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鳴かず飛ばず (なかずとばず) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression
living in obscurity ; lying low ; remaining unnoticed
Describes a person or thing that is not active or prominent, often with a nuance of being stuck in a quiet, unremarkable state. Commonly used for someone who has not yet achieved success or is biding their time.
あの
俳はい
優ゆう
は
まだ
鳴な
かず
飛と
ばず
だ
が
、
いつ
か
ブレイク
する
か
も
しれ
ない
。
That actor is still lying low, but he might break through someday.
Kanji 飛 fly, skip (pages), scatter Similar words 鳴な く Means 'to cry' or 'to sing' (for animals/birds); 鳴かず飛ばず uses its negative form to imply not making a sound, i.e., not being active.
飛と ぶ Means 'to fly'; in the phrase, its negative form 飛ばず suggests not taking flight, reinforcing the idea of inactivity.
Etymology A set phrase combining the negative forms of 鳴く (to cry/sing) and 飛ぶ (to fly), literally 'neither singing nor flying'. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from a classical Chinese story or proverb about a bird that remains silent and still, later used metaphorically for a person who does not stand out.
