Japanese Proverbs - Examples

The Japanese language is filled with proverbs of all sorts, many from classical references from ancient Chinese to modern versions of English proverbs, all used in every aspect of the language. Whether you are traveling to Japan for fun or on business, or are living there, you'll find proverbs indispensible to understanding and using the daily language. Browse below to find the ones you want or simply explore the many possible ways to express yourself in Japanese.

合縁奇縁

[あいえんきえん, aien kien] shared bond, mysterious bond (lit.: shared/mutual fate/destiny/bond, strange/mysterious fate/destiny/bond. This phrase is a classical yojijukugo (a four-character idiom in the style of classical Chinese) used to refer to the mysteries of attraction and relationships between men and women; perhaps also between men and men, or women and women, though no such usage has been seen classically).

挨拶は時の氏神

[あいさつはときのうじがみ, aisattsu wa toki no ujigami] arbitration during a quarrel is a gift from the gods (lit.: a greeting is a a local diety who turns up at the right time). Note that here the word 挨拶 is used to mean arbitration rather than its usual meaning of greeting. The word 氏神 refers to a local diety, usually of a town or village.

空いた口に牡丹餅

[あいたくちにぼたもち, aita kuchi ni botamochi] an unexpected windfall; a sudden gain (lit.: a bean-jam cake[falling] into an open mouth)

相手のない喧嘩はできぬ

[あいてのないけんかはできぬ, aite no nai kenka wa dekinu] you cannot have a fight alone; it takes two to tango (lit.: a fight without a partner cannot be had; i.e.: conflict requires other people, though perhaps this ignores internal conflict; Japanese culture places great emphasis on group harmony, so often an individual will walk away from a possilbe conflict, which is the embdiment of this proverb)

会うは別かりの始まり

[あうはわかりのはじまり, au nowa wakari no hajimari] to meet is the beginning of parting (n.b.: this sentiment expresses a Buddhist idea common in Japan about the transience of all things)

秋茄子は嫁に食わすな

[あきなすはよめのくわすな, akinasu wa yome ni kuwansuna] do not let your daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants (n.b.: this refers to the relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, a traditionally poor one, and that a mean mother-in-law would not share one with her dauhter-in-law)

悪因悪果

[あくいんあっか, akuin akka] you reap what you sow (lit.: bad causes bring bad results; n.b.: this is a Buddhist sentiment, one that emphasizes the idea of karmic retribution)

悪妻は六十年の不作

[あくさいはろくじゅうねんのふさく, akusai wa rokujuu-nen no fusaku] a bad wife is a shipwreck of the house; a bad wife is the ruin of her husband (lit.: a bad wife is a poor harvest for sixty years; note that this proverb is also used with 100 years as well)

悪事千里をはしる

[あくじせんりをはしる, akuji senri o hashiru] bad news travels fast; bad new has wings (lit.: bad new runs one thousand "ri" [about 2.44 miles], a traditional measure of distance in Japan)

朝起きは三文の得

[あさおきはさんもんのとく, asaoki wa sanmon no toku] early rising makes three mon of profit; early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise

朝起きは七つの得あり

[あさおきはななつのとくあり, asaoki wa nanatsu no toku ari] the early bird catches the worm; early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise (lit.: early rising has seven advantages)

朝茶柱がたつと縁起がいい

[あさちゃばしらがたつとえんぎがいい, asacha-bashira ga tatsu to engi ga ii] a tea leaf floating upright in a cup in the morning means good fortune (an ancient Japanese superstition; recall that even today Japanese make tea using leaves, not tea bags, and that reading tea leaves is still a common practice among fortune tellers worldwide)

朝爪を切れば日に恥をかく

[あさつめをきればひにはじをかく, asa tsume o kireba hi ni haji o kaku] if you trim your nails in the morning, you will be put to shame that day (an ancient Japanese superstition )

朝の紅顔、夕べの白骨

[あさのこうがん、ゆうべのはっこつ, asa no kougan, yuube no hakkou] a rosy face in the morning, white bones in the evening; today red, tomorrow dead (this expresses the frailty of life)

明日のことをいうと天井の鼠が笑う

[あしたのことをいうとてんじょうのねずみがわらう, ashita no koto o iu to tenjou no nezumi ga warau] if you speak of tomorrow, the rats in the ceiling will laugh (i.e.: prediction is difficult, especially about the future, as Niels Bohr said)

明日は明日の風が吹く

[あしたはあしたのかぜがふく, ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku] tomorrow is a new day (lit.: on the morrow the winds of tomorrow will blow)

足の裏が痒いのはいい前兆

[あしのうらがかゆいのはいいぜんちょう, ashi no ura ga kayui no wa ii zenchou] an itch on the bottom of your foot is a good omen (an old Japanese superstition whose origins remain elusive)

明日は明日、今日は今日

[あすはあす、きょうはきょう, ashita wa ashita, kyo wa kyou] tomorrow is tomorrow, today is today (i.e.: focus on this day now, and think or worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes)

明日は雨、人は泥棒

[あすはあめ、ひとはどろぼう, asu wa ame, hito ha dorobou] tomorrow will see rain, and people are thieves (i.e.: be careful with people and things; they can be unpredictable)

遊び人暇なし

[あそびにんひまなし, asobi-nin ni hima nashi] pleasure seekers have no leisure (i.e.: their time is consumed by all their activities)

頭隠して尻隠さず

[あたまかくしてしりかくさず, atama kakushite shiri kakusazu] partly hide one's faults, to; make like an ostrich, to (lit.: hide the head but not the buttocks)

頭の大きい人は運がいい

[あたまのおおきいひとはうんがいい, atama no ookii hito wa un ga ii] destiny awaits a man with a big head; a person with a large head will have good fortunate (an ancient superstition in Japan, akin to European phrenology)

頭の休養、目の正月

[あたまのきゅうよう、めのしょうがつ, atama no kyuuyou, me no shougatsu] very interesting, intriguing, fascinating (lit.: a vacation for the head and New Year's celebration for the eyes)

当たるも八卦当たらぬも八卦

[あたるもはっけあたらぬもはっけ, ataru mo hakke, ataranu mo hakke] fortune telling is random (lit.: getting it right is fate, and getting it wrong is also fate; i.e.: the future is uncertain, and fortune telling will sometimes be right and often be wrong)

仇は恩で奉ぜよ

[あだはおんでほうぜよ, ada wa on de bouzyo] return good for evil (lit.: repay your enemy with a favor)

暑さ寒さも彼岸まで

[あつささむさもひがんまで, atsusa samusa mo higan made] both heat and cold last only until the equinox (n.b.: the equinox is the boundary between the warmer and colder halves of the year, so this proverb implies that summer heat, which can be stifling in Japan, and winter cold, which can be brutal, both will pass with time)

痘痕も笑窪

[あばたもえくぼ, abata mo ekubo] love is blind; pimples become dimples [when in love] (n.b.: the entire sayings goes 惚れてしまえば、痘痕も笑窪 [horete shimaeba, abata mo ekubo], meaning that when one is smitten, pockmarks or other defects become dimples or something else appealing)

危ない事は怪我のうち

[あぶないことはけがのうち, abunai koto wa kega no uchi] to knowingly flirt with danger invites injury (lit.: dangerous things are harm to oneself; i.e.: you have to take responsiblity for attempting something risky)

虻蜂取らず

[あぶはちとらず, abu hachi torazu] fail by being too eager, to; he that grasps too much holds fast nothing (lit.: catch neither the horsefly nor the wasp)

甘いものに蟻

[あまいものにあり, amai mono ni ari] what brings profits attracts people; you can attrack more flies with honey than with vinegar (lit.: ants go to sweet things; i.e.: you have to draw people in with something appealing)

余り物には福がある

[あまりものにはふくがある, amari mono ni fuku ga aru] one man's garbage is another man's treasure (lit.: leftovers can bring good fortune; i.e.: you never know what use something may eventually have)

阿弥陀の光も金次第

[あみだのひかりもかねしだい, amida no hikari mo kane shidai] no penny, no paternoster (lit.: the light of Amida Buddha is given in proportion to the gold offered by the supplicant)

網の魚

[あみのうお, ami no uo] a fish in a net (i.e.: a person who will be captured soon)

雨降って地固まる

[あめふってちかたまる, ame futte chi katamaru] the calm after the storm; strength through hardship; what does not kill you makes you stronger (lit.: after rain falls, the ground hardens; i.e.: difficulties and challenges can lead to greater strength than before they started)

争いには声高の者が勝つ

[あらそいにはこわだかのものがかつ, arasoi niwa takagoe ga katsu] in a quarrel the louder person wins (in other words, reason and right have nothing to do with winning an argument; shouting and screaming determine the victor)

あるはなきに勝る

[あるはなきにまさる, aru wa naku ni masaru] anything is better than nothing (lit.: to have[something] is better than nothing)

合わせもの、離れもの

[あわせもの、はなれもの, awase mono, hanare mono] what may be joined may be separated. (this is a Buddhist view of the world, commenting on the transience of all phenomena, including human relations)

案じるより生むはやすい

[あんじるよりうむはやすいむ, anjiru yori umu wa yasui] giving birth is easier than when planned; all things are difficult before they seem easy; the paralysis of analysis (lit.: bringing something forth is easier than planning it; i.e.: doing something often turns out to be easier than it seemed beforehand)
  
From: www.languagerealm.com

Proverbs - Part 3

Japanese

English translation

Exists in English?

佳人薄命 かじんはくめい)	The fairest flowers soonest fade	*
影の形に添うが如し かげのかたちにそうがごとし)	To follow one like his shadow	*
右の耳から左の耳 みぎのみみからひだりのみみ)	To go in at one ear and out the other	*
果報は寝て待て かほうはねてまて)	Everything comes to him who waits	*
羽根が生えたように売れる はねがはえたようにうれる)	To sell like hot cakes	*
火に油を注ぐ ひにあぶらをそそぐ)	To pour oil on the fire	*
火の無い所に煙は立たぬ ひのないところにけむりはたたぬ)	There is no smoke without fire	*
火事場泥棒 かじばどろぼう)	To fish in troubled waters	*
雨が降って地固まる あめがふってじかたまる)	After rain comes fair weather	*
花より団子 はなよりだんご)	The belly is not filled with fair words	*
花より団子 はなよりだんご)	Function before form	*
嘘つきは泥棒の始まり うそつきはどろぼうのはじまり)	He that will lie will steal	*
嘘つきは泥棒の始まり うそつきはどろぼうのはじまり)	Lying and thieving go together	*
嘘も方便 うそもほうべん)	A white lie	*
嘘は一時 うそはいっとき)	Lies have short legs	*
蝦で鯛を釣る えびでかいをつる)	To throw out a sprat to catch a mackerel	*
噂をすれば影 うわさをすればかげ)	Talk of the devil (and he's sure to appear)	*
噂をすれば影 うわさをすればかげ)	Talk of the devil (and he's sure to appear)	*
我が仏尊し わがほとけとうとし)	Everyone thinks his own geese swans	*
我が仏尊し わがほとけとうとし)	Every fool likes his own bauble best	*
我田引水 がでんいんすい)	Every miller draws water to his own mill	*
雲泥の差 うんでいのさ)	As different as night and day	*
燕一羽で春にはならぬ つばめいちわではるにはならぬ)	One swallow does not make a summer	*
猿も木から落ちる さるもきからおちる)	It is a good horse that never stumbles	*
猿に烏帽子 さるにえぼし)	An ape's an ape, though they be clad in silk or scarlet	*
猿の尻笑い さるのしりわらい)	The pot calls the kettle black	*
縁は異なもの えんはいなもの)	Marriages are made in heaven	*
下手の横好き へたのよこずき)	To pursue an artistic discipline with zeal, despite lack of talent
下手の道具しらべ へたのどうぐしらべ)	A bad workman always blames his tools	*
過ぎたらは猶及ばざるが如し すぎたらはなおおよばざるがごとし)	Too much of one thing is good for nothing	*
過ぎた事は水に流せ すぎたことはみずにながせ)	Let bygones be bygones	*
過ちては改むるに憚ること勿れ あやまちてはあらたむるにはばかることなかれ)	It is never too late to mend	*
絵に画いた餅 えにかいたもち)	Pie in the sky	*
外面似菩薩、内心如夜叉 げめんじぼさつ、ないしんにょやしゃ)	A wolf in sheep's clothing	*
学問に王道なし がくもんにおうどうなし)	There is no royal road to learning	*
学問に近道なし がくもんにちかみちなし)	There is no royal road to learning	*
蛙の子は蛙 かえるのこはかえる)	Like father like son	*
蛙の子は蛙 かえるのこはかえる)	Like father, like son	*
蛙の面に水 かえるのつらにみず)	Like water off a duck's back	*
堪忍袋の緒が切れる かんにんぶくろのおがきれる)	The last straw breaks the camel's back	*
金が金を生む かねがかねをうむ)	Money begets money	*
愚考山を移す ぐこうやまをうつす)	Faith can move mountains	*
空き腹に不味い物なし すきばらにまずいものなし)	Hunger is the best sauce	*
空涙を流す そらなみだをながす)	To shed crocodile tears	*
飢えたる犬は棒を怖れず うえたるいぬはぼうをおそれず)	Hunger drives the wulf out of the wood	*
飢えたる者は食を選ばず うえたるものはしょくをあらばず)	Better some of a pudding than none of a pie	*

Proverbs - Part 2

Japanese

English translation

Exists in England?

一人相撲を取る ひとりずもうをとる)	To tilt at windmills	*
以心伝心 いしんでんしん)	To be on the same wavelength	*
一寸の虫にも五部の魂 いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましい)	Tread on a worm and it will turn	*
一寸先は闇 いっすんさきはやみ)	Who can see in the future?
伊達の薄着 だてのうすぎ)	Even in winter a dandy wears light clothes to appear slim
一難去って、また一難 いちなんさって、またいちなん)	Misfortunes never come alone	*
一病息災 いちびょうそくさい)	Cracked pots last longest	*
一文吝みの百失い いちもんおしみのひゃくうしない)	Penny-wise and pound-foolish	*
一鳴驚人 いちめいきょうにん)	Someone who can achieve a lot with almost no effort
一盲衆を引く いちもうしゅうをひく)	If the blind leads the blind, they both fall into the ditch	*
一盲衆を引く いちもうしゅうをひく)	If the blind leads the blind, they both fall into the ditch	*
一利あれば、一害あり いちりあれば、いちがいあり)	Everything has its pros and cons	*
一利あれば一害あり いちりあればいちがいあり)	Everything has its pros and cons	*
一利あれば一害あり いちりあればいちがいあり)	Everything has its pros and cons	*
意思あるところに道あり いしあるところにみちあり)	Where there is a will, there is a way	*
井の中の蛙大海を知らず いのなかのかわず、たいかいをしらず)	People who's living environment is very small and lived there for the whole life's know nothing of the world
案ずるより生むが易し あんずるよりうむがやすし)	Things are not as black as they look	*
井戸の中の独言も三年たてば知れる いどのなかのひとりごともさんねんたてばしれる)	Time will tell	*
因果応報 いんがおうほう)	They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind	*
阿呆に取り合う馬鹿 あほうにとりあうばか)	It is foolish to deal with a fool
挨拶より円札 あいさつよりえんさつ)	Fair words fill not the belly	*
逢うは別れの始め あうはわかれのはじめ)	To meet is the beginning of parting
悪妻は百年の不作 あくさいはひゃくねんのふさく)	An ill marriage is a spring of ill fortune	*
悪事千里を走る あくじせんりをはしる)	Bad news travels fast	*
悪女の深情け あくじょのふかなさけ)	Ugly women are more possionate
悪銭身につかず あくせんみにつかず)	Easy come, easy go	*
虻蜂取らず あぶはちとらず)	If you run after two hares, you will catch neither	*
虻蜂取らず あぶはちとらず)	If you run after two hares, you will catch neither	*
衣食足りて、礼節を知る いしょくたりて、れいせつをしる)	Well-fed, well-bred	*
可愛い子には旅させよ かわいいこにはたびさせよ)	Spare the rod and spoil the child	*

Proverbs - Part 1

Japanese	English translation	Exists in England?
籠で水汲む かごでみずくむ)	To draw water with a sieve	*
羹に懲りて、膾を吹く あつものにこりて、なますをふく)	A burnt child dreads the fire	*
驕る者久しからず おごるものひさしからず)	Pride goes before a fall	*
鮑の貝の片思い あわびのかいのかたおもい)	Unrequited love like an abalone shell
薔薇に棘あり ばらにとげあり)	There is no rose without a thorn	*
蝸牛角上の争い かぎゅうかくじょうのあらそい)	A storm in a teacup	*
臍を噛む ほぞをかむ)	To bite one's nails	*
蓼食う虫も好きずき たでくうむしもすきずき)	There's no accounting for tastes	*
やったないよりやった方ましだ やったないよりやったほうましだ)	----
なくてぞ人は恋しかりける なくてぞひとはこいしかりける)	Absence makes the heart grow fonder	*
１オンスの思慮は１ポンドもの機知に値する １おんすのしりょは１ぽんどものきちにあたいする)	An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit	*
まさかの時の友こそ真の友 まさかのときのともこそまのとも)	A friend in need is a friend indeed	*
みめより心 めみよりこころ)	Virtue is the only true nobility	*
安かろう、悪かろう やすかろう、わるかろう)	Cheapest is dearest	*
医者の不養生 いしのふようじょう)	Physician, heal thyself (Luke 4-23)
安物買いの銭失い やすものがいのぜにうしない)	Cheapest is dearest	*
一を知りて、二を知らず いちをしりて、にをしらず)	Superficial knowledge
一を聞いて、十を知る いちをきいて、じゅうをしる)	A word is enough to the wise	*
一に看病、二に薬 いちにかんびょう、ににくすり)	First nursing, second the medicine
一押し、二金、三男 いちおし、にかね、さんおとこ)	Ways in order of priority to win a woman
一犬虚を吠ゆれば万犬実を伝う いっけんきょうをほゆればばんけんじつをつたう)	Rumours spread like fire
一言を持って、その賢愚を知る いちごんをもって、そのけんぐをしる)	Recognize wisdom or stupidity from the first word spoken
一将功成りて、万骨枯る いしょうこうなりて、ばんこつかる)	one general succeeds, ten thousand bones wither
一石二鳥 いせきにちょう)	Kill two birds with one stone	*