弘法(こうぼう)も筆(ふで)の誤(あやま)り

こうぼうもふでのあやまり
expression
even experts make mistakes; even Homer nods
proverb
1. even experts make mistakes; even the skilled slip up; even Homer nods
A proverb meaning that even a master of a craft can make an occasional mistake. Literally, 'even Kobo Daishi makes brush errors,' referring to the famed calligrapher-monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi).
弘法(こうぼう)も筆(ふで)の誤(あやま)りだね。
Even experts make mistakes, I guess.
ベテランの彼(かれ)がミスをするとは、弘法(こうぼう)も筆(ふで)の誤(あやま)りだ。
For a veteran like him to make a mistake — well, even the skilled slip up.
名人(めいじん)でも失敗(しっぱい)することがある。弘法(こうぼう)も筆(ふで)の誤(あやま)りというものだ。
Even a master can fail sometimes. As they say, even Homer nods.

A well-known proverb. 弘法(こうぼう) refers to 弘法大師(こうぼうだいし) (Kobo Daishi), the posthumous name of the monk 空海(くうかい), revered as one of Japan's greatest calligraphers. The point is that even such a master occasionally makes an error with the brush.

Usage

Used to comment forgivingly on an unexpected mistake by a skilled or experienced person — including oneself, with a touch of modesty or excuse.

Similar proverbs

Related Words

See also: 河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れ (synonymous proverb)
general
Added 2026.6.15 18:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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