敵に塩を送る

てきにしおをおくる

Also written 敵に塩を贈る

Meanings

1. Expression, Godan verb to save an enemy from trouble instead of taking advantage of their weakness; to show humanity even to one's enemy; to help one's enemy in difficulty (from Uesugi Kenshin sending salt to his enemy, Takeda Shingen, when Takeda's salt supply had been cut off)

Kanji

• 敵 enemy. Read as テキ.
• 塩 salt. Read as しお.
• 送 send. Read as おくる.

Example sentences

• 敵に塩を送る。
  I'll help an enemy instead of capitalizing on their distress.

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists