Literally: It's dark at the base of a lighthouse. Meaning: It can be difficult to see things clearly when they are very close to you.

Example 1: いえじゅう　めがねを　さがしたけれど　みつかりませんでしたが　あたまの　うえに　のっていることに　きがつきました。とうだい　もとくらし　ですね。/ Ie-juu megane wo sagashita keredo mitsukarimasen deshita ga atama no ue ni notte iru koto ni kiga tsukimashita. Toudai moto kurashi desu ne. = I looked for my glasses all over the house, but couldn't find them until I realized that they were on my head. I guess it was a case of "dark under a lighthouse," eh?

Example 2: とうだい　もとくらし　と　いうように　たいせつな　ひとが　ちかくに　いるのに、よく　きがつかない　ことが　ありますね。/ Toudai moto kurashi to iu you ni taisetsu na hito ga chikaku noni, yoku kigatsukanai koto ga arimasu ne. = As they say that it's dark under a lighthouse, sometimes you don't realize that the important people are near you.


Proverb of the Day: Toudai moto kurashi (とうだい もと くらし - 灯台 下 暗し)

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Proverb of the Day: Toudai moto kurashi (とうだいもとくらし - 灯台下暗し)

Human Japanese

Proverb of the Day: Toudai moto kurashi (とうだい もと くらし - 灯台 下 暗し)

Human Japanese

Proverb of the Day: Toudai moto kurashi (とうだいもとくらし - 灯台下暗し)