How to say "Cry over spilt milk" in Japanese?

Hey everyone! This is Yuka, a new Japanese teacher.

I love to read the column about language, "How to say in a foreign language?".

Today's topic is "Cry over split milk".

How to say it in Japanese?

Tips: In the ancient Japanese world, water is more popular than milk.

Do any ideas come up?

Answer: literally translates to:

Tipped water does not return to the tray.

Fukusui bon(g) ni kaerazu

覆水(Fukusui)盆(Bon(g))に返(Kae)らず　

ふくすいぼんにかえらず

Let's see the details!

覆　upside down

水　water

盆　tray, plate

に　at, in, on

返　return

ら　(verb transforming to connect not)

ず　not

Milk was not settled into Japanese society until the 19th century.

It's interesting we don't cry. It seems that ancient Japanese were not so emotional.
Generally speaking, most of Asians are as well.

This sentence sounds very archaic and might feel like Latin for an English speaker.

Thank you for your reading!

I'd be glad if you were interested in Japanese. See you soon!

日語

母語程度

英語

精通

中文

日常會話程度

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Latisha

2025年 2月 2日

Hi Yuka! I'm a new English teacher here as well. I have also found some of the columns here enjoyable. I think your column is very interesting. Even thought there are many differences between cultures, there are also many similarities (I.e the idiom you used). This idiom has the same meaning in both English and Japanese culture just different wording. By the way, I actually prefer the Japanese expression over the English one lol... Great Column!