Word Meaning 長い物には巻かれろ

ながいものにはまかれろ nagaimononihamakarero

長い物には巻かれろ is read as ながいものにはまかれろ (nagaimononihamakarero) and means if you can't beat them; join them.

Meaning

English

  1. if you can't beat them; join them
  2. you can't fight city hall
  3. if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side than to fight them

Reading

Kana

ながいものにはまかれろ

Romaji

nagaimononihamakarero

Stroke Sequence

9 Characters • 39 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N2 Jōyō Grade 6 Kanken 5級 Proverb Rank 71790 Priority L

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

長い物には巻かれよ

ながいものにはまかれよ

if you can't beat them; join them

長巻

ながまき

sword with a very long grip

絵巻物

えまきもの

picture scroll

巻物

まきもの

sushi made rolled in nori seaweed with a core of filling

無用の長物

むようのちょうぶつ

useless object

長久

ちょうきゅう

Chōkyū era (1040.11.10-1044.11.24)

長期的

ちょうきてき

long-term

長身

ちょうしん

tall figure

長短

ちょうたん

(relative) length

長編

ちょうへん

long (e.g. novel, film)

長幼

ちょうよう

young and old

長野県

ながのけん

Nagano Prefecture (Chūbu area)

Example Sentences

2

If you can't lick 'em, join 'em.

Don't be so stubborn! How do you say so beautifully? The wiser gives in.