042Japanese proverb ことわざ
鳶が鷹を生む
とんびがたかをうむTonbi ga taka o umu
“A kite can give birth to a hawk.”
The meaning
Origin does not fix destiny. From ordinary parents a remarkable talent can be born — the exact counterpoint of "the frog's child".
At the origin
A traditional proverb, often said with pride about a child who surpasses their elders.
The characters
- 鳶 tonbikite (bird)
- が gasubject marker
- 鷹
- を
- 生む
がParticleMarks the subject: the one who does, or what is.
In practice
Let no one — including yourself — be reduced to their starting point.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 044 医者の不養生 The doctor neglects his own health.
- 173 正直は一生の宝 Honesty is the treasure of a lifetime.
- 200 人の一生は重荷を負うて遠き道を行くが如し A man's life is a long road walked under a burden; there is no need to hurry.
- 073 渡りに船 A boat just when you need to cross.
- 195 犬も歩けば棒に当たる Even a walking dog runs into something.