JLPT N1Proverbs
五十歩百歩
- Meaning
- わずかな違いはあっても本質的には大差がないこと
- Explanation
- From the story of a man who fled fifty paces on the battlefield mocking another who fled a hundred paces as a coward, it means that although there are minor differences, they are essentially the same degree with little difference. While it deals with the same 「わずかな違い」 (slight difference), its conclusion is the exact opposite of c4, which holds that it produces a big difference.
Original Japanese explanation
戦場で五十歩逃げた者が百歩逃げた者を臆病だと笑った故事から、多少の違いはあっても本質的には同程度で大差がないこと。同じ「わずかな違い」を扱いつつ、それが大差を生むとする c4 とは結論が正反対です。
Quick check
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