二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ず
nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu
Guitar and saxophone at the same time? Two clubs, two goals, two dreams? Japanese children hear this warning: nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu (二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ず).
I’m Arasen, an elementary school principal and calligrapher in Japan. Did you know this proverb actually traveled all the way from ancient Rome to Japan?
Quick Facts
| Japanese | 二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ず |
|---|---|
| Reading | にとをおうものはいっとをもえず |
| Romaji | nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu |
| Literally | One who chases two rabbits does not get even one |
| Meaning | Chasing two goals at once, you may end up with nothing. |
| Opposite | 一石二鳥 (isseki nichō) – “one stone, two birds” |
| English cousin | If you run after two hares, you will catch neither. |
What Does It Mean?
If you greedily try to do two things at once, you will likely fail at both – or finish neither.
Word by Word
| 二兎 | nito – two rabbits (ni = two, to = rabbit) |
|---|---|
| を追うものは | o ou mono wa – a person who chases |
| 一兎をも | itto o mo – not even one rabbit |
| 得ず | ezu – does not get |
Where Does It Come From?
The saying is believed to have been born in ancient Rome. If you try to catch two rabbits at once, both run away – and you catch none.
It traveled to Japan and became a well-loved Japanese proverb. Today many children learn it alongside its opposite, isseki nichō (killing two birds with one stone).
A Word from Arasen
If you get greedy and try to do two things at the same time, you may succeed at neither.
Try to catch two rabbits at once, and they both run off – so you end up with none.
Asking out two girls at the same time, and getting turned down by both… that’s exactly this proverb!
It actually comes from ancient Rome – and it settled into Japan as a proverb. Amazing, right?
For a long time, it has been used as a warning when we spread ourselves too thin, or try to take shortcuts by doing everything at once.
(Translated from Arasen’s original Japanese.)
How to Use It
A Short Skit
Nozomi, there’s something I want to try…
のぞみお姉ちゃん、ちょっと最近やってみようと思っていることがあるんだけど・・・。What is it, Yusuke?
勇輔、どうしたの？I’m going to start learning guitar AND saxophone!
のぞみお姉ちゃん、今度、ギターとサックスを習おうと思っているんだWhat?! Both at the same time? Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu! Start with just one.
えええ！勇輔、同時に二つを一緒に習い始めようとしているの！二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ずって言うでしょ。まずはどちらか一つにしなさいよ“Chan-chan” is the little “ta-da!” sound that closes a comedy skit in Japan.
Example Sentences
- I tried to enter both the soccer and baseball tournaments, and didn’t practice enough for either. Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu.
サッカーと野球の両方の大会に出ようとして、どちらも練習不足になった。二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ずだ。 - Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu – for now, let’s focus on studying.
二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ずというから、今は勉強に集中しよう。
Similar Japanese Proverbs
- 虻蜂取らずAbu hachi torazu
“Catching neither the horsefly nor the bee.” Trying to take both, and getting neither.
The Opposite
- 一石二鳥Isseki nichō
“One stone, two birds.” Getting two benefits from one action – the happy opposite!
Similar Sayings in English
- If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.
- Jack of all trades, master of none.
Other languages agree: a Tibetan saying goes “If you have a golden horse, don’t go looking for a silver sheep.”
Quick Quiz
Which four-character idiom has the opposite meaning?
- A. 一石二鳥 (isseki nichō)
- B. 自業自得 (jigō jitoku)
- C. 五里霧中 (gori muchū)
Show the answer
The answer is A. isseki nichō – “one stone, two birds,” getting two benefits from one action.
Watch the Lesson (in Japanese)
On my YouTube channel “Kyō kara tsukaeru kotowaza kōza” (Proverbs You Can Use from Today), I explain proverbs with short comedy skits. It’s in Japanese – a fun challenge for learners!
Free Worksheet for Teachers
Teaching Japanese? Download a free printable worksheet for this proverb – with the skit, a fill-in-the-blank, a quiz and a writing task (10 proverbs, A4, with answer key).
