expression
to let a golden opportunity slip away; to come home empty-handed from a treasure mountain
Proverbial expression for squandering a rare chance or failing to capitalize on a favorable situation. Often used as a cautionary remark.
せっかく留学できたのに、遊んでばかりで宝の山に入りながら手を空しくして帰るようなものだ。
Even though you had the chance to study abroad, if you just fool around, it's like entering a treasure mountain and coming back empty-handed.
彼は有名な研究者の下で学んだが、何も身につけず、宝の山に入りながら手を空しくして帰った
He studied under a famous researcher but learned nothing, like entering a treasure mountain and returning empty-handed.
A more direct way to say 'miss a good opportunity,' without the proverbial imagery of 宝の山に入りながら手を空しくして帰る.
Means having a treasure but not using it, i.e., wasted potential. 宝の山に入りながら手を空しくして帰る focuses on the failure to take advantage of an opportunity, while 宝の持ち腐れ emphasizes possession without utilization.
A Japanese proverb derived from the imagery of entering a mountain full of treasure but returning with nothing. The exact origin is uncertain, but it has been used for centuries to admonish missed opportunities.