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九牛の一毛 (きゅうぎゅうのいちもう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, noun
drop in the bucket ; drop in the ocean ; insignificant fraction
idiomatic expression yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
Idiomatic yojijukugo meaning something is so small compared to the whole that it is negligible, like a single hair from nine oxen. Often used in expressions of modesty or to emphasize insignificance.
ぎ
ない
。
His donation is just a drop in the bucket compared to the total.
Written forms 九きゅう 牛ぎゅう の 一いち 毛もう
Standard full form of the yojijukugo, literally 'one hair from nine oxen'.
九牛一毛きゅうぎゅうのいちもう
Abbreviated form without の; also common in writing.
Similar words 大たい 海かい の 一いっ 滴てき Similar meaning ('a drop in the ocean'), but uses a different metaphor. 九牛の一毛 emphasizes the tiny fraction of a large whole, while 大海の一滴 focuses on a single drop in a vast sea.
雀すずめ の 涙なみだ Also means a very small amount, but is more casual and often used for tiny sums of money or quantities. 九牛の一毛 is more formal and literary.
Etymology From classical Chinese literature, literally 'one hair from nine oxen', signifying an extremely small part of a vast whole. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a well-established yojijukugo in Japanese.
