焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず)

やけいしにみず
expression
a drop in the bucket
idiomproverb
1. a drop in the bucket; far too little to help
Literally "water on a red-hot stone": an amount of help or effort so small that it makes no difference to the problem.
今(いま)さら少(すこ)し勉強(べんきょう)しても焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず)だ。
Studying a little now is a drop in the bucket.
一万円(いちまんえん)の寄付(きふ)では焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず)かもしれない。
A 10,000-yen donation may be just a drop in the bucket.
扇風機(せんぷうき)を回(まわ)してみたが、この暑(あつ)さでは焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず)で、部屋(へや)は全然(ぜんぜん)涼(すず)しくならなかった。
I tried running the fan, but in this heat it was useless, and the room didn't cool down at all.

Usage

Used as a noun phrase with だ / で: 〜では焼(や)け石(いし)に水(みず)だ. It judges a measure as hopelessly inadequate, not merely small. Common with budgets, aid and last-minute efforts.

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 雀(すずめ)の涙(なみだ) (a tiny amount)
Compare: 無駄(むだ) (useless, a waste.)
general
Added 2026.10.5 4:20 · Revised 2026.10.5 4:22
31500/31591_yakeishinimizu