Word Meaning 無い袖は振れぬ

ないそではふれぬ naisode ha furenu

無い袖は振れぬ is read as ないそではふれぬ (naisode ha furenu) and means you can't give (use) what you don't have.

Meaning

English

you can't give (use) what you don't have
nothing comes from nothing
you can't shake sleeves you don't have

Reading

Kana

ないそではふれぬ

Romaji

naisode ha furenu

Writing Variants

ない袖は振れぬ ないそではふれぬ naisode ha furenu

Stroke Sequence

7 Characters • 41 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N1 Jōyō Upper Grade Kanken 2級 Rank 120732 Priority S

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

無軌道振り

むきどうぶり

wild behavior

無茶振り

むちゃぶり

unreasonable request

袖振り合うも他生の縁

そでふりあうもたしょうのえん

even a chance meeting can lead to a deep bond

袖の振り合わせも他生の縁

ふでのふりあわせもたしょうのえん

even accidentally touching sleeves with a passing stranger is caused by fate

袖無し羽織

そでなしばおり

sleeveless haori

振袖柳

ふりそでやなぎ

Salix leucopithecia (species of willow)

振袖魚

ふりそでうお

polka-dot ribbonfish (Desmodema polystictum)

振り袖

ふりそで

long-sleeved kimono

無条件

むじょうけん

unconditional

無視

むし

disregarding

無縁

むえん

unrelated to the teachings of Buddha

無駄

むだ

futility

Example Sentences

無い袖は振れぬ。

You can't spend what you don't have.