Proverb / Kotowaza
一難去ってまた一難
One difficulty or crisis follows another in quick succession.
One trouble leaves and another trouble comes.
Quick Answer
One difficulty or crisis follows another in quick succession.
- Literal Image
- One trouble leaves and another trouble comes.
- Closest Equivalent
- To take one foot out of the mire and put in the other
- How to Use It
- Used to express weariness or frustration when a series of negative events occur one after the other.
Meaning
This expression describes a situation where as soon as one disaster or crisis is resolved, another one appears immediately. It captures the exhausting experience of being constantly beset by challenges without a break to recover.
Literal Image
One trouble leaves and another trouble comes.
Equivalent Proverbs
To take one foot out of the mire and put in the other
A similar image of moving from one difficulty directly into another.
How to Use It
Used to express weariness or frustration when a series of negative events occur one after the other.
Tone
Conveys a sense of persistence and weariness regarding life's challenges.
Examples
車の故障が直ったと思ったら今度は水漏れだ。一難去ってまた一難とはこのことだ。
Just when I thought the car breakdown was fixed, now there's a water leak. This is exactly what they mean by one trouble after another.
一難去ってまた一難で、試験が終わったらすぐにレポートの締め切りが迫っている。
It's one trouble after another; right after the exam, a report deadline is already approaching.
一難去ってまた一難の連続で、心が休まる暇がない。
With one trouble after another in a continuous cycle, there's no time for my heart to rest.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses simple kanji like 'one' and 'difficulty', but the 'satte' (te-form of 'leave') and the rhythmic structure are idiomatic.
一難
いちなん / ichinan
one trouble; one hardship
去って
さって / satte
leaving; passing away
また
また / mata
again; furthermore
Usage Profile
Usage note: Refers specifically to negative events; do not use for a series of lucky breaks.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to describe positive events happening in sequence; it is strictly for troubles or crises.
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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.