頭隠して尻隠さず

Japanese

Kanji in this term
頭	隠	尻	隠
あたま Grade: 2	かく Grade: S	しり Grade: S	かく Grade: S
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
頭隱して尻隱さず (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 頭 (atama, “head”) +‎ 隠して (kakushite, “the -te form of 隠(かく)す (kakusu, “to hide”)”) +‎ 尻 (shiri, “one's bottom”) +‎ 隠さず (kakusazu, “the negative continuative form of 隠(かく)す (kakusu, “to hide”)”)

Proverb

頭(あたま)隠(かく)して尻(しり)隠(かく)さず • (atama kakushite shiri kakusazu) 

1. one shouldn't bury one's head in the sand while leaving one's bottom exposed