足元にも及ばない

• 読み: あしもとにもおよばない
• ローマ字: ashimoto ni mo oyobanai
• 漢字の分解: 足 (ashi) — foot, leg; 元 (moto) — base, origin; 及 (oyo) — reach, extend
• 発音: /a.ɕi.mo.to.ni.mo.o.jo.ba.na.i/

意味

To be no match for; to not hold a candle to. Expressing that one is far inferior to another.

An idiomatic expression combining 足元 (ashimoto, at one's feet) + にも (ni mo, even to) + 及ばない (oyobanai, cannot reach). Expresses extreme inferiority, suggesting someone cannot even reach the feet of the person they are compared to. Often used with humility when comparing oneself to a master or expert.

例文

1. あの先輩の実力には足元にも及ばない。
2. 本場の味には足元にも及ばないが精一杯作った。
3. 彼の経験には私なんか足元にも及ばないよ。

使い方ガイド

場面: comparison, humility, admiration

トーン: humble

起源と歴史

Literally 'cannot even reach someone's feet.' The image is of being so far below someone in ability that you cannot even reach the ground they stand on, a vivid metaphor for extreme inferiority.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal