JLPT N2Proverbs
焼け石に水
- Meaning
- 少しの努力や援助では効果がほとんどないこと
- Explanation
- 「焼け石に水」 is a metaphor for a situation where a small effort or aid has almost no effect. It is the opposite of "even a small effort leads to a big result"; it describes a situation where the scale of the measure does not match the problem and ends in vain.
Original Japanese explanation
「焼け石に水」は、少しばかりの努力や援助では効果がほとんどないことのたとえです。「小さな努力でも大きな成果につながる」とは逆で、対策の規模が問題に見合わず無駄に終わる状況を表します。
Quick check
Please choose the most appropriate meaning of 「焼け石に水」.
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