Things About Japan image

Learning Japanese

Japanese Proverbs & Sayings

Oya no Nana Hikari



Last update January 5, 2020

Back

 Click for a text-to-speech sample

shone by one's parent's seven lights

Oya no Nana Hikari

親の七光り

Words: 親 Oya = a parent / の no = genitive joshi particle / 七 Nana = seven / 光り Hikari = light

Pronunciation: [oh-yah-noh-nah-nah-hee-kah-rhee] 

English Equivalent: ride on father's coattails

Notes: It's about a case where someone receives a good reputation or popularity thanks to their parents or close kins, rather than for their achievement, performance or talents. Why is this crappy actor so popular? -- You know, it's a typical case of Oya no Nana Hikari.
Back