鳴なく蝉せみよりも鳴なかぬ蛍ほたるが身みを焦こがす

expression, godan verb (-su)

empty vessels make the most noise; the silent firefly burns with more passion than the crying cicada

Proverb contrasting noisy, showy people with quiet, passionate ones. The literal image is of a cicada that cries loudly versus a firefly that burns silently but intensely.

• 彼かれはあまり話はなさないが、鳴なく蝉せみよりも鳴なかぬ蛍ほたるが身みを焦こがすというように、内うちに強つよい情じょう熱ねつを秘ひめている。

  He doesn't talk much, but as the saying goes, the silent firefly burns with more passion than the crying cicada; he harbors a strong passion inside.