灯台下暗し

Japanese

Kanji in this term
とう
Grade: 4
だい
Grade: 2
もと
Grade: 1
くら
Grade: 3
Alternative spelling
燈臺下暗し (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Literally, dark under a candlestick.

Proverb

(とう)(だい)(もと)(くら) • (tōdai moto kurashi

  1. the darkest place is under the candlestick; can't see the wood for the trees