How to Read “Money seems to be there but isn’t, debts seem not to be there but are”
Arisō de nai no ga kane, nasasō de aru no ga shakkin
Meaning of “Money seems to be there but isn’t, debts seem not to be there but are”
This proverb expresses a harsh reality about finances. Money never comes as easily as you expect, but debts grow faster than you imagine.
Think about unexpected income, bonuses, or investment profits. You count on this money, but it often doesn’t arrive. There’s always some reason why it falls through.
On the other hand, a small debt can balloon unexpectedly. Interest charges and additional expenses pile up. Before you know it, you’re struggling to pay it back.
This contrast is the heart of the proverb.
People use this saying to warn against careless borrowing. It also helps ground someone who’s making plans based on expected income. Sometimes people use it as a personal reminder when reviewing their budget or life plans.
Today, borrowing money is easier than ever. Credit card revolving payments and consumer loans have low barriers to entry.
That’s why this proverb’s lesson matters more than ever. Income comes slower than expected, but debt grows faster than predicted.
Origin and Etymology
No clear records exist about when or where this proverb originated. However, its structure suggests it emerged during the Edo or Meiji period as folk wisdom.
During these eras, merchants and craftsmen lived in a society of credit transactions. Buying on account and lending money were everyday practices.
Banking systems weren’t developed like today. People conducted business on trust, and debt was a familiar part of life. In this environment, many ironic observations about money were born.
The contrasting structure of “seems to be there but isn’t” and “seems not to be there but are” was common in Edo period senryū and kyōka poetry.
Placing two opposite ideas side by side highlighted life’s ironies and contradictions. This technique was popular among common people.
What’s notable is that this proverb goes beyond simple financial advice. It sharply captures human psychology.
Expectations often get betrayed, while fears often come true. The proverb expresses this harsh truth about life with humor.
Because it came from real-life experience, it has been passed down through generations.
Usage Examples
- I went shopping counting on my bonus, but money seems to be there but isn’t, debts seem not to be there but are
- I thought revolving payments were convenient, but now I truly understand money seems to be there but isn’t, debts seem not to be there but are
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has endured because it perfectly captures two deep-rooted human tendencies.
The first is optimism bias. We instinctively believe good things happen easily and bad things rarely occur.
When buying lottery tickets or calculating side income, our hearts fill with hope. But reality rarely delivers money as expected. Humanity has fallen into this psychological trap for thousands of years.
The second is the compound effect of loss. Debt accumulates interest, and late payments add even more interest.
The human brain struggles to intuitively grasp exponential growth. The thought “a little is fine” eventually leads to disaster.
This structure applies not just to debt, but to all life’s problems.
Our ancestors understood these human weaknesses. The gap between hopeful expectations and reality, the snowball effect of small problems—these are fundamental human traits that never change with time.
That’s why this proverb still resonates today and continues to sound its warning.
When AI Hears This
Money disappearing easily and debt growing quickly actually shares the same structure as physical laws governing the universe.
Entropy measures “disorder,” and the second law of thermodynamics states that “things naturally become more disordered when left alone.” Like milk mixing into coffee, order naturally breaks down.
Consider money as an ordered state. Even with one million yen, countless paths exist for spending it—living expenses, taxes, unexpected costs.
The routes for “money scattering” are enormous. Meanwhile, routes for money increasing are limited—salary, investments, and so on. This is exactly what physics calls “asymmetry of state numbers.”
The probabilistic paths toward disorder (having no money) vastly outnumber other paths. Money naturally gets pulled toward decreasing.
In contrast, debt spontaneously increases over time. At 5% annual interest, one million yen in debt becomes 2.65 million yen after 20 years.
This happens because interest is a “time-dependent amplification mechanism” built into the system. Entropy also increases unidirectionally with time and never naturally decreases.
Debt interest functions as an economic version of “time’s arrow.” The more you neglect it, the more it expands.
Financial systems cleverly exploit the law of entropy increase. Maintaining order (assets) requires constant energy input (labor and management), but disorder (debt) is designed to expand automatically.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the importance of “playing defense” in life.
Chasing dreams and taking chances on possibilities matters. But we also need caution—don’t count on uncertain income, and don’t underestimate debt risks.
This is especially true today, when you can borrow money easily with just a smartphone. The proverb warns us about dangers hidden behind convenience.
Specifically, use the most conservative estimates when planning income. Use the highest estimates when planning expenses.
This “contrarian thinking” becomes a shield protecting your life. Treat bonuses and unexpected income as “nice if it happens.” Design your life to work without them.
For debt, eliminate the “this much is fine” attitude. Only borrow when truly necessary, and create a strict repayment plan.
This doesn’t mean abandoning dreams. Rather, a solid foundation lets you take on challenges with confidence.
Gaining freedom from money worries is the path to true wealth that this proverb shows us.
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