276Japanese proverb ことわざ
六日の菖蒲、十日の菊
むいかのあやめ、とおかのきくMuika no ayame, tōka no kiku
“Iris on the sixth, chrysanthemum on the tenth: one day too late.”
The meaning
The iris is celebrated on the fifth, the chrysanthemum on the ninth: delivered the next day, they serve no more. Some things have value only at their hour — talent itself cannot help it.
At the origin
A reference to the seasonal festivals of the fifth and ninth days.
The characters
- 六日 muikathe sixth
- の noof (link)
- 菖蒲 ayameiris
- 、
- 十日
- の
- 菊
のParticleLinks two words: possession or belonging, like “of”.
In practice
For what has a date, aim for the day before — never the day after.