expression, noun
once bitten, twice shy; overly cautious from a bad experience
A yojijukugo describing someone who has become excessively wary after a past trauma or failure. Rare and literary; in everyday speech, 羹に懲りて膾を吹く or simpler expressions are more common.
彼は以前の失敗で傷弓の鳥のようになっている。
He has become like a bird wounded by an arrow, overly cautious after his previous failure.
傷弓の鳥という言葉は、一度ひどい目に遭うと必要以上に用心深くなる人を表す。
The phrase 'shōkyū no tori' describes someone who becomes excessively cautious after a bad experience.
A more common proverb with the same meaning: 'once burnt by hot soup, one blows on cold salad.' Used in everyday contexts, while 傷弓の鳥 is rarer and more literary.
Derived from classical Chinese literature, literally 'a bird wounded by a bow.' The phrase metaphorically refers to someone who, having been hurt before, becomes overly cautious.