General Englishoften used in reference to East Asian societies (notably Japan)proverbialneutral
A proverb asserting that individuals who stand out from the group (by behavior, opinion, or appearance) will be forced to conform or be suppressed; a statement about social pressure toward conformity.
An observation that visibility or distinctiveness invites criticism, punishment, or corrective pressure from others or from institutions.
Examples:
EN: "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
ES: Al clavo que sobresale hay que doblarlo hacia abajo a martillazos.
EN: In Japanese society, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
ID: Dalam masyarakat Jepang, paku yang menonjol akan dipalu.