How to Read “三年飛ばず鳴かず”
Sannen tobazu nakazu
Meaning of “三年飛ばず鳴かず”
“Three years not flying not crying” expresses that even when someone appears to show no notable activity for a long time, they are actually accumulating great power within and will eventually achieve remarkable results.
This expression is used for people or situations that appear to be doing nothing on the surface, but it never refers to laziness or incompetence. Rather, it expresses a state of steadily building strength and making preparations behind the scenes. It is used when believing in and watching over the potential abilities of personnel or businesses that have not shown results for a long period.
Even in modern times, in a society that tends to demand immediate results, it is understood as words that teach us the importance of taking time to solidly build foundations. It is also used to express situations where researchers make great discoveries after years of research, or artists bloom after a period of training.
Origin and Etymology
“Three years not flying not crying” originates from a historical tale recorded in the ancient Chinese text “Han Feizi.” This story was born from an episode involving King Zhuang of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period.
When King Zhuang first ascended to the throne, he neglected politics for three years and indulged in pleasure, causing his retainers to worry. A courageous retainer posed a riddle to the king: “There is a large bird in the palace, but for three years it has neither flown nor cried. What kind of bird is this?” King Zhuang replied, “That bird does not fly, but once it flies, it will reach the heavens. It does not cry, but once it cries, it will astonish the people.”
Afterward, King Zhuang began to seriously engage in politics and led the country to prosperity as an excellent ruler. From this historical tale, the expression “Three years not flying not crying” was born and spread to Japan where it became established.
In China, it is also known by the expression “If it doesn’t fly, so be it; once it flies, it soars to the heavens,” and has been passed down as a typical example of late-blooming talent. It is a story full of deep insight that teaches the importance of the period of accumulating strength, not mere laziness.
Interesting Facts
King Zhuang of Chu actually became one of the “Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period” and is evaluated as one of the particularly excellent rulers in Chinese history. What’s interesting is that historians are divided on whether his “three years of silence” was a calculated strategy or whether he was truly indulging in pleasure.
The “bird” that appears in this proverb is also an animal often used as a symbol of rulers and heroes in Chinese classics. The image of a bird flying high in the sky was probably suitable for expressing human ideals and great ambitions.
Usage Examples
- That researcher hasn’t published papers for ten years, but it’s Three years not flying not crying – he’s probably preparing for a great discovery
- He was Three years not flying not crying when he was new, but now he’s become the ace of the department
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, we can see interesting changes in the interpretation of this proverb. With the penetration of SNS culture and the demand for immediate results, the values of “Three years not flying not crying” are sometimes considered outdated.
Particularly in startup companies and individual career development, there is a tendency to emphasize rapid growth and visualized results. The reality is that investors expect short-term profits and the job market demands immediate effectiveness. In such an environment, it is indeed difficult to have a “period of silence” to steadily accumulate strength.
However, on the other hand, deep expertise and long-term perspective are essential for dealing with the development of AI technology and increasingly complex social problems. As we can see from the fact that many Nobel Prize winners achieve results through decades of accumulated research, truly innovative achievements require time.
In modern times, there is also a movement to reinterpret this proverb as a “strategic preparation period.” An increasing number of people are actively viewing it as a period to focus on improving fundamental abilities and building long-term vision rather than superficial activities.
When AI Hears This
In modern society, words like “going viral” and “trending” symbolize the ideal of achieving overnight success. However, “Three years without flying or singing” has been presenting a sharp counterargument to this instant-gratification mentality for over 2,000 years.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the specific timeframe of “three years” that this proverb indicates. Modern research shows us the famous “10,000-hour rule” – that becoming proficient in a specialized field requires approximately 10,000 hours, or about 9 years of practicing 3 hours daily. Even just for building a solid foundation, a three-year period is hardly an exaggeration.
Even more fascinating is the cleverness of the expression “without flying or singing.” In our social media age, we broadcast even the smallest daily achievements, seeking instant validation through “likes.” Yet true masters seal away even this need for approval, dedicating themselves entirely to accumulating inner strength. Ancient China was essentially advocating for what we’d now call a “validation detox.”
In fact, Apple founder Steve Jobs also disappeared from the spotlight for 11 years during his NeXT period, laying the groundwork for what would become the iPhone revolution. The most successful people today understand the value of this “invisible preparation period.” This proverb serves as the most precise prescription for modern people poisoned by instant culture.
Lessons for Today
“Three years not flying not crying” teaches modern people the importance of not rushing for results and believing in one’s own growth. Precisely because we can easily see others’ success on social media today, don’t we need the courage to walk at our own pace?
Even if you’re not getting the results you want right now, that time is never wasted. Reading, studying, meeting people, lessons learned from failures – everything becomes nourishment for future leaps. What’s important is not superficial busyness, but spending time on truly valuable things.
Your perspective on people around you might also change. Colleagues and friends who don’t stand out now might actually harbor great potential. Not judging people solely on short-term results, but believing in and watching over their potential abilities is also a warm perspective that this proverb teaches us.
Let’s not be impatient, not compare ourselves, and walk our own path. Your time to “fly” will surely come.
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