出る杭は打たれる

Japanese Slang Japanese ★★★★★ 5/5 neutral でるくいはうたれるderu kui wa utareru

読み でるくいはうたれる

ローマ字 deru kui wa utareru

漢字の分解 出る (come out/protrude) + 杭 (stake/peg) + 打たれる (get struck/hammered) → the protruding stake gets hammered down

発音 /de.ɾɯ kɯ.i wa ɯ.ta.ɾe.ɾɯ/

意味

The nail that sticks out gets hammered down — those who stand out or deviate from the group will face social pressure to conform.

This proverb encapsulates the Japanese cultural emphasis on group harmony over individual distinction. While sometimes used critically to lament the suppression of individuality, it also serves as practical social advice. In modern usage, people reference it both seriously and ironically — entrepreneurs might embrace being a 'sticking-out nail' while acknowledging the social cost.

例文

日本では出る杭は打たれるから、目立つと叩かれるよ。
出る杭は打たれるって言うけど、出すぎた杭は打たれないとも言うよね。
出る杭は打たれる文化をそろそろ変えていかないと。

使い方ガイド

場面: social commentary, workplace, cultural discussion, self-reflection

トーン: cautionary, philosophical, sometimes critical

正しい言い方

出る杭は打たれるから気をつけてね (The nail that sticks out gets hammered — be careful)
出る杭は打たれる社会を変えたいよね (I wish we could change this hammering-down culture)

避ける言い方

実際にいじめられている人に「出る杭は打たれる」と言うのは被害者を責めることになる (Telling someone being bullied that 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered' amounts to victim-blaming)

よくある間違い

Assuming this proverb is universally endorsed — many Japanese people, especially younger ones, are critical of this mentality
Not knowing the counter-proverb: 出すぎた杭は打たれない (a nail that sticks out too far cannot be hammered — if you're exceptional enough, they can't bring you down)

起源と歴史

Classical Japanese proverb. 出る (protruding) + 杭 (stake/nail) + 打たれる (gets struck). Reflects collectivist cultural values where group harmony (和) takes precedence over individual expression. Sometimes countered with 出すぎた杭は打たれない (a nail that sticks out too far can't be hammered).

文化的背景

時代: Classical proverb, continuously relevant in modern Japan

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. One of the most internationally known Japanese proverbs, frequently referenced in cultural comparisons.