なしのつぶて

な

し

の

つ

ぶ

て

Meanings

1

expression, noun

no reply; no response; silence

usually written using kana alone

Idiomatic expression meaning that one sends a message or inquiry but receives no answer at all. Often used in the pattern ～は梨の礫だ or 梨の礫を食う.

何なん度どもメールを送おくったが、梨なしの礫つぶてだった。
I sent many emails, but got no reply at all.

問とい合あわせの返へん事じは梨なしの礫つぶてで、困こまっている。

I'm in trouble because there's been no response to my inquiry.

Written forms

梨なしの礫つぶて
Standard kanji spelling for the idiom.
梨なしのつぶて
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; common and clear.
無なしのつぶて
irregular kanji usage
Irregular kanji usage; 無し is not standard for this idiom.

Kanji

梨pear tree
礫small stones
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

音おと沙さ汰た
音沙汰 means 'news' or 'word from someone,' often used in negative sentences like 音沙汰がない. 梨の礫 is more emphatic and idiomatic, specifically about getting no reply to a message.
返へん事じ
返事 is a general word for 'reply.' 梨の礫 is an idiomatic expression for the complete absence of a reply.

Etymology

The phrase literally means 'a stone thrown from a pear tree,' implying that just as a pear tree does not produce stones, a message sent yields no reply. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a well-known Japanese idiom.