濡れ手で粟

Japanese

Kanji in this term
濡	手	粟
ぬ Jinmeiyō	て Grade: 1	あわ Jinmeiyō

Etymology

Idiom formed by combination of 濡れ手 and 粟. Literally "millet with wet hands". Foxtail millet sticks to wet hands, so this idiom describes reward without effort.[1]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) ぬれてであわ [nùré té dé áꜜwà] (Nakadaka – [5])[2]
IPA^(key): [nɯ̟ᵝɾe̞ te̞ de̞ a̠ɰᵝa̠]

Idiom

濡(ぬ)れ手(て)で粟(あわ) • (nure te de awa)

easy profit, raking in the money

References

Edward Trimnell (2004) Tigers, Devils, and Fools: A Guide to Japanese Proverbs‎, Beechmont Crest Publishing, →ISBN, page 111
1960, Tetsuo Hirayama (平山輝男, editor), 全国アクセント辞典 (Zenkoku Akusento Jiten, “Nationwide Accent Dictionary”), (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Tōkyōdō, →ISBN

[Trimnell2004-1] Edward Trimnell (2004) Tigers, Devils, and Fools: A Guide to Japanese Proverbs‎, Beechmont Crest Publishing, →ISBN, page 111

[ZAJ-2] 1960, Tetsuo Hirayama (平山輝男, editor), 全国アクセント辞典 (Zenkoku Akusento Jiten, “Nationwide Accent Dictionary”), (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Tōkyōdō, →ISBN