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Kotowaza, the proverbs of Japan
The proverbs of a certain culture reveal much about the ideals and morals, as well as the general outlook on life, of the people who spoke them. Kotowaza 諺, the proverbs and folk sayings of Japan, are no different in this regard. They can be high and lofty, or simple and earthy.
For the purposes of this website, I am giving the English translation of each proverb, as well as its original kanji and romaji forms. As there are so many folk sayings in Japan, this section will probably be the least complete; but I hope that it will be useful and informative.
There is a saying that goes...
猿も木から落ちる。
Saru mo ki kara ochiru
"Even monkeys fall from trees." Used both in the sense of "pride goes before a fall" or as an encouragement to try again.
河童も川流れ。
Kappa mo kawa nagare
"Even a kappa can get carried away by the river." Used in much the same way as the saying above.
馬鹿も一芸。
Baka mo ichi-gei
"Even a fool has one talent." Don't underestimate anyone.
捕らぬ狸の皮算用。
Toranu tanuki no kawa zanyō
"To count the skins of tanuki [raccoon-dogs] that haven't been caught." This should be obvious and familiar to anyone who knows the Western saying "Don't count your chickens before they hatch".
急がば回れ。
Isogaba maware
"If hurried, go around." If you're being rushed, sometimes the best thing is to slow down. Similar to "less haste, more speed".
人間万事塞翁が馬。
Ningen banji saiō ga uma
"The luck of men is like Saiō's horse." This refers to a well-known Chinese folktale, in which bad news turns to good news, good news turns to bad news, and nothing is what it seems. Basically, this saying means there's no way to know how things will turn out. Can also be shortened to saiō ga uma.
案ずるより産むが易し。
Anzuru yori umu ga yasashi
"Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it." Worrying about something difficult is worse than actually doing it; difficult things aren't as bad as they seem.
青天の霹靂。
Seiten no heki-reki
"Thunderclap from a clear sky." A complete surprise.
三日坊主。
Mikka bozu
"A monk for three days." One who gives up at the first sign of difficulty.
花より団子。
Hana yori dango
"Dumplings over flowers." Practical gain over aesthetics.
水に流す。
Mizu ni nagasu
"Let it float away in the water" Forget about it, water under the bridge.
晴耕雨読。
Seikō udoku
"Farm when it's sunny, read when it rains." Take each day as it comes; be flexible. Also, an expression of the ideal life: physical as well as intellectual pursuits.
起死回生。
Kishi kaisei
"Wake from death, return to life." To make a complete return from a desperate situation.
壁に耳あり、障子に目あ り。
Kabe ni mimi ari shōji ni me ari
"The walls have ears, the doors have eyes."
磯の鮑の片思い。
Iso no awabi no kataomoi
"Like the one-sided attraction of an abalone shell." The abalone shell clings with one side; just like unrequited love.
外襤褸の内錦。
Soto boro no uchi nishiki
"Rags on the outside, brocade within." You can't judge someone only on their clothes or outside appearance.
賢は愚にかえる。
Ken wa gu ni kaeru
"Wisdom may masquerade as foolishness."
百聞は一見に如かず。
Hyakubun ikken ni shikazu
"Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times." It's better to see something yourself than to hear others talk about it.
蛙の子は蛙。
Kaeru no ko wa kaeru
"A frog's child will become a frog." Similar to the Western phrase "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree".
能ある鷹は爪を隠す。
Nō aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu
"The clever hawk conceals its claws when they are unneeded." A wise person keeps their best cards hidden.
渡る世間に鬼はない。
Wataru seken ni oni wa nai
"There is no true devil in this world." No one is really, completely evil.
薮をつついて蛇を出す。
Yabu wo tsutsuite hebi wo dasu
"Poke around in a bush and a snake will come out." Let sleeping dogs lie. Leave well enough alone.
井の中の蛙大海を知らず。
I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu
"A frog in a well doesn't know the ocean."
明日のことをいうと天井の鼠が笑う。
Ashita no koto o iu to tenjō no nezumi ga warau
"Speak of tomorrow, and the ceiling rats laugh." Nothing is certain; it is foolishness to plan too far ahead.
争いには声高の者が勝つ。
Arasoi niwa takagoe ga katsu
"In a quarrel, the loudest wins." Logic or common sense don't matter when anger is involved.
争いには声高の者が勝つ。
Oni no me nimo namida
"A tear in the eye of an oni." Used to mean something like "even a devil would be moved to tears at this situation".
争いには声高の者が勝つ。
Kokoro o oni ni suru
"To make one's heart an oni's." To harden one's heart against something that one must do.
馬鹿は死ななきゃ直らない。
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai
"Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured." Only death will cure a fool.
出る釘は打たれる。
Deru kugi wa utareru
"The nail that sticks up will be hammered down." Don't rock the boat.
悪妻は百年の不作。
Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku
"A bad wife spells a hundred years of bad harvest."
悪妻は百年の不作。
Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki
"There are even insects that eat knotweed." To each his own; there's no accounting for taste.
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず。
Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu
"One who chases after two hares won't catch even one." Focus on one thing at a time. Focus on what's important.
七転び八起き。
Aanakorobi yaoki
"Fall seven times, get up eight." Keep trying even in the face of failure.
夏炉冬扇。
Karo tōsen
"Summer hearth, winter fan." Things that are completely useless.
雨降って地固まる。
Ame futte ji katamaru
"After the rain, the earth hardens." Adversity builds character.
郷に入っては、郷に従え。
Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae
"Entering the village, obey the village." When in Rome; but more in the sense that one should respect the laws and traditions of whatever place one is in.
仏の顔も三度。
Hotoke no kao mo san do
"Even a Buddha's face, three times." A Buddha's face will lose its calm and composure if asked too many times. Don't try the patience of a saint.
塵も積もれば山となる。
Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru
"Dust piled up becomes a mountain." Many small efforts can produce great results; the efforts of many can produce great results.
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