貧ひん者じゃの一いっ灯とう

ひ

ん

じゃ

の

い

っ

と

う

Meanings

expression, noun

one's mite; widow's mite

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)

A yojijukugo proverb meaning that a small offering from a poor person is more valuable than a large offering from a rich person, because it represents a greater sacrifice. Often used to praise modest but heartfelt contributions.

彼かれの寄き付ふは貧ひん者じゃの一いっ灯とうだが、その真ま心ごころが何なにより尊とうとい。
His donation is just a mite, but his sincerity is more precious than anything.
貧ひん者じゃの一いっ灯とうという言こと葉ばがあるように、小ちいさな親しん切せつでも大おおきな意い味みを持もつことがある。
As the saying 'a poor man's lantern' suggests, even a small kindness can have great meaning.

Kanji

貧poverty, poor
者someone, person
一one, one radical (no.1)
灯lamp, a light, light

Related words

一いっ灯とう
Literally 'one lantern'; used in the proverb to symbolize a single, modest offering. Not commonly used alone.
寄き付ふ
General word for 'donation' or 'contribution'; 貧者の一灯 specifically emphasizes the sacrificial nature of a small gift.

Written forms

貧ひん者じゃの一いっ灯とう
Full form of the yojijukugo; the most common written representation.
貧者一灯ひんじゃのいっとう
Abbreviated form without の; less common but still encountered.

Etymology

Derived from a Buddhist parable in which a poor woman offers a single lantern to the Buddha, and her offering is deemed more meritorious than the lavish offerings of the wealthy because it represents all she has. The phrase is a yojijukugo (four-character idiom) that encapsulates this moral.