128Japanese idiom 四字熟語
宝の持ち腐れ
たからのもちぐされTakara no mochigusare
“A treasure left to rot.”
The meaning
Owning without using is worth nothing: unused talent, the stored tool, the untold knowledge spoil in silence. Value is born of use.
At the origin
A common expression for gifts and goods left fallow.
The characters
- 宝 takaratreasure
- の noof (link)
- 持ち腐れ
のParticleLinks two words: possession or belonging, like “of”.
In practice
Take one "treasure" out of the closet this week — an object, a talent or an idea.