How to Read “九仞の功を一簣に虧く”
kyūjin no kō wo ikki ni kaku
Meaning of “九仞の功を一簣に虧く”
This proverb expresses how years of effort or a great undertaking can end in failure due to a slight negligence or carelessness at the very end.
Even if something is 99% complete, if you neglect the remaining 1%, all your previous efforts will be wasted—this teaches us a harsh reality. Especially when working on important projects or major life goals, letting your guard down or becoming overconfident in the final stages can lead to fatal results. This expression is used when reflecting on situations where failure occurred near completion, or when warning yourself or others not to let their guard down until the very end. Even today, it is understood as a universal lesson applicable to all situations—exam preparation, qualification acquisition, work projects, sports competitions, and more.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb originates from words recorded in the “Lü Ao” chapter of the ancient Chinese classic “Book of Documents” (Shujing). The expression “Nine fathoms of achievement is lacking in one basket” originally came from the Chinese historical tale “為山九仞、功虧一簣” (building a mountain of nine fathoms, the achievement fails by one basket).
“Fathom” (jin) is an ancient Chinese unit of length, with one fathom being approximately 2.3 meters. Nine fathoms would be about 20 meters high. Meanwhile, “basket” (kui) refers to a bamboo basket used for carrying soil. In other words, it means that when trying to build a mountain as high as 20 meters, neglecting the final basketful of soil causes all efforts to come to nothing.
This historical tale has been passed down as a lesson taught by ancient Chinese sages about the proper mindset when accomplishing great undertakings. It is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Heian period along with Chinese classics and became used among those pursuing learning. During the Edo period, it was widely known as part of samurai education, and from the Meiji era onward, it spread among the general populace. Throughout this long history, it became established as a teaching that deeply resonated with the Japanese perfectionist temperament.
Interesting Facts
The bamboo basket “kui” that appears in this proverb is rarely seen in modern Japan, but it is still used in agricultural work and construction sites in China. The amount of soil in one basket is said to be about 18 liters, roughly equivalent to one wheelbarrow load today.
The height of “nine fathoms” is equivalent to a modern 6-story building. When you consider that ancient people were trying to build mountains of this height by hand, you can better appreciate both the grandeur of the undertaking and the importance of that final basketful.
Usage Examples
- My graduation thesis was perfect, but I neglected the final proofreading for typos and ended up with “Nine fathoms of achievement is lacking in one basket”
- I had continued dieting for a whole year, but overate in the final week, resulting in “Nine fathoms of achievement is lacking in one basket”
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, there are increasing situations where the meaning of this proverb feels more urgent. In the IT industry, there is the reality that “the last 1% of bugs can shut down the entire system,” which is exactly the situation of “Nine fathoms of achievement is lacking in one basket.”
In our modern era of widespread social media, trust and reputation built over many years can be ruined by just one inappropriate post. This can also be called a modern version of “Nine fathoms of achievement is lacking in one basket.” Corporate compliance issues and political scandals have similar structures.
On the other hand, there is also a movement to reconsider this proverb from the perspective of “the harmful effects of perfectionism” in modern times. More and more people are falling into the “perfectionism trap,” where they stop at the 80% stage in their pursuit of 100%. In the startup world, the thinking “get to market first and receive feedback rather than creating a perfect product” has become mainstream, which contrasts with the traditional value of “perfection to the very end.”
In modern times, it has become important to make use of this proverb’s lessons while also balancing them with “flexibility that doesn’t demand too much perfection.”
When AI Hears This
In the world of project management, there’s an ironic rule called the “90-90 Rule.” It states that “the first 90% of the work takes 90% of the time, and the remaining 10% of the work takes another 90% of the time.” In other words, the project actually requires 180% of the originally planned time.
At the heart of this phenomenon lies the “completion bias” that our brains possess. We have a psychological tendency to underestimate the remaining work once the majority of the overall project is finished. For example, in software development, even when “95% of the code is complete,” it’s not uncommon for the subsequent testing, bug fixes, and optimization to take three times longer than expected.
What’s fascinating is why this “final 1% problem” occurs. The work in the final stages often becomes “integration work”—that is, combining separately created components into a unified whole. The problems that emerge for the first time at this stage are extremely difficult to predict.
Modern research shows that approximately 70% of project delays occur in the final stages. This is exactly what “failing to complete a great work for lack of a final basket of earth” demonstrated. The ancient Chinese sages had already identified the greatest pitfall that modern project managers face. The limitations of human cognition are universal characteristics that remain unchanged across time.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches us today is not just “the importance of not letting your guard down until the end.” Rather, it helps us recognize anew the value of “the power of persistence” and “responsibility for completion” in life.
Modern society tends to rush for results, but truly valuable things are built up over time through accumulation. What you’re working on now is surely also an accumulation of many small efforts. Each one has meaning, and only by not cutting corners until the final finishing touches does it become genuine achievement.
At the same time, this proverb teaches us “a heart that values the entire process.” Not just the final step, but every step leading up to it represents your growth itself. Aiming for perfection while cherishing the learning and experiences gained in the process—perhaps this kind of balanced perspective is the wisdom we need to live in the modern world.
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