藪をつついて蛇を出す

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term
やぶ
Hyōgai
へび
Grade: S

Grade: 1
kun'yomi
Alternative spellings
薮をつついて蛇を出す
薮を突いて蛇を出す

Etymology

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Proverb consisting of +‎ +‎ つついて (the conjunctive form of the verb (つつ) (tsutsuku)) +‎ +‎ +‎ 出す, literally, to poke the bush to let out the snake.

Compare Chinese 打草驚蛇打草惊蛇 (dǎcǎojīngshé)

Proverb

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(やぶ)をつついて(へび)() (yabu o tsutsuite hebi o dasu

  1. (idiomatic) to stir up trouble for oneself, to stir up a hornets' nest

Derived terms

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