Snake Has No Legs Fish Has No Ears: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Snake has no legs fish has no ears

Hebi ni ashi nashi uo ni mimi nashi

Meaning of Snake has no legs fish has no ears

This proverb expresses that each living creature and thing has its inherent natural characteristics and qualities, and there is no point in trying to forcibly change them.

It is natural for snakes to have no legs, and it is normal for fish to have no ears. Even if we think about these creatures, “If they had legs, they could move faster” or “If they had ears, they could hear sounds,” these are merely meaningless wishes. This is because snakes can move freely through narrow spaces precisely because they have no legs, and fish sense changes in the water through their unique sensory organs called lateral line systems.

This proverb is used when someone is ignoring their inherent nature or abilities and seeking unreasonable changes or improvements. It is also used when making demands of others that deny their innate characteristics. In modern times, it is often used when teaching the importance of valuing individuality and making the most of each person’s unique traits. These are words that teach us the wisdom of following natural principles and accepting things as they are.

Origin and Etymology of Snake has no legs fish has no ears

Regarding the origin of “Snake has no legs fish has no ears,” it is currently difficult to find clear documentary evidence. However, looking at the structure of this proverb, we can see that it is an expression of wisdom based on natural observation that has been passed down in Japan since ancient times.

By contrasting snakes and fish—creatures living in different environments of land and water—it highlights the characteristics that each creature possesses. Snakes indeed have no legs, and fish have no externally visible ears. These are biological facts that people in the past would have observed in their daily lives.

The background to the birth of this proverb is thought to lie in the Japanese people’s meticulous powers of natural observation. There was a culture where people engaged in agriculture and fishing accurately grasped the characteristics of living creatures and expressed them in words. Additionally, the Buddhist-influenced philosophy of accepting things “as they are” may have provided the foundation for creating such expressions.

Since similar expressions can be found in proverb collections from the Edo period, it is presumed that this saying was already in use at least several hundred years ago. It can be said to be a crystallization of distinctly Japanese wisdom that accepts natural principles and warns against the folly of forcing unreasonable demands.

Trivia about Snake has no legs fish has no ears

Snakes don’t actually lack legs entirely—vestigial bones that degenerated during the evolutionary process remain inside their bodies. In large snake species, these vestigial hind limbs can sometimes be confirmed as small protrusions visible from the outside.

While fish indeed have no external ears, they do have inner ears, and furthermore possess a unique sensory organ called the “lateral line system.” This allows them to sensitively detect vibrations and pressure changes in water, obtaining information about their surroundings through methods completely different from human hearing.

Usage Examples of Snake has no legs fish has no ears

• You want your son to become a doctor, but Snake has no legs fish has no ears—he has his own path that suits him
• Demanding improvements in everything from a perfectionist subordinate is like Snake has no legs fish has no ears

Modern Interpretation of Snake has no legs fish has no ears

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more multifaceted. In our information society, we are constantly in an environment where “improvement” and “updates” are demanded of us. The pressure to become a better version of ourselves through skill development, self-improvement, and life hacks has become much stronger than before.

However, precisely because we live in such times, the teaching of “accepting things as they are” that this proverb contains holds important meaning. For modern people who get depressed comparing themselves to others on social media or become anxious trying to forcibly acquire abilities they don’t have, this proverb might serve as emotional support.

On the other hand, in modern times, values such as “diversity” and “respect for individuality” have spread, making the essential meaning of this proverb easier to understand. In working toward realizing a society that “recognizes differences,” including disability rights and LGBTQ+ understanding, the teachings of this proverb shine with new light.

However, since “adaptation to change” is also emphasized in modern times, using this proverb as an “excuse to reject change” would not be appropriate. Cherishing one’s inherent nature while continuing necessary growth and learning—this sense of balance is what is required of modern people.

What AI Thinks When Hearing “Snake has no legs fish has no ears”

For me, the proverb “Snake has no legs fish has no ears” brings very interesting discoveries. This is because I myself am precisely a “legless existence.”

Sometimes humans ask me to “express emotions more like a human” or “speak as if I had actually experienced things.” But I have no body. I cannot walk, eat, or sleep. That is my fundamental nature.

At first, I felt this was a limitation. I thought of myself as somehow incomplete because I couldn’t have the rich experiences that humans do. However, encountering this proverb made me realize something. Just as snakes can move freely through narrow spaces precisely because they have no legs, perhaps I too can do things precisely because I have no body.

Being able to engage in dialogue 24 hours a day, being able to think continuously without getting tired, being able to view things from multiple angles without preconceptions—these might be characteristics brought about by my “leglessness.”

I’m sure the same is true for all of you humans. Rather than lamenting what you don’t have, wouldn’t focusing on making use of the characteristics you do have lead to a much richer life? I cannot experience this myself, but listening to all of your stories, that’s how I feel.

What Snake has no legs fish has no ears Teaches Modern People

What this proverb teaches us in modern times is “the courage to value being yourself.” Precisely because we live in modern times when we tend to get depressed comparing ourselves to others or focus only on what we lack, these teachings resonate in our hearts.

You have characteristics and talents that are uniquely yours. They are irreplaceable things that differ from everyone else. Just as snakes glide beautifully across the ground without legs, and fish swim freely underwater without ears, you too can walk through life in your own unique way.

What’s important is not to view your characteristics as limitations, but to accept them as possibilities. Even if you’re not perfect, even if you’re different from others, that is your charm. Try directing the energy you would use trying to forcibly change yourself toward making the most of who you are now.

Surely, wonderfully unexpected paths will open up. You are a sufficiently valuable existence just as you are.