The older phrase compared surprise to hearing a great rush of water while asleep. Later speakers also pictured water entering a sleeping person’s ear.
The older phrase compared surprise to hearing a great rush of water while asleep. Later speakers also pictured water entering a sleeping person’s ear.
What does 寝耳に水 mean?
A shock from news or events no one saw coming.
How do you read 寝耳に水?
It is read ねみみにみず, written nemimi ni mizu.
When would you use 寝耳に水?
Commonly used as 寝耳に水だ or 寝耳に水の話 for a surprising report or turn of events.
How is 寝耳に水 different from 青天の霹靂?
青天の霹靂 also means a sudden shock, but this idiom particularly evokes receiving news without warning.
How does 寝耳に水 change in a sentence?
An invariant noun-like idiom, followed by だ, だった or の.