小しょう便べん一いっ町ちょう糞くそ一いち里り

expression

if you stop to urinate or defecate while traveling, you'll fall behind your companions

Archaic proverb using old distance units (町 chō ≈ 109 m, 里 ri ≈ 3.9 km) to humorously warn that even a short toilet break can cause you to lag far behind. Not used in modern conversation.

See also: 町 · 里

• 「小しょう便べん一いっ町ちょう糞くそ一いち里り」ということわざは、旅たびの途と中ちゅうで用ようを足たすと仲なか間まに遅おくれるという昔むかしの教おしえだ。

  The proverb 'shōben itchō kuso ichiri' is an old saying that if you relieve yourself while traveling, you'll fall behind your companions.