144Japanese proverb ことわざ
焼け石に水
やけいしにみずYakeishi ni mizu
“Water on a burning stone.”
The meaning
A remedy too weak evaporates before acting. When the disproportion is such, change scale or change approach — do not pour one more drop.
At the origin
A common proverb for derisory relief against a great ill.
The characters
- 焼け石 yakeishiburning stone
- に nion, onto
- 水
にParticleThe point of arrival: a place, a moment, a destination.
In practice
If your efforts evaporate, change method rather than adding more.