a bird does not foul the nest it is about to leave; clean up after yourself when leaving
Proverb meaning one should leave a place tidy and not cause trouble for those who come after. Often used as a metaphor for leaving a job, home, or situation gracefully.
See also: 跡を濁す
As the saying goes, 'a bird does not foul the nest it is about to leave,' so let's do a proper handover before I resign.
When moving out, I cleaned the room thoroughly, as one should leave no mess behind.
The verb phrase meaning 'to leave a mess behind' or 'to foul one's own nest'; the proverb uses its negative form.
Standard kanji spelling of the proverb.
Common variant with あと in kana.
Irregular kanji usage; 後 is normally read あと but is less common here.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The imagery is of a bird that leaves its nest clean when departing, implying that people should likewise leave a place in good order.