寝耳に水

Japanese

Kanji in this term
寝	耳	水
ね Grade: S	みみ Grade: 1	みず Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
寢耳に水 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Literally, "water into the ear of a sleeping person". From the proverb 寝(ね)耳(みみ)に水(みず)の入(い)るごとし (ne mimi ni mizu no iru gotoshi).

Noun

寝(ね)耳(みみ)に水(みず) • (nemimi ni mizu) 

1. (idiomatic) out of the blue, bolt from the blue, great surprise

   Synonym: 青天の霹靂 (seiten no hekireki)

   寝耳(ねみみ)に水(みず)の話(はなし)

   nemimi ni mizu no hanashi

   a surprising story