182Japanese proverb ことわざ
虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず
こけつにいらずんばこじをえずKoketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu
“You cannot take the tiger's cub without entering its den.”
The meaning
What is worth obtaining requires accepting a risk. Absolute caution is also a choice — the choice of staying empty-handed.
At the origin
Words of the Chinese general Ban Chao, now a common Japanese proverb.
The characters
- 虎穴 koketsutiger's den
- に niinto
- 入らずんば irazunbawithout entering
- 虎子
- を
- 得ず
にParticleThe point of arrival: a place, a moment, a destination.
In practice
Name the small risk between you and what you want, and take it.
Editorial note
Ancient Chinese origin (Book of the Later Han).