蝙蝠こうもりも鳥とりのうち

Meanings

we are all in the same boat; bats are also birds

Proverb meaning that even those who seem different or less capable are still part of the same group; often used to encourage inclusion or to note that everyone shares the same fate.

彼かれは経けい験けんが浅あさいけど、蝙蝠こうもりも鳥とりのうちだから、チームの一いち員いんとして迎むかえよう。
He's inexperienced, but we're all in the same boat, so let's welcome him as a member of the team.
「蝙蝠こうもりも鳥とりのうち」と言いうように、能のう力りょくの差さはあっても、みんな同おなじ仲なか間まだ。
As the saying goes, 'bats are also birds' — even if abilities differ, we're all comrades.

Kanji

蝙bat
蝠bat
鳥bird, chicken
内inside, within, between

Related words

どんぐりの背せい比くらべ
Means 'they are all alike; there is little difference among them,' often with a slightly negative nuance, while 蝙蝠も鳥のうち emphasizes inclusion despite differences.
五ご十じっ歩ぽ百ひゃっ歩ぽ
Means 'six of one, half a dozen of the other; there is not much difference,' focusing on similarity of faults or situations, whereas 蝙蝠も鳥のうち is about belonging to the same group.

Built from

コウモリ+鳥とり

Written forms

蝙蝠こうもりも鳥とりのうち
Standard kanji form of the proverb.
蝙蝠こうもりも鳥とりの内うち
Variant kanji spelling using 内 instead of うち.
こうもりも鳥とりのうち
Mixed kana-kanji spelling, sometimes seen in less formal contexts.

Etymology

A traditional Japanese proverb. The literal meaning is 'even bats are among birds,' referring to the fact that bats, though they fly like birds, are mammals. The phrase is used figuratively to express that everyone, regardless of differences, belongs to the same group or shares the same circumstances.