夕立は馬の背を分ける

Japanese

Kanji in this term
夕	立	馬	背	分
ゆう Grade: 1	たち > だち Grade: 1	うま Grade: 2	せ Grade: 6	わ Grade: 2
kun'yomi

Alternative forms

• 馬(うま)の背(せ)を分(わ)ける (uma no se o wakeru)

Etymology

Idiom consisting of 夕立 (“evening shower”) +‎ は (“topic marker”) +‎ 馬の背 (“horseback”) +‎ を (“direct object marker”) +‎ 分ける (“to divide”) Literally: the evening shower divided the horseback into two parts, one side that receives the rain but not the other side.

Proverb

夕(ゆう)立(だち)は馬(うま)の背(せ)を分(わ)ける • (yūdachi wa uma no se o wakeru) 

1. summer evening shower drenches one side of the street, leaving the other side dry.