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.
日和見な態度を取る。
To take a wait-and-see attitude.
あの政治家は日和見主義だと批判された。
That politician was criticized as an opportunist.
日和見をしていると、両方から信用を失うことになる。
If you sit on the fence, you'll end up losing the trust of both sides.
Originally meant literally 'watching the weather' (日和 = weather/fair weather + 見 = 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:
- 日和見主義: opportunism (as a principle)
- 日和見主義者: an opportunist
- 日和見な態度: a fence-sitting attitude
- 日和見をする: to sit on the fence
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 様子見: wait-and-see — more neutral, simply meaning to observe a situation before acting, without the negative connotation of seeking personal advantage
- 風見鶏: weathervane — used figuratively for someone who changes position with the wind, similar to 日和見 but emphasizing constant shifting rather than calculated waiting