豚に真珠
Japanese
| Kanji in this term | ||
|---|---|---|
| 豚 | 真 | 珠 |
| ぶた Grade: S |
しん Grade: 3 |
しゅ > じゅ Grade: S |
| Alternative spelling |
|---|
| 豚に眞珠 (kyūjitai) |
Etymology
Phrase composed of 豚 (buta, “pig”) + に (ni, directional particle) + 真珠 (shinju, “pearl”), calque of English cast pearls before swine[1].
Phrase
豚に真珠 • (buta ni shinju)
- (idiomatic) "pearls to swine" → to cast pearls before swine
Usage notes
The traditional Japanese equivalent is 猫に小判 (neko ni koban, “gold coins to cats”).
Synonyms
- 猫に小判 (neko ni koban): gold coins to cats
References
Categories:
- Japanese terms spelled with 豚 read as ぶた
- Japanese terms spelled with 真 read as しん
- Japanese terms spelled with 珠 read as しゅ
- Japanese compound terms
- Japanese terms calqued from English
- Japanese terms derived from English
- Japanese lemmas
- Japanese phrases
- Japanese terms spelled with secondary school kanji
- Japanese terms spelled with third grade kanji
- Japanese terms with 3 kanji
- Japanese idioms