負けるが勝ち

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Makeru ga kachi

Sometimes losing is winning.

Japanese proverb

Yielding a win instead of insisting on a fight can lead to a better outcome. This proverb asks us to consider what we gain by letting a contest go.

Language note: 負ける (まける / makeru) means to lose; 勝ち (かち / kachi) means a win or victory. The apparent contradiction makes the lesson memorable.

Which argument could you leave behind?

Practice:

今日は言い争いをやめておこう。

Kyō wa iiarasoi o yamete okō.

Let’s leave the argument there for today.

Source:

Kanjipedia — 負けるが勝ち: https://www.kanjipedia.jp/kotoba/0006041000

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