Proverb / Kotowaza
命長ければ恥多し
Living a long life increases the opportunities for experiencing shame and disgrace.
If life is long, shame is many
Quick Answer
Living a long life increases the opportunities for experiencing shame and disgrace.
- Literal Image
- If life is long, shame is many
- Closest Equivalent
- The longer the life, the more the shame.
- How to Use It
- People use this when discussing the hardships or loss of dignity that can accompany old age, or as an ironic remark about the pursuit of long life.
Meaning
This proverb points out the negative side of longevity, suggesting that as one lives longer, the likelihood of facing embarrassing situations or a loss of dignity increases. It serves as a cynical comment on old age or as a way to find comfort in a life cut short.
Literal Image
If life is long, shame is many
Equivalent Proverbs
The longer the life, the more the shame.
A direct translation provided by the source.
How to Use It
People use this when discussing the hardships or loss of dignity that can accompany old age, or as an ironic remark about the pursuit of long life.
Tone
Cynical and reflective.
Examples
命長ければ恥多しというから、長く生きればいいことばかりではない。
Since they say "the longer the life, the more the shame," living a long time isn't always a good thing.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the classical conditional '-kereba' and the archaic adjective ending '-shi', making it slightly more complex than modern Japanese.
命
いのち / inochi
life
長ければ
ながければ / nagakereba
if [it] is long
恥
はじ / haji
shame; disgrace
多し
おおし / ooshi
many; numerous
Usage Profile
Usage note: Be careful not to sound overly pessimistic about a listener's age or life expectancy.
Misread Risk
Do not take this as a literal command to avoid living long; it is a philosophical observation about the potential loss of face that time brings.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
This proverb is said to originate from the Chinese classic "Zhuangzi" (荘子). It is also associated with Laozi's philosophy of "Knowing contentment makes one rich" (知足者富), serving as a warning against seeking a long life through greed or desire.
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.