日和見(ひよりみ)

ひよりみ
noun
opportunism; fence-sitting; wait-and-see attitude
personalitypolitics
1. opportunism; fence-sitting; wait-and-see attitude
The act of watching how a situation develops before committing to a side, often with the intention of siding with whoever seems likely to win.
日和見(ひよりみ)な態度(たいど)を取(と)る。
To take a wait-and-see attitude.
あの政治家(せいじか)は日和見(ひよりみ)主義(しゅぎ)だと批判(ひはん)された。
That politician was criticized as an opportunist.
日和見(ひよりみ)をしていると、両方(りょうほう)から信用(しんよう)を失(うしな)うことになる。
If you sit on the fence, you'll end up losing the trust of both sides.

Originally meant literally 'watching the weather' (日和(ひより) = weather/fair weather + 見(み) = watching), as fishermen and farmers would check the sky before deciding to work. The figurative meaning of watching which way things are going before choosing a side developed from this.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 様子見(ようすみ): wait-and-see — more neutral, simply meaning to observe a situation before acting, without the negative connotation of seeking personal advantage
  • 風見鶏(かざみどり): weathervane — used figuratively for someone who changes position with the wind, similar to 日和見(ひよりみ) but emphasizing constant shifting rather than calculated waiting

Related Words

Compare: 八方美人(はっぽうびじん) (people-pleaser)
general
Added 2026.4.7 9:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
22500/22684_hiyorimi