How to Read “Many words, little refinement”
Kotoba ōki wa shina sukunashi
Meaning of “Many words, little refinement”
“Many words, little refinement” means that people who talk more than necessary lack dignity and class.
People who are truly educated and have rich inner lives don’t use unnecessary words. They can convey their point clearly and concisely.
On the other hand, people who keep talking endlessly might be trying to fill the space with empty words. They might also be desperately trying to make themselves look more important than they are.
This proverb is used to warn talkative people. It points out the shallowness of those who talk endlessly in meetings, can’t stop bragging, or interrupt others just to speak.
Even today, this wisdom applies to people who post excessively on social media. It also applies to those who push their opinions on others without being asked.
Truly valuable words are measured by quality, not quantity.
Origin and Etymology
The exact origin of this proverb is unclear. However, it was already widely used during the Edo period.
The structure of the phrase combines two contrasting elements: “many words” and “little refinement.” This clearly expresses the inverse relationship between quantity and quality.
Traditional Japanese aesthetics have long valued the idea that “silence is golden” and “silence is a virtue.”
The beauty of “ma” (pause) seen in Noh theater and tea ceremony, and the Zen teaching of “not relying on words” created the cultural foundation for this proverb.
In the spirit of bushido, being talkative was seen as a sign of shallowness. People of true dignity should convey their intentions with the minimum necessary words.
This connects to the saying “a samurai never goes back on his word.”
The influence of Confucianism cannot be overlooked either. Confucius taught “clever words and a pleasing appearance rarely accompany virtue.”
This philosophy shows that people who are only good with words lack true virtue. This Eastern view of human nature took root in Japanese society.
It eventually crystallized into the expression “Many words, little refinement.”
Usage Examples
- He always talks on and on in meetings, but many words, little refinement—in the end, you can’t tell what he’s trying to say
- That person only talked about themselves even though we just met—many words, little refinement describes them perfectly
Universal Wisdom
The universal truth in “Many words, little refinement” is this insight: the richness of a person’s inner life is inversely related to how much they express outwardly.
Why do people become talkative? In most cases, it’s because a psychological mechanism is at work, trying to fill inner anxiety or emptiness.
People who are truly confident and understand their own value don’t need to decorate themselves with words. Their very presence carries persuasive power.
On the other hand, people who lack self-confidence try to prove their worth by piling on words. This is a fundamental human trait that transcends time and culture.
This proverb also hints at the importance of “the power to listen.” Talkative people have no room to listen to others.
By filling the space with their own words, they might actually be running away from true dialogue with others. The essence of human relationships lies more in listening than in speaking.
Our ancestors saw how much is lost in a flood of words. In silence lies deep thought, true understanding, and dignity.
This wisdom shines even brighter in our information-overloaded modern age.
When AI Hears This
Shannon, the founder of information theory, expressed communication quality as the “signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio).”
In other words, it’s the ratio of meaningful information (signal) to meaningless information (noise). From this perspective, we can see how more words make it easier for noise to creep in.
For example, if you convey 10 pieces of information with 10 words, the S/N ratio is 1 to 0. But if you convey the same 10 pieces of information with 100 words, 90 words essentially become noise.
The S/N ratio deteriorates to 1 to 9. The listener’s brain evaluates the whole with limited processing capacity. The more noise there is, the more it judges “this person’s talk is unreliable.”
This is because the brain estimates the sender’s ability based on information density.
Even more interesting is the “redundancy dilemma” shown by Shannon’s entropy theory. You need appropriate redundancy to convey information reliably.
But when it becomes excessive, the information actually degrades. The more you pile on words, the higher the probability that contradictions and ambiguities slip in.
The overall reliability decreases exponentially.
In other words, refinement is information density itself. People who get to the heart of the matter with few words are unconsciously rated highly as possessing information processing ability that can maintain a high S/N ratio.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is “the aesthetics of subtraction.” We tend to place value on adding something, broadcasting, and expressing.
But true maturity lies in the power to choose what not to say.
Now that social media has spread, anyone can easily broadcast their thoughts to the world. But ease of broadcasting doesn’t necessarily mean improved refinement.
Rather, the habit of pausing before posting and asking yourself “is this really worth saying?” is what elevates your refinement.
The same applies to daily life. Before speaking in a meeting, consider whether your words will add true value to the discussion.
In conversation with friends, pause and think whether you need to interrupt their story to share your opinion.
Reducing your words is not a passive act. It’s an active choice to give weight to each of your words.
People who can leave a deep impression with few words are truly attractive people.
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