閑古鳥が鳴く (kankodori ga naku): Meaning - Takashi's Japanese Dictionary

Table of Contents

Pronunciation

Definition

閑古鳥が鳴く(かんこどりがなく, kankodori ga naku) literarily means ‘a cuckoo sings’, where 閑古鳥 (かんこどり) means ‘cuckoo’ and 鳴(な)く means ‘(an animal) calls/makes a sound’. It is figuratively used when there is no one in a place that is supposed to be lively, such as a restaurant, hotel, and theme park; the empty shops/places are associated with a quiet forest where the desolate sound of a cuckoo resonates. This idiom is particularly used to indicate that a business is not doing well. Because of COVID-19, now ‘cuckoos are singing’ almost everywhere around the globe.

Examples

あそこのレストランは、いつも閑古鳥が鳴いている
‘A cuckoo is always singing’ in that restaurant. ( = the restaurant is always empty/not doing well)

コロナウイルスの影響えいきょうで、観光地かんこうちでは閑古鳥が鳴いている
Because of the effect of the coronavirus, ‘a cuckoo is singing’ in tourist spots. ( = there is no one in tourists spots)

Synonyms

Basic　○ ○ ○ ● ○Advanced

Standard　 ● ○ ○ ○ ○Slang

Formal　○ ○ ● ○ ○Informal

Synonyms: 空（す）いている empty, not crowded, 閑散 (かんさん)とした (empty and quite)、ガラガラ (empty and quite)
Synonyms in English: empty, quite, desolate
Related Words and Phrases: 閑古鳥(かんこどり) cuckoo (*「カッコウ」 is a much more common word for ‘cuckoo’), 鳴(な)く‘(an animal) calls/makes a sound’

Disclosure: The area below contains affiliate links of Italki and Preply (recognised online language learning platforms), and I'll receive small commisions from the service providers per the first purchases of new users made through the links, at no extra cost to the users.