Nakittsura ni Hachi (泣きっ面に蜂 - Adding Insult to Injury)

Nakittsura ni Hachi

Yesterday, I introduced you to the expression 'fundari kettari' (踏んだり蹴ったり), which means that one bad thing after another happens.

There is another Japanese proverb that has the similar meaning to it -- it is 'nakittsura ni hachi' (泣きっ面に蜂).

'Naki' (泣き) means "crying," 'tsura' (面) means "face," and 'hachi' (蜂) means "bee."

That is to say, nakkittsura ni hachi means that even though someone is crying already because of an unfortunate thing, a bee stings him/her.

泣きっ面に蜂

昨日は、重ねて何度もひどい目にあうことを意味する「踏んだり蹴ったり」という表現を紹介しました。

日本語には、この表現と同様の意味を持つことわざ「泣きっ面に蜂」があります。

「泣き」は "crying," 「面」は "face," 「蜂」は "bee" を意味します。

すなわち「泣きっ面に蜂」とは、不幸なできごとが起こって既に泣いているのに、さらに蜂に刺されるという不幸が起こる、ということです。