閑古鳥が鳴く

Japanese

Kanji in this term
閑	古	鳥	鳴
かん Grade: S	こ Grade: 2	とり > どり Grade: 2	な Grade: 2
kan’on		kun’yomi

Etymology

Phrase composed of 閑古鳥 (kankodori, “cuckoo bird”) + が (ga, subject particle) 鳴く (naku, “to call, to cry”, such as an animal sound). Literally, “the cuckoo-bird calls”.

Used as a metaphor for loneliness or desolateness; see the 閑古鳥 (kankodori) entry for more. Compare English crickets, which similarly uses an animal noise to allude to a lack of response or activity.

Attested since 1929. Appears to have largely replaced the older version, 閑古鳥が歌う (kankodori ga utau, literally “the cuckoo bird sings”), which is not listed in some dictionaries.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kã̠ŋko̞do̞ɾʲi ɡa̠ na̠kɯ̟ᵝ]

Phrase

閑(かん)古(こ)鳥(どり)が鳴(な)く • (kankodori ga naku) 

1. [from 1929] (figurative) describes a state of having few visitors, of being lonesome, desolate, or unpopular, especially in business

   Synonym: (uncommon, possibly archaic) 閑古鳥が歌う (kankodori ga utau)