雉も鳴かずば撃たれまい（きじもなかずばうたれまい）
JLPT N1 · i-adjective
Meaning: the pheasant wouldn't be shot if it didn't cry
Example sentences
- 余計な一言、雉も鳴かずば撃たれまいだ。 — That one unnecessary remark — if you keep your mouth shut, you won't get shot at.
- 黙っていれば、雉も鳴かずば撃たれまいだった。 — If he'd just kept quiet, he wouldn't have brought trouble on himself.
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “雉も鳴かずば撃たれまい” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)