独活うどの大たい木ぼく

Meanings

big but useless person; all show and no substance

Idiomatic expression comparing a person to a large udo plant, which looks impressive but is too soft and inedible. Used to describe someone who is physically big or holds a high position but lacks ability or substance.

彼かれは体からだは大おおきいが、ウドの大たい木ぼくで何なんの役やくにも立たたない。
He's big, but he's just a big useless lump, good for nothing.
あの部ぶ長ちょうは独活うどの大たい木ぼくだ。
That department head is all show and no substance.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

大large, big
木tree, wood
独single, alone, spontaneously
活lively, resuscitation, being helped

Related words

役やく立たたず
役立たず is a more direct and common word for a useless person or thing, without the nuance of being physically large or impressive-looking.
見みかけ倒だおし
見かけ倒し means 'all show, no substance' and can apply to things or people, but lacks the specific plant metaphor and the implication of physical size.

Written forms

独活うどの大たい木ぼく
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
ウドの大たい木ぼく
Katakana spelling of 独活, often used for clarity or emphasis.
うどの大たい木ぼく
Kana spelling; common in casual writing.

Etymology

From 独活 (udo, 'Japanese spikenard plant') + の (possessive particle) + 大木 (large tree). The udo plant grows tall and looks like a substantial tree, but its stem is soft and hollow, making it useless as timber. The phrase is used metaphorically for a person who is big or high-ranking but incompetent.