- English translation
When people asked Juha to count the waves of the sea, he answered: "More are still rolling in than have already rolled away."
- Literal wording
They said: O Juha, count the waves of the sea. He said: the ones coming are more than the ones going.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying applies to something so plentiful that tallying it makes no sense. Whatever has already passed is small next to what is still on its way, so any attempt at a count will always fall behind.
The humor lies in the exchange: asked to count the sea's waves, Juha sidesteps rather than refuses, noting that more keep coming, mocking the idea that an endless, ongoing supply could ever be counted.
- When it is used
Use it humorously when someone asks for a total of something plentiful and still arriving, such as tasks, guests or requests, to suggest counting is pointless. Keep the exchange between the askers and Juha, since his sidestepping reply carries the joke.
- Register
- colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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