長い物には巻かれよ ながいものにはまかれよ Meanings Expression if you can't beat them; join them; you can't fight city hall; if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side than to fight them Kanji 長 long. Read as ながい. 物 thing. Read as もの. 巻 roll. Read as まく. Word lists Proverbs Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists