河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れ

かっぱのかわながれ
expression
even experts make mistakes; even the best slip up
proverb
1. even experts make mistakes; even a master can fail; even Homer nods
A proverb meaning that even someone highly skilled can occasionally fail at their own specialty. Literally, 'even a kappa gets swept down the river' — the kappa being a water sprite famed as an expert swimmer.
河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れというやつだ。
It's a case of even the experts slipping up.
水泳(すいえい)の得意(とくい)な彼(かれ)が溺(おぼ)れかけるなんて、河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れだ。
For him, a strong swimmer, to nearly drown — even the best slip up.
プロの料理人(りょうりにん)が塩加減(しおかげん)を間違(まちが)えるとは、まさに河童(かっぱ)の川流(かわなが)れだ。
For a professional cook to get the seasoning wrong is truly a case of even a master failing.

A well-known proverb. The 河童(かっぱ) is a legendary water creature said to be an expert swimmer, so for even a kappa to be swept away by the current vividly conveys that anyone, however skilled, can fail at their own forte.

Usage

Used to comment on a surprising failure by an expert, often sympathetically. It can also serve as a gentle, self-deprecating excuse for one's own slip.

Similar proverbs

Related Words

See also: 弘法(こうぼう)も筆(ふで)の誤(あやま)り (synonymous proverb)
general
Added 2026.6.15 18:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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