Proverb / Kotowaza
犬も歩けば棒に当たる
Action leads to unexpected outcomes, whether they be sudden misfortunes or lucky accidents.
if a dog walks, it will hit a stick
Quick Answer
Action leads to unexpected outcomes, whether they be sudden misfortunes or lucky accidents.
- Literal Image
- if a dog walks, it will hit a stick
- Closest Equivalent
- Every dog has his day
- How to Use It
- It is used to describe situations where something happens solely because one decided to act or go out. It can justify taking a risk or explain a stroke of luck that occurred while simply being active.
Meaning
This proverb originally warned that those who take action or wander about are likely to encounter unexpected disasters. Over time, it developed a second, more positive meaning: that by staying active or continuing an effort, one may also stumble upon unexpected good fortune.
Literal Image
if a dog walks, it will hit a stick
Equivalent Proverbs
Every dog has his day
Focuses on the idea that everyone eventually gets a turn at good fortune.
How to Use It
It is used to describe situations where something happens solely because one decided to act or go out. It can justify taking a risk or explain a stroke of luck that occurred while simply being active.
Tone
The tone is neutral and observational and can be used to reflect on the unpredictability of outcomes from action.
Examples
散歩中に偶然見つけた店が大当たりだった。犬も歩けば棒に当たるだ。
The shop I happened to find while out for a walk was a great find. It just goes to show that if a dog walks, it hits a stick.
何もしなければ何も起きない。犬も歩けば棒に当たると思って外に出よう。
Nothing happens if you don't do anything. Let's go out with the mindset that action leads to unexpected opportunities.
飛び込み営業で大口顧客を掴んだ。犬も歩けば棒に当たるとはこのことだ。
I landed a major client through a cold call. This is exactly what they mean by hitting a stick if you walk.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses simple vocabulary and a standard conditional '-eba' form, though the dual meaning requires some idiomatic understanding.
犬
いぬ / inu
dog
歩けば
あるけば / arukeba
if [one] walks
棒
ぼう / bo
stick / pole
当たる
あたる / ataru
to hit / to strike / to win
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
While 'ataru' can mean winning a lottery, in this proverb it originally meant getting hit by a stick (bad luck), so the context determines if it refers to luck or trouble.
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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.