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花より団子な考え方
hana yori dango na kangae-kata◆idiom
What does "花より団子な考え方" mean?
prioritizing practical benefits over aesthetics彼は花より団子な考え方で、給料が安くてもブラック企業で働くことにした。
He prioritized practical benefits over aesthetics and decided to work at a black company even with low pay.
How to use "花より団子な考え方" correctly?
informal
A mindset that prioritizes tangible benefits or practical outcomes over superficial or aesthetic considerations, often at the expense of beauty or enjoyment.
彼女は外見よりも中身を重視する花より団子な考え方の持ち主だ。
She has a mindset that prioritizes substance over appearance—practical benefits over aesthetics.
このレストランは美味しいけど、雰囲気が悪い。でも花より団子だから仕方ない。
This restaurant is delicious, but the atmosphere is bad. Still, practical benefits take priority over aesthetics.
Often used to justify choosing something functional or profitable despite its lack of beauty or appeal.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
When to use this idiom
Use this idiom when describing someone who makes decisions based on practical benefits rather than beauty, enjoyment, or emotional satisfaction. It is particularly useful in contexts involving career choices, investments, or lifestyle preferences where utility outweighs aesthetics.
Gold Rule
Cultural context
This idiom reflects a Japanese cultural tendency to value practicality and immediate rewards over abstract beauty or emotional fulfillment. It is often used humorously or self-deprecatingly to justify a seemingly unromantic choice.
Word Origin
The phrase originates from the Japanese proverb 「花より団子」 (hana yori dango), which literally means 'dumplings over flowers.' It refers to the act of choosing the practical and immediately satisfying dumplings (団子) over the beautiful but less fulfilling cherry blossoms (花) during a hanami (cherry blossom viewing) outing. The extended meaning reflects a broader cultural emphasis on pragmatism and tangible rewards over aesthetic or emotional satisfaction.
Usage Notes
This idiom is commonly used in everyday conversation to describe someone who makes practical decisions, often at the expense of beauty or enjoyment. It can carry a slightly negative connotation, implying that the person is overly focused on utility or profit. However, it is not inherently critical—it simply describes a preference for what is immediately beneficial.
Word Breakdown
花
flower (cherry blossom)
nounより
rather than
particle団子
dumplings (here, referring to the practical alternative to flowers)
nounな
adjectival particle
particle考え方
way of thinking
noun和英辞典