd
鯰
なまず / namazu
catfish
Usage Profile
Usage note: Using this to describe someone might be seen as calling them untrustworthy or intentionally vague.
Misread Risk
Do not confuse this with a literal statement about fishing or gourds; it is used metaphorically for evasive behavior.
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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.