Word Meaning 木を見て森を見ず

きをみてもりをみず ki o mitemori o mizu

木を見て森を見ず is read as きをみてもりをみず (ki o mitemori o mizu) and means to not see the wood for the trees.

Meaning

English

to not see the wood for the trees
to be caught up with trivial matters and lose sight of the big picture

Reading

Kana

きをみてもりをみず

Romaji

ki o mitemori o mizu

Stroke Sequence

8 Characters • 41 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N2 Jōyō Grade 1 Kanken 10級 Proverb ✓ Rank 44782 Priority H

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

木の葉を隠すなら森の中

このはをかくすならもりのなか

if you want to hide a leaf, the best place is a forest

木を隠すなら森の中

きをかくすならもりのなか

if you want to hide a tree, the best place is a forest

木綿

きわた

cotton (material)

木枯らし

こがらし

cold wintry wind

木造

もくぞう

wooden

木材

もくざい

lumber

木炭

きずみ

charcoal

木片

もくへん

block (of wood)

木星

もくせい

Jupiter (planet)

木戸

きど

entrance to an entertainment venue (i.e. sumo arena, etc.)

木版

もくはん

wood-block printing

木管

もっかん

wooden bobbin