大山鳴動して鼠一匹

Japanese

Kanji in this term
大	山	鳴	動	鼠	一	匹
たい Grade: 1	さん > ざん Grade: 1	めい Grade: 2	どう Grade: 3	ねずみ Hyōgai	いち > いっ Grade: 1	ひき > ぴき Grade: S
on'yomi		on'yomi		kun'yomi	on'yomi

Alternative forms

• 泰山鳴動して鼠一匹

Etymology

Literally “A great mountain rumbles and a rat appears”. From Horace: "parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus". Compare English mountain in labour.

Phrase

大(たい)山(ざん)鳴(めい)動(どう)して鼠(ねずみ)一(いっ)匹(ぴき) • (taizan meidō shite nezumi ippiki) 

1. all bark and no bite; great cry and little wool