一暴十寒 (いちばくじっかん)

Today’s Yojijukugo is 一暴十寒 (いちばくじっかん).

• Meaning:
  • Definition: 努力が少なく怠ることが多いのを戒めた語。
  • Translation: A word used to warn people of their lack of effort and constant neglect
  • Meaning: Bursts of exertion will fail to bear fruit if interrupted by long periods of idleness. Strenuous efforts, unless sustained, are to no avail.

• Composition:
  • This expression is constructed as a sort of story stating the following. One the first (一) day, you let [it] be exposed (曝) and warm to the sun. For the next ten (十) days, you let [it] cool (冷) down in the shadow.
  • In this 4-character expression, the character 曝 is changed to 暴 which usually means “outburst” or “violence”. It signifies here the intensity of the action.
  • 寒, which means “cold” replaces 冷 which usually means “cool” or “to cool down”. It thus has a similar but stronger meaning

• Notes:
  • This comes from the Confucian philosopher Mencius, considered the “second sage” (after Confucius himself). He based his thinking on the fact that quality requires cultivation and a good environment. Doing efforts once would not be enough to outweigh the bad that happened or will happen for a longer period.
  • Careful not to pronounce 「一暴」 as 「いちぼう」.
  • This expression can also be said as 十寒一暴 but is less frequent that way.

• Example:
  • 彼女は日本語を学びたいと言いながら、一暴十寒だからこそ何も覚えない。
  • かのじょはにほんごをまなびたいといいながら、いちばくじっかんだからこそなにもおぼえない。
  • Even though she says she wants to learn Japanese, it’s because of her unsustained efforts that she can’t remember anything

This Yojijukugo is in the Kanji Kentei Level 4 (四級) and doesn’t have a synonym.

Some resources online compared it to 三日坊主 (みっかぼうず) but the difference is clear between the two. 三日坊主 is about a person who can’t stick to anything but it doesn’t mention the efforts at all. Nor the fact that it is continued efforts that bring results.

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一暴十寒ではなく、毎日頑張って目標に向かおう！