幽霊の正体見たり枯れ尾花

Japanese

Kanji in this term
幽	霊	正	体	見	枯	尾	花
ゆう Grade: S	れい Grade: S	しょう Grade: 1	たい Grade: 2	み Grade: 1	か Grade: S	お Grade: S	はな > ばな Grade: 1
on'yomi				kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
幽靈の正體見たり枯れ尾花 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

幽霊 +‎ の +‎ 正体 +‎ 見たり +‎ 枯れ尾花, literally "when closely examining the identity of the ghost, it's just withered silvergrass"

Proverb

幽(ゆう)霊(れい)の正(しょう)体(たい)見(み)たり枯(か)れ尾(お)花(ばな) • (yūrei no shōtai mitari kareobana) 

1. things are not as scary as they seem