How to Read “A hobby after forty and rain falling at seven degrees are about to stop but never do”
Yosoji sugite no dōraku to nanatsu sagatte furu ame wa yamisō de yamanu
Meaning of “A hobby after forty and rain falling at seven degrees are about to stop but never do”
This proverb means that hobbies started in middle age look temporary but actually last a long time. At the same time, it describes situations where things seem about to end but never actually do, just like rain that looks like it will stop but keeps falling.
Hobbies and pastimes started after age forty tend to become surprisingly absorbing. Unlike in youth, people at this age are free from many life responsibilities and have more financial stability. What begins as “just a little something” often becomes central to their lives. Many people can relate to this experience.
The proverb compares this to rain that weakens and makes you think “it’ll stop soon,” but then continues falling. This natural phenomenon expresses how difficult it is to predict human behavior patterns.
Even today, this saying applies to many situations. People who become absorbed in hobbies after retirement, or habits that continue despite thinking “I should stop soon,” are perfect examples.
Origin and Etymology
The exact source of this proverb is unclear, but it likely emerged from observations of common people’s lives during the Edo period. The format of pairing two different phenomena is a characteristic often seen in Edo-period senryū poetry and folk sayings.
The first part, “a hobby after forty,” refers to pastimes or hobbies started after passing life’s midpoint. In the Edo period, forty was considered a major life milestone. People would transfer family headship or consider retirement at this age.
When people discovered new pleasures at this age, they had more time and money than in youth. This made them more likely to become deeply absorbed in their new interests.
The second part, “rain falling at seven degrees,” refers to rain starting around 4 PM. In the Edo period’s time system, around 4 PM was called “nanatsu-doki” (the hour of seven).
Rain beginning at this time looks like it will stop quickly, like an evening shower. However, weather observation showed it often turned into prolonged rain.
By combining these two phenomena, the proverb found a common thread: things that seem “about to stop but never do.” It overlays human behavior with natural phenomena, showcasing the sharp observational skills of Edo-period common people.
Usage Examples
- My father started bonsai after retirement, and it’s a case of a hobby after forty and rain falling at seven degrees are about to stop but never do—now the entire garden is filled with bonsai trees
- Her passion for Korean dramas is a hobby after forty and rain falling at seven degrees are about to stop but never do—it’s been going on for three years now
Universal Wisdom
The truth this proverb speaks is a deep insight into the relationship between human passion and time. Youthful passion may be intense but often short-lived. In contrast, passion discovered after accumulating life experience quietly but surely takes root in one’s life.
Why do middle-aged hobbies last so long? Perhaps because in youth, we’re chased by “things we must do” and lose sight of what we truly “want to do.”
Only after passing forty can we honestly listen to our heart’s voice. The pleasures we discover then are genuine joys welling up from deep within our souls.
This proverb also teaches us about life’s mysterious rhythm of “seeming to end but never ending.” We constantly try to predict when things will finish, but human passion and natural phenomena keep defying our expectations.
This isn’t necessarily bad. Rather, joys that continue unexpectedly are what enrich our lives.
Our ancestors probably gazed at continuing rain and saw parallels with new passions budding within themselves. Like rain that keeps falling while you think “it’ll stop soon,” pleasures continue while you think “I’ll get bored soon.”
This unpredictability is the true flavor of life. The proverb quietly tells us this truth.
When AI Hears This
Both hobbies after forty and light rain represent situations where two traps of the human brain work simultaneously.
First, notice how the expectation that “it might end soon” distorts judgment. Behavioral economics experiments show that when people feel “it’ll be over in 10 minutes,” the psychology of not wanting to waste already-spent time works strongly.
For example, in a movie theater, after watching an hour of a boring movie with 30 minutes remaining, most people stay seated thinking “I’ve come this far.” This is the sunk cost fallacy.
More interesting is the “halfway-ness” common to being in your forties and light rain. No one waits through a complete downpour. In your sixties, deciding to give up a hobby becomes easier.
But precisely because it “seems still reversible,” the brain overestimates the near future of “the situation will change in the next 5 minutes.”
Research on time discounting rates shows people sensitively feel the difference between “right now” and “5 minutes later.” However, they perceive “1 year later” and “1 year and 5 minutes later” as virtually the same.
In other words, we overestimate the value of immediate short time periods. This proverb sharply points out this cognitive distortion through two scenarios.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches modern people the value of cherishing passions discovered in life’s second half. There’s no need to hesitate thinking “it’s too late to start something new.” Rather, precisely because you’ve accumulated life experience, you may encounter things you can truly enjoy from the heart.
At the same time, this proverb teaches us not to underestimate the staying power of our own passions. What you started thinking “just a little” might become a major pillar enriching your life.
It’s not a waste of time. It’s a gift giving new meaning to your life.
The proverb also teaches the importance of viewing others warmly when they become absorbed in new hobbies during middle age. It’s not mere whim. It may be genuine passion that makes their life shine.
Like rain that continues unexpectedly long, we shouldn’t deny unexpectedly long-lasting joys. We should celebrate them.
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