JLPT N1Proverbs
塞翁が馬
- Meaning
- 人生の幸不幸は予測できず互いに転じやすいということ
- Explanation
- From the legend in which a runaway horse returned bringing a fine horse, and the son who fell from that horse was thereby exempted from military service, it means that fortune and misfortune in life cannot be predicted and easily turn into each other. It is continued as "人間万事塞翁が馬." Contrary to c1, which concludes that bad luck will continue, it teaches the interchange of good and bad fortune.
Original Japanese explanation
逃げた馬が名馬を連れ帰り、その馬で落馬した息子が兵役を免れた故事から、人生の幸不幸は予測できず互いに転じやすいこと。「人間万事塞翁が馬」と続けます。不運が続くと断じる c1 とは逆で、吉凶の入れ替わりを説きます。
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