雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)

すずめのなみだ
noun, expression
a mere pittance; a tiny amount
idiomquantity
1. a mere pittance; a drop in the ocean; a tiny amount
Literally "a sparrow's tears": an amount so small it hardly counts, used above all of money such as pay, bonuses, or interest.
雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)ほどの給料(きゅうりょう)。
A pitiful salary.
今年(ことし)のボーナスは雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)だった。
This year's bonus was a mere pittance.
銀行(ぎんこう)に預(あず)けても、利息(りそく)は雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)ほどしかつかない。
Even if you put it in the bank, the interest you earn is next to nothing.

A humorous, slightly self-pitying phrase. Usually appears as 雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)ほど (about as much as a sparrow's tears) modifying a noun, or as a predicate with だ.

Common patterns

  • 雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)ほどの〜: a tiny ~
  • 雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ)ほどしか〜ない: only a tiny amount of ~

Similar words

  • 焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず): far too little to help — about an effort being useless, not just small
  • 微々(びび)たる: trifling, insignificant — formal written word
  • わずか: slight, only a little — neutral

Related Words

Compare: 微々(びび)たる (trifling, insignificant)
Compare: 僅(わず)か (slight, only a little)
Compare: 焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず) (a drop in the bucket)
general
Added 2026.9.28 9:59 · Revised 2026.10.5 4:22
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