1.
small-minded; petty; lacking the capacity to be generous
A metaphorical expression using 器 (vessel, container) to describe someone's character as narrow or lacking in generosity, tolerance, or leadership capacity. The opposite is 器が大きい (broad-minded, generous).
そんなことで怒るなんて、器が小さい。
Getting angry over something like that is petty.
器が小さい人は部下からの信頼を得られない。
A petty person cannot earn the trust of their subordinates.
自分の失敗は棚に上げて人のミスばかり責めるのは、器が小さいと思われる。
Shelving your own mistakes while only blaming others for theirs makes you look small-minded.
USAGE:
器 here metaphorically refers to the capacity of a person's character, not a physical container. This expression is commonly used to criticize someone for being narrow-minded or petty, especially behind their back.
RELATED EXPRESSIONS:
- 器が大きい: broad-minded, generous — the positive counterpart
- 器が小さい人: a petty person
- 人としての器: one's caliber as a person
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 心が狭い: narrow-minded — similar meaning but less idiomatic
- けちくさい: stingy, cheap — focuses specifically on money or generosity with resources