JLPT N1Four-character idioms
竜頭蛇尾
- Meaning
- 始めは勢いが盛んだが終わりが振るわないこと
- Explanation
- 「竜頭蛇尾」, from the gap of a dragon's head and a snake's tail, means that even though the beginning is vigorous, the end tapers off and is unimpressive. It is used in scenes where a plan or event ends abruptly, contrary to its initial enthusiasm. c2 reverses the front and back, so it is wrong. While「画竜点睛を欠く」points to a lack of the crucial finishing touch, this one expresses an overall loss of momentum.
Original Japanese explanation
「竜頭蛇尾」は頭が竜、尾が蛇という落差から、始めは勢いが盛んでも終わりが尻すぼみで振るわないことをいう。計画やイベントが当初の意気込みに反して尻切れに終わる場面で使う。c2 は前後が逆の説明で誤り。「画竜点睛を欠く」が肝心の仕上げ不足を指すのに対し、こちらは全体的な勢いの失速を表す。
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