麒麟も老いぬれば駑馬に劣る
きりんもおいぬればどばにおとる
Also written 騏驎も老いぬれば駑馬に劣る
Meanings
- Expression, Godan verb even an outstanding person becomes inferior when getting old
Kanji
- 麒 Chinese unicorn; genius; giraffe. Read as キ.
- 麟 Chinese unicorn; genius; giraffe. Read as リン.
- 老 elderly. Read as おいる.
- 駑 slow horse; foolish fellow
- 馬 horse
- 劣 inferior. Read as おとる.