Proverb / Kotowaza
今泣いた烏がもう笑う
Describes how quickly children’s moods change, shifting from tears to laughter in an instant.
The crow that cried just now is laughing already
Quick Answer
Describes how quickly children’s moods change, shifting from tears to laughter in an instant.
- Literal Image
- The crow that cried just now is laughing already
- Closest Equivalent
- The child was crying one moment and laughing the next
- How to Use It
- Used when observing a child, or someone acting with child-like innocence, who recovers from a crying fit and starts smiling right away.
Meaning
It refers to the fickle nature of a child's emotions, where they can be crying one moment and laughing the next. The expression highlights the speed of these emotional transitions, where a child moves on from sadness almost immediately.
Literal Image
The crow that cried just now is laughing already
Equivalent Proverbs
The child was crying one moment and laughing the next
A descriptive English phrase for the same phenomenon.
How to Use It
Used when observing a child, or someone acting with child-like innocence, who recovers from a crying fit and starts smiling right away.
Tone
Neutral and observational, carrying a sense of lightheartedness or amusement at the rapid change.
Examples
今泣いた烏がもう笑うとはよく言ったもので、子供は泣いたと思ったらすぐに笑顔になる。
They say the crow that cried just now is already laughing; children really do smile again the moment you think they are crying.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary is standard, but the use of the past tense relative clause and the metaphorical imagery of the crow makes it idiomatic.
今
いま / ima
now / just now
泣いた
ないた / naita
cried
烏
からす / karasu
crow
笑う
わらう / warau
laugh / smile
Usage Profile
Usage note: Not suitable for describing serious emotional instability in adults.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as a literal statement about crows; the focus is on the speed of emotional change in humans.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
The word for crow, 'karasu,' is thought to be connected to the archaic word 'kara,' which meant to cry. The proverb uses the crow as a metaphor to describe the rapid transition of a child's feelings.
Index
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Source Note
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