うまいに小判

umai ni shōhan

phrase★Intermediate

◆ What It Really Means

To give money or resources to someone who doesn't appreciate or use them wisely.

¶ Literal Meaning

To give a small ingot to a foolish person.

Literal Breakdown

うまいfoolish or naive+小判small ingot (currency)

◇ Mental Image

The image of giving a valuable item to someone who doesn't understand its worth.

◈ When to Use

A parent might say this to a child who wastes their allowance on trivial things.

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase reflects traditional Japanese values of frugality and the importance of appreciating what one has.

informal

A phrase meaning 'to give a small fortune to a fool' or 'to give money to someone who doesn't appreciate it'

彼はうまいに小判をもらったが、すぐに使い果たした。

He received a small fortune but spent it all immediately.

💡

This phrase is often used to describe someone who wastes money or doesn't value what they receive.

Synonyms

This phrase is typically used in informal settings to criticize someone's financial habits.

The phrase comes from the idea of giving a small ingot (小判) to someone who is foolish (うまい) or doesn't appreciate its value.

This phrase is often used in a humorous or critical way to describe someone's poor financial decisions.

うまい

foolish or naive

adjective

小判

small ingot (a form of currency in feudal Japan)

noun

✎ Noted on June 4, 2026JA → EN