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〜にしくはない・〜にしかず

nothing beats, it's best to

Verb dictionary form / Noun + にしくはない · にしかず (proverbs)

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にしくはない means "nothing is better than": 用心するにしくはない, "you can't be too careful".

しく (如く) is a classical verb meaning "to equal, match", so it's literally "nothing matches X". It's a literary relative of に越したことはない (N2) and に限る (N2), which are more everyday.

The classical form にしかず lives on in proverbs:

  • 百聞は一見にしかず: a hundred hearings aren't worth one look, "seeing is believing".
  • 三十六計逃げるにしかず: of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is best.

Don't confuse it with にすぎない (N2), "nothing more than".

Examples

  • 用心ようじんするにしくはない。

    You can't be too careful.

  • 健康けんこうのためには、早寝早起はやねはやおきにしくはない。

    For your health, nothing beats early to bed and early to rise.

  • 迷まよったら、専門家せんもんかに聞きくにしくはない。

    If in doubt, it's best to ask an expert.

  • 百聞ひゃくぶんは一見いっけんにしかず。

    Seeing is believing.

  • 三十六計逃さんじゅうろっけいにげるにしかず。

    When in doubt, run.

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