かに
蟹
　
は
こう
甲
ら
羅
　
に
に
似
　
せ
　
て
あな
穴
　
を
ほ
掘
　
る

expression, Godan verb

Proverb.
  1. to each their own, different strokes for different folks, cut your coat to suit your cloth, a crab digs a hole like its own shell.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
かに
蟹
　
は
こう
甲
ら
羅
　
に
に
似
　
せ
　
て
あな
穴
　
を
ほ
掘
　
る
 蟹は甲羅に似せて穴を掘る かにはこうらににせてあなをほる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

crab
かに　カイ (Kentei Pre-1)
unravel, notes, key
カイ　と.く　わか.る (5th, N3)
angle, corner, square
カク　かど　すみ (2nd, N2)
knife, wrapping enclosure(勹) variant
upside-down box radical (no. 13)
キョウ　ケイ (Kentei 1)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
two, two radical (no. 7)
ニ　ふた　ふだ (1st, N5)
sword, saber, knife
かたな　トウ　ち (2nd, N1)
cow
うし　ギュウ　ご (2nd, N4)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
dry, parch, ebb
ひ.る　カン　ほ.す (6th, N2)
insect, bug, temper
むし　チュウ　キ (1st, N2)
in, inside, middle
なか　チュウ　うち (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
rising stroke
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
armor, high (voice), A grade
かぶと　コウ　カン (8th, N1)
gauze, thin silk, Rome
ラ　うすもの (9th, N1)
net radical variant (no. 122)
モウ　ボウ　あみがしら
fiber, tie, rope
イ　これ　たもつ (7th, N1)
thread
いと　シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ　ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
bird, old bird radical (no. 172)
サイ　スイ　とり (Kentei 1)
human radical (no. 9)
lord, chief, master
シュ　あるじ　ぬし (3rd, N4)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
king, rule, magnate
オウ　-ノウ　おお (1st, N3)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
becoming, resemble, counterfeit
に.る　ジ　にた (5th, N3)
human radical (no. 9)
by means of, because, in view of
イ　もっ.て　もち (4th, N4)
hook stroke
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
person
ひと　ニン　ジン (1st, N5)
hole, aperture, slit
あな　ケツ　けな (6th, N1)
shaped crown, katakana u radical (no. 40)
ベン　メン (Kentei 1)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
wa-shaped crown radical (no. 14)
ベキ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
dig, delve, excavate
ほ.る　クツ　ぼり (7th, N2)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
yield, bend, flinch
クツ　くっ　かが.む (7th, N1)
corpse, remains, flag radical (no. 44)
シ　かたしろ (Kentei 1)
exit, leave, go out
で.る　だ.す　シュツ (1st, N5)
mountain
やま　サン　セン (1st, N5)