降りかかる火の粉は払わねばならぬ ふりかかるひのこははらわねばならぬ Also written 降り懸かる火の粉は払わねばならぬ Meanings Expression you must protect yourself against any possible dangers (literally: you have to brush off sparks that fall onto you) Kanji 降 descend. Read as ふり. 火 fire 粉 powder 払 pay. Read as はらう. Word lists Proverbs Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists