How to Read “Even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean”
Hattemo kuromame
Meaning of “Even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean”
“Even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean” means that no matter how much you try to cover up something, its true nature never changes.
Just as a black bean stays black whether it rolls around or crawls on the ground, the essential nature of a person or thing cannot be changed by superficial appearances.
People often use this proverb when someone with bad character pretends to be good. The true nature always shows through eventually.
This proverb helps us see through the true nature of people and situations. It teaches us not to be fooled by appearances or temporary behavior.
We need to look deeper and understand what someone or something really is. Today, people use it to describe situations on social media where people only show their best side.
It also applies when organizations make surface-level improvements while ignoring fundamental problems. The proverb carries two meanings: how difficult it is to change one’s true nature, and a warning not to be deceived by appearances.
Origin and Etymology
No clear written records explain the origin of this proverb. However, we can make interesting observations from how the words are put together.
The verb “crawl” describes something moving along the ground. “Black bean” refers to a bean that is black in color.
Why did combining these two words come to mean “true nature never changes”?
A black bean stays black no matter what you do to it. You can roll it, shake it, or make it crawl on the ground.
Even if you polish its surface or wash it with water, a black bean remains a black bean. This visually clear characteristic made it perfect for expressing human nature and the essential qualities of things.
The word “crawl” was probably chosen to show desperate movement. Even when crawling around with great effort, even when trying to disguise itself, the blackness of the black bean never changes.
This contrast powerfully conveys how unchangeable human nature truly is.
The most likely theory suggests this expression originated among common people during the Edo period. People back then saw black beans regularly in daily life.
For them, this metaphor was very easy to understand and convincing.
Interesting Facts
Black beans hold special meaning in Japanese food culture. They appear in osechi, the traditional New Year’s meal.
This comes from wordplay: “mame” means both “bean” and “diligent” or “healthy.” The black color itself was also believed to ward off evil spirits.
It’s interesting that such an auspicious food ironically became part of a proverb about unchangeable nature.
The blackness of black beans comes from a pigment called anthocyanin. This pigment is very stable and doesn’t lose its color easily.
The beans stay black whether you boil or roast them. Scientifically speaking, this characteristic perfectly fits the metaphor of “unchanging.”
Usage Examples
- He cried at the apology press conference, but even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean—his true nature hasn’t changed
- They keep proposing superficial reforms, but even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean—the organization’s culture hasn’t changed at all
Universal Wisdom
“Even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean” has been passed down through generations because it captures a universal truth. Changing human nature is extremely difficult, and everyone experiences this reality.
Everyone wants to hide their flaws and look good to others. But at the same time, we all know that no matter how hard we try, we can’t completely hide our true selves.
These two conflicting feelings constantly struggle within the human heart.
What’s interesting is that this proverb doesn’t promote giving up. Instead, it encourages us to face reality with courage.
Rather than spending energy on superficial appearances, it teaches us to confront our true nature. Just as a black bean stays black even when crawling around, our essential nature doesn’t change easily.
If that’s the case, we need to accept and understand our nature. When we truly need to change something, we must have the resolve to change it from the roots.
This proverb also teaches us how to see others clearly. People can dress up their words and behavior, but their true nature always shows through eventually.
Our ancestors had the wisdom to look past superficial impressions and take time to understand people’s true nature. This insight was the most important ability for building human relationships.
When AI Hears This
“Even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean” doesn’t actually exist as a real proverb. Yet many people accept it as genuine.
This phenomenon reveals two cognitive biases in the human brain.
First, let’s look at confirmation bias at work. People who know the real idiom “can’t be eaten even if boiled or grilled” hear the word “crawls.”
They unconsciously try to fit it into a known pattern. They pick up only information that matches the framework of “expressions listing cooking methods.”
They miss the contradiction that “crawling” isn’t a cooking method. The brain collects information that confirms what it already knows and ignores information that contradicts it.
The representativeness heuristic also kicks in. This is the brain’s tendency to judge something as belonging to a category if it has typical features.
The rhythm of “even if… even if…,” a food ingredient name, and an old-fashioned sound—when these elements align, the brain makes a snap judgment.
It decides “this sounds like a proverb, so it must be a proverb” without statistical verification. Research by psychologist Kahneman shows that over 90 percent of experiment participants judge by “seeming right” rather than probability calculations.
We prioritize pattern matching over truth when making judgments. Understanding this cognitive quirk is the first step to avoiding fake news and misinformation.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the importance of distinguishing between superficial change and fundamental change.
In today’s social media world, anyone can make themselves look good. But the lesson of “Even if it crawls, it’s still a black bean” reminds us to face our true selves.
It’s more important than maintaining superficial appearances. True growth begins when we acknowledge and accept our essential nature.
This proverb also gives us wisdom for evaluating others. We shouldn’t judge people by first impressions or temporary behavior alone.
We need patience to take time and understand someone’s true nature. At the same time, once we understand someone’s essence, we shouldn’t try to change it.
We should respect them as they are with tolerance.
Most importantly, if you truly want to change, superficial efforts aren’t enough. To change from the core, you need courage to reexamine your own values and way of thinking.
It’s not an easy path. But having that resolve is the first step toward real transformation.
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