能ある鷹は爪を隠す

Japanese

Kanji in this term
能 鷹 爪 隠
のう
Grade: 5 		たか
Jinmeiyō 		つめ
Grade: S 		かく
Grade: S
on'yomi kun'yomi
Alternative spelling
能ある鷹は爪を隱す (kyūjitai)

Alternative forms

  • 能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)隠(かく)す (nō aru taka wa tsume kakusu)

Etymology

Literally, “The skilled hawk hides its talons.” Compare English hide one's light under a bushel and keep one's cards close to one's chest.

Proverb

能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)を隠(かく)す • (nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu) 

  1. (idiomatic) To hold back.

See also

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