王様の耳はロバの耳 おうさまのみみはろばのみみ Meanings Expression the truth always comes out; you can't sweep it under the rug forever; a secret is too heavy to hold (literally: the king's ears are donkey's ears) (from King Gyeongmun's ear tale) Kanji 王 king. Read as オウ. 様 Mr. Read as さま. 耳 ear. Read as みみ. Word lists Proverbs Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists