二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
にとをおうものはいっとをもえず
expression
he who chases two hares catches neither; don't try to do two things at once
1.
if you try to do two things at once, you will fail at both
A proverb warning against spreading one's efforts too thin. By pursuing two goals simultaneously, you risk achieving neither.
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ずだよ。
You know what they say — chase two rabbits and you'll catch neither.
I tried to pursue both work and hobbies and ended up failing at both.
A well-known Japanese proverb derived from a Latin saying ("Duos qui sequitur lepores neutrum capit"). It warns against dividing one's attention between multiple goals, as doing so often leads to failure in all of them.
Usage
Typically used as advice or admonition when someone is trying to take on too much at once. Often followed by という or だよ when quoting the proverb. Can also be used as a noun-like phrase to describe a situation: 二兎追いになる.
Similar words
- 虻蜂取らず: trying to catch both a horsefly and a bee, catching neither — nearly identical meaning
- 一石二鳥: killing two birds with one stone — opposite meaning (successfully achieving two goals at once)
Cultural note
This proverb is commonly used in business, education, and everyday advice contexts. The word 兎/兎 (rabbit/hare) appears in several Japanese proverbs and idioms.