能ある鷹は爪を隠す

Japanese

Kanji in this term
能	鷹	爪	隠
のう Grade: 5	たか Jinmeiyō	つめ Grade: S	かく Grade: S
on’yomi	kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
能ある鷹は爪を隱す (kyūjitai)

Alternative forms

• 能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)隠(かく)す (nō aru taka wa tsume kakusu)

Etymology

Literally, “The skilled hawk hides its talons.” Compare English hide one's light under a bushel and keep one's cards close to one's chest.

Proverb

能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)を隠(かく)す • (nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu) 

1. (idiomatic) To hold back.

See also

• 能鷹隠爪(のうよういんそう) (nōyōinsō)
• 能無(のうな)し犬(いぬ)の高吠(たかぼ)え (nō nashi inu no takaboe)