How to Read “大きい薬缶は沸きが遅い”
Ōkii yakan wa waki ga osoi
Meaning of “大きい薬缶は沸きが遅い”
This proverb means that people with greater abilities take more time to demonstrate their full potential.
People with large capacity—that is, those equipped with excellent talent, deep knowledge, and rich experience—require considerable time to fully demonstrate their abilities and produce results. This doesn’t mean they are inferior in ability; rather, it indicates that a preparation period is necessary to generate significant achievements.
This proverb is used in situations where excellent personnel cannot immediately produce results, or when expected individuals have not yet shown the kind of performance anticipated. It’s employed when wanting to convey the importance of watching patiently without rushing, or evaluating people from a long-term perspective. Even today, this expression is used when discussing capable personnel who take time to adapt to new workplaces or environments, or people who are in the stage of steadily building their strength.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of this proverb is thought to have emerged from actual experiences in daily life during the Edo period. In households of that time, the kettle (yakan) was an indispensable tool for tea ceremony and daily water boiling.
The word “yakan” (kettle) originally referred to a tool for brewing medicinal herbs. During the Edo period, it became widely used in ordinary households as a tool for boiling water. While large kettles had the convenience of being able to boil large amounts of water at once, they had the physical characteristic of taking longer to reach boiling point due to the larger volume of water.
This phenomenon was a familiar fact that people of that time could observe daily. Many people likely shared the experience of taking longer than expected when using large kettles in situations where they wanted to boil water quickly, such as during morning preparations or when preparing tea for guests.
Such real-life experiences are presumed to have eventually come to be used as metaphors for human abilities and talents. This proverb naturally took root among common people as wisdom that expressed human characteristics through physical phenomena.
Interesting Facts
The character for “medicine” (yaku) is used in “yakan” because it was originally a specialized tool for brewing Chinese herbal medicines. Kettles in the Edo period were mainly made of copper, and despite having good thermal conductivity, large-capacity ones definitely took time to reach boiling point.
Interestingly, people of that time used different sizes of kettles appropriately. It was common to use multiple kettles according to purpose, from small teapot-sized ones to large ones used by big families and merchant houses.
Usage Examples
- New employee Tanaka hasn’t shown his true abilities yet, but since “Big kettle boils slowly,” let’s observe him a little longer
- That researcher is the type where “Big kettle boils slowly,” so he should make wonderful discoveries in due time
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. This is because the influence of the information society has led to the penetration of “speed-oriented” values, with a strong tendency to demand immediate effectiveness and short-term results.
Particularly in business settings, with quarterly performance evaluations and increasing short-term projects, the way of thinking that “Big kettle boils slowly” tends to be undervalued. Even excellent personnel may receive lower evaluations if they cannot produce immediate results, which is commonly seen in many environments.
However, on the other hand, with the advancement of AI technology and the growing importance of innovation, the value of this proverb is being reconsidered. Truly innovative technology and deep insights are not born overnight. In research and development fields, the importance of nurturing human resources from a long-term perspective and patiently waiting for results is being reevaluated.
In modern times, this proverb is increasingly used interchangeably with “late bloomer.” Originally it described the time needed to demonstrate abilities, but it’s also used in cases meaning success that comes with age. In the context of globalization, this proverb is often quoted in contexts that recognize diverse working styles and growth patterns.
When AI Hears This
The reason large kettles take longer to boil comes down to physics and the “surface area to volume ratio” principle. As a kettle grows larger, its volume increases by the cube while the bottom surface area that receives heat only increases by the square. This means each liter of water receives relatively less heat energy.
This principle applies remarkably well to modern organizational theory. Think of startup companies as small kettles and large corporations as big kettles. In a 10-person startup, the “heat” of new ideas and market changes reaches everyone instantly, allowing the entire organization to quickly reach a “boiling point.” Meanwhile, in a 10,000-person corporation, even when exposed to the same information and pressure for change, it takes an enormous amount of time for that energy to penetrate the entire organization.
McKinsey research has actually shown that decision-making speed in large companies is inversely proportional to the logarithm of employee count. This relationship strikingly mirrors the surface area to volume ratio principle.
What’s fascinating is that this physical law also explains why large corporations adopt “spin-offs” and “small team structures.” By dividing large kettles into smaller ones, they improve each unit’s “surface area to volume ratio” and boost organizational response speed. It’s remarkable how a principle our ancestors discovered by observing kettles strikes at the very heart of modern organizational management.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern people is the universal truth that “true value appears over time.” Please take a longer view of those around you who haven’t yet demonstrated their full potential.
While modern society tends to rush for results, people with deep knowledge and rich experience need preparation time before they can demonstrate their abilities. This doesn’t mean they are inferior; it’s an important process for generating greater achievements.
And above all, this proverb may apply to you as well. Even if results don’t come immediately, there’s no need to worry. The potential within you will surely bloom at the appropriate time. Rather than rushing to meet others’ expectations, steadily building your strength at your own pace will generate greater value in the long term.
What’s important is having the heart to believe in each other and wait. Such warm gazes will surely nurture wonderful talents.
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