犬も歩けば棒に当たる

いぬもあるけばぼうにあたる

Entry Discussion Citations Language Download PDF Watch Edit Japanese edit Kanji in this term 犬 歩 棒 当 いぬ Grade: 1 ある Grade: 2 ぼう Grade: 6 あ Grade: 2 kun'yomi Alternative spelling 犬も步けば棒に當たる (kyūjitai) Etymology edit Phrase consisting of 犬 (“dog”) +‎ も (“also”) +‎ 歩けば (“if (it) were to walk, hypothetical form of the verb 歩あるく (aruku)”) +‎ 棒 (“stick, rod, pole”) +‎ に (“directional particle”) +‎ 当たる (“to hit”), literally “even a dog could be hit by a stick if walking”

Pronunciation edit IPA(key): [inɯ̟ mo̞ a̠ɾɯ̟ke̞ba̠ bo̞ː ɲ̟i a̠ta̠ɾɯ̟] Proverb edit 犬いぬも歩あるけば棒ぼうに当あたる • (inu mo arukeba bō ni ataru)

there is a danger of tragedy in any attempt (idiomatic) good luck may come unexpectedly References edit “犬も歩けば棒に当たる”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎[1] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015–2025