な
鳴
　
く
ねこ
猫
　
は
ねずみ
鼠
　
を
と
捕
　
ら
　
ぬ

expression

Proverb.
  1. empty vessels make the most sound, the meowing cat does not catch the mouse.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
な
鳴
　
く
ねこ
猫
　
は
ねずみ
鼠
　
を
と
捕
　
ら
　
ぬ
 鳴く猫は鼠を捕らぬ なくねこはねずみをとらぬ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

chirp, cry, bark
な.く　メイ　なる (2nd, N3)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
bird, chicken
とり　チョウ　とっ (2nd, N4)
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
cat
ねこ　ビョウ (9th, N3)
dog(犬) variant
seedling, sapling, shoot
なえ　ミョウ　ビョウ (8th, N1)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
rice field, rice paddy
た　デン　たん (1st, N4)
rat, mouse, dark gray
ねずみ　ソ　ショ (Kentei Pre-1)
mortar
うす　キュウ　グ (11th)
catch, capture
つか.まえる　ホ　と.らえる (7th, N3)
hand, hand radical (no. 64)
シュ
for the first time, not until
ホ　フ　はじ.めて (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
ten
ジュウ　ジッ　ジュッ (1st, N5)
month, moon
つき　ゲツ　ガツ (1st, N5)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)