能無し犬の高吠え

Japanese

Kanji in this term
能	無	犬	高	吠
のう Grade: 5	な Grade: 4	いぬ Grade: 1	たか Grade: 2	ほ > ぼ Hyōgaiji
on’yomi	kun’yomi	kun’yomi	kun’yomi

Etymology

Literally “dim-witted dogs are those that bark loudly”.

Proverb

能(のう)無(な)し犬(いぬ)の高(たか)吠(ぼ)え • (nōnashi inu no takaboe) 

1. barking dogs seldom bite, barking dogs never bite

See also

• 能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)を隠(かく)す (nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu)
• 能鷹隠爪(のうよういんそう) (nōyōinsō)