Proverb / Kotowaza
殷鑑遠からず
Examples of failure that serve as warnings are not found only in ancient history but are close at hand.
The warning mirror of Yin is not far away
Quick Answer
Examples of failure that serve as warnings are not found only in ancient history but are close at hand.
- Literal Image
- The warning mirror of Yin is not far away
- How to Use It
- Used in formal or professional contexts when advising someone to analyze recent failures—such as those of a predecessor or a competitor—to ensure they do not meet the same fate.
Meaning
This expression teaches that lessons for self-correction do not require searching through distant history. Instead, the failures of others in the immediate preceding generation or similar contemporary situations provide the most effective warnings. It emphasizes learning from nearby mistakes to avoid repeating them.
Literal Image
The warning mirror of Yin is not far away
How to Use It
Used in formal or professional contexts when advising someone to analyze recent failures—such as those of a predecessor or a competitor—to ensure they do not meet the same fate.
Tone
Literary and formal. It carries a cautionary and instructive nuance.
Examples
殷鑑遠からずで、同業他社の失敗をしっかり分析しておくべきだ。
Following the principle that warnings are close at hand, we should thoroughly analyze the failures of our competitors.
殷鑑遠からずと言うように、身近な失敗例から学ぶことは多い。
As they say, the mirror is not far away; there is much to learn from the failures occurring around us.
バブル崩壊の教訓は殷鑑遠からずだ。同じ過ちを繰り返してはならない。
The lessons of the bubble burst are not distant history. We must not repeat the same mistakes.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The expression uses a literary negative verb ending (-karazu) and a historical Sino-Japanese compound (inkan).
殷
いん / in
the Yin dynasty of ancient China
鑑
かん / kan
mirror; example; warning
遠からず
とおからず / tookarazu
not far
Usage Profile
Usage note: This is a sophisticated expression best suited for professional analysis or serious historical discussion.
Misread Risk
Do not assume 'inkan' refers to a literal physical mirror; it refers to a conceptual example used for self-reflection.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
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.