Translation guide
This English idiom means sacrificing something important to survive or avoid a greater loss. In Japanese, it is expressed through proverbs, set phrases, or descriptive explanations rather than a single fixed equivalent.
Expressing the idea of giving up something valuable to preserve something more important, especially in a crisis.
Literally 'use poison to control poison.' A proverb meaning to fight fire with fire, or to use a harmful thing to overcome a greater harm. It can apply to sacrificing a part to save the whole.
時には毒を以て毒を制すことも必要だ。
Sometimes you have to lose a leg to save your life.
Literally 'you can't substitute your stomach for your back.' A common proverb meaning you must endure a lesser sacrifice to avoid a greater disaster. Very close to the English idiom.
Explaining the concept in plain Japanese when a proverb is too strong or not suitable.
A natural descriptive phrase: 'to sacrifice a part to preserve the important thing.' Clear and adaptable to many contexts.
会社は大事を取って一部の事業を犠牲にした。
The company lost a leg to save its life by sacrificing part of its business.
Proverbs like 背に腹はかえられない are idiomatic and natural in conversation, while literal phrases like 命を救うために足を失う are more dramatic and less common. Choose based on the tone you want.
背に腹はかえられないよ。
You have to lose a leg to save your life.
彼は命を救うために足を失うことを選んだ。
He chose to lose a leg to save his life.
背に腹はかえられないから、この条件を受け入れるしかない。
We have to lose a leg to save our lives, so we have no choice but to accept these terms.
Literally 'to execute Ma Su while weeping.' From a Chinese historical anecdote, meaning to reluctantly punish or sacrifice someone you care about for the greater good. Used when the sacrifice is painful but necessary.
彼を解雇するのは泣いて馬謖を斬る思いだ。
Firing him feels like losing a leg to save one's life.
Literally 'abandon the small and pursue the great.' A more formal, written expression for sacrificing a minor thing to achieve a major goal.
小を捨てて大に就く決断が求められる。
A decision to lose a leg to save one's life is required.
A literal translation of the idiom, used when you want to be explicit. It can sound dramatic, so use it in appropriate contexts.
彼は命を救うために足を失う決断をした。
He made the decision to lose a leg to save his life.