JLPT N1Proverbs
画餅に帰す
- Meaning
- 計画や努力が実を結ばず無駄に終わること
- Explanation
- Since a painted rice cake can only be looked at and not eaten, it means that a plan or effort bears no fruit and ends in waste. It is the same origin as「絵に描いた餅」. Opposite to c2, which speaks of ideal and reality matching, the key point is the emptiness of something that does not come true.
Original Japanese explanation
絵に描いた餅は見るだけで食べられないことから、計画や努力が実を結ばず無駄に終わること。「絵に描いた餅」と同源です。理想と現実の一致を言う c2 とは逆で、実現しない空しさを表す点が要点です。
Quick check
Choose the most appropriate meaning expressed by「画餅に帰す」.
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