010Japanese proverb ことわざ
猿も木から落ちる
さるもきからおちるSaru mo ki kara ochiru
“Even monkeys fall from trees.”
The meaning
Expertise does not abolish error. The most skilled fail too; that is a reason to be forgiving toward yourself and others.
At the origin
One of Japan's most quoted popular proverbs.
The characters
- 猿 sarumonkey
- も moalso, even
- 木
- から
- 落ちる
もParticle“Also, even”: adds or strengthens.
In practice
When an expert slips — including you — see it as the norm, not a scandal.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 011 上手の手から水が漏れる Even skilled hands let water slip through.
- 207 勝負は時の運 The outcome of a contest belongs also to the hour.
- 106 秋の日は釣瓶落とし The autumn sun drops like a well bucket.
- 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.
- 217 初しぐれ猿も小蓑をほしげ也 First winter rain — the monkey too seems to wish for a little straw coat.