豚に真珠

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term
ぶた
Grade: S
しん
Grade: 3
しゅ > じゅ
Grade: S
kun'yomi on'yomi
Alternative spelling
豚に眞珠 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

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Phrase composed of (buta, pig) +‎ (ni, directional particle) +‎ 真珠 (shinju, pearl), calque of English cast pearls before swine.[1]

Phrase

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(ぶた)(しん)(じゅ) (buta ni shinju

  1. (idiomatic) "pearls to swine" → to cast pearls before swine
    Synonyms: 猫に小判, 犬に論語, 馬耳東風, 馬の耳に念仏

Usage notes

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The traditional Japanese equivalent is (ねこ)小判(こばん) (neko ni koban, gold coins to cats).

References

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  1. ^ Kodansha’s Dictionary of Basic Japanese Idioms, by Jeff Garrison, Kodansha, p. 42