043Japanese proverb ことわざ
灯台下暗し
とうだいもとくらしTōdai moto kurashi
“The base of the lamp stands in darkness.”
Word for wordBeneath the lamp, darkness.
The meaning
What is closest is hardest to see. The answers, faults and treasures we seek far away are often within arm's reach.
At the origin
The tōdai here is the traditional lamp stand, whose base stays dark beneath the flame.
The characters
In practice
Before searching far, look at what already lies around you.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 103 柳の下にいつも泥鰌はいない There is not always a loach under the willow.
- 129 下手の横好き Unskilled, but devoted.
- 126 一葉落ちて天下の秋を知る One leaf falls, and we know autumn is coming to the world.
- 244 疑心暗鬼 Suspicion fills the dark with phantoms.
- 298 天は人の上に人を造らず人の下に人を造らず Heaven creates no man above other men, nor any man below.