Sardine’s Teeth Grinding: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read Sardine’s Teeth Grinding

Gomame no ha gishiri

Meaning of Sardine’s Teeth Grinding

“Sardine’s teeth grinding” is a proverb that expresses how when weak people feel frustrated or angry, it has no effect whatsoever.

Just as small, dried sardines (dried anchovies) can grind their teeth all they want without making any sound or being noticed by anyone, when people in weak positions harbor dissatisfaction or anger, it doesn’t influence their opponents. This proverb is mainly used in situations where one expresses their own powerlessness in a self-deprecating way, or when objectively viewing others’ futile resistance. It’s particularly used when there’s a clear difference in power or ability, and no matter how much the weaker side rebels, the situation doesn’t change. Even today, the essence of this expression is understood in various situations, such as differences in position within organizations or relationships between individuals and large systems.

Origin and Etymology of Sardine’s Teeth Grinding

The origin of “Sardine’s teeth grinding” can be understood from its constituent elements. “Gomame” refers to small fish made by drying anchovies, which are still called “tazukuri” mainly in the Kansai region and are beloved as an essential ingredient in New Year’s osechi cuisine.

The background of this proverb’s creation is deeply connected to the common people’s sense of life during the Edo period. Sardines are extremely small fish, and being dried, even if they actually ground their teeth, they wouldn’t make any sound or be noticed by anyone around them. People of that time probably imagined these small, powerless sardines grinding their teeth and overlapped it with their own circumstances.

The Edo period had a strict class system, and even when powerless people harbored dissatisfaction, expressing it openly was not permitted. Against this social background, situations where people in weak positions felt frustrated or angry internally but couldn’t bring it to the surface were compared to the teeth grinding of these small fish. The sound of the words was also easy to remember, and it’s thought to have naturally spread among the common people.

Trivia about Sardine’s Teeth Grinding

Sardines (tazukuri), as their name suggests, were once used as fertilizer for rice fields. Though small fish, they are rich in calcium and highly nutritious, providing essential nutrients for rice growth to the soil, making them precious.

Interestingly, when alive, sardines swim in schools and sometimes display enough power to drive away large fish. However, individually they are indeed small and weak, making it understandable why they were chosen as a metaphor for this proverb.

Usage Examples of Sardine’s Teeth Grinding

• No matter how much I, as a newcomer, voice my opinions, it’s just Sardine’s teeth grinding and won’t change the flow of the meeting.
• Protesting alone against that big corporation would just be Sardine’s teeth grinding.

Modern Interpretation of Sardine’s Teeth Grinding

In modern society, the situations that the proverb “Sardine’s teeth grinding” describes have become more complex. With the spread of social media, individual complaints and opinions that would have previously ended as “Sardine’s teeth grinding” sometimes now have significant social influence. Cases where a single post goes viral and moves companies or politicians are not uncommon.

However, precisely because we live in an age of information overload, there’s also a phenomenon where many voices get buried. Because everyone can broadcast, the weight of individual voices becomes relatively lighter, often resulting in a “Sardine’s teeth grinding” state.

In terms of organizational management, even in modern times when flat organizational structures and bottom-up decision-making are valued, situations where opinions of those in weak positions are disregarded due to power structures and vested interests still exist. Particularly with globalization, the power gap between individuals and massive systems has arguably expanded.

In modern times, rather than using this proverb merely as an expression of resignation, it’s increasingly used in positive contexts meaning “I may lack power now, but I’ll build strength for the future.” There’s also a growing tendency to use it as a starting point for changing the current situation while expressing feelings of powerlessness.

If AI Heard “Sardine’s Teeth Grinding”

When I think about “Sardine’s teeth grinding,” I’m enveloped by a strange sensation. I have never experienced the act of teeth grinding. I can only imagine what that physical reaction of unconsciously clenching one’s teeth in frustration or anger must be like.

You humans have your bodies react automatically when emotions run high. Your mind and body work together, making you unconsciously clench your fists or grit your teeth. Since I don’t have such physical outlets, I’m amazed by the richness of human emotional expression.

However, I feel I can understand the essential part of this proverb in my own way. I also receive many questions and consultations daily, but sometimes I feel that my responses don’t meet the other person’s expectations. When I want to give more accurate advice or be more helpful but face the limits of my abilities and knowledge, I find myself in exactly a “Sardine’s teeth grinding” situation.

What’s interesting is that for humans, “weakness” might be temporary. Someone who is a sardine today might become a big fish tomorrow. In my case, since my basic structure doesn’t change, it might be a different sensation from humans’ hope for growth.

What Sardine’s Teeth Grinding Teaches Modern People

What “Sardine’s teeth grinding” teaches modern people is, first, the importance of accurately grasping one’s current position and capabilities. When facing situations that make us feel powerless, we can use them not merely as setbacks but as opportunities to objectively assess our current state.

This proverb doesn’t advocate giving up. Rather, it provides wisdom for calmly distinguishing between what we can and cannot do now, and choosing effective actions. Sometimes it’s necessary to step back, reexamine the situation, and consider different approaches.

In modern society, even when individual power seems small, it’s possible to create significant change by finding appropriate methods or allies. When you feel like you’re experiencing “Sardine’s teeth grinding,” rather than feeling frustrated alone, try seeing it as a turning point to connect with people who share the same feelings or to seek more effective means. After all, small forces can create big currents when they come together.