#culturalproverbs

一寸先は闇。(Issun saki wa yami.) Translation: "One inch ahead is darkness."

石の上にも三年。(Ishi no ue ni mo sannen.) Translation: "Even on a rock, it takes three years."

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。(Koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu.) Translation: "If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub."

出る杭は打たれる。(Deru kui wa utareru.) Translation: "The stake that sticks out gets hammered down."

虎の子を産んでも親は親。(Tora no ko o undemo oya wa oya.) Translation: "Even if a tiger gives birth to a cub, it is still a mother."

花より団子。(Hana yori dango.) Translation: "Prefer dumplings over flowers."

七転び八起き。(Nanakorobi yaoki.) Translation: "Fall down seven times, stand up eight."

猿も木から落ちる。(Saru mo ki kara ochiru.) Translation: "Even monkeys fall from trees."

馬の耳に念仏。(Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu.) Translation: "Buddhist sutras to a horse's ear."

雨降って地固まる。(Ame futte ji katamaru.) Translation: "After the rain, the ground hardens."

井の中の蛙大海を知らず。(I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu.) Translation: "A frog in a well does not know the great sea."

急がば回れ。(Isogaba maware.) Translation: "If you hurry, take the long way around."

目くじらを立てる。(Mekujira o tateru.) Translation: "To raise an eyebrow."

虫の知らせ。(Mushi no shirase.) Translation: "News from the bugs."

備えあれば憂いなし。(Sona e areba urei nashi.) Translation: "If you are prepared, you have nothing to fear."

馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない。(Baka wa shinanakya naoranai.) Translation: "Stupidity cannot be cured unless you die."

起きて半畳寝て一畳。(Okite hantatami nete ichijo.) Translation: "Waking up is half the bed, sleeping is a full tatami."

継続は力なり。(Keizoku wa chikara nari.) Translation: "Continuation is power."

猿も木から落ちる。(Saru mo ki kara ochiru.) Translation: "Even monkeys fall from trees."

言わぬが花。(Iwanu ga hana.) Translation: "Silence is golden."

良薬は口に苦し。(Ryoyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi.) Translation: "Good medicine tastes bitter."

鳥なき里の蝙蝠。(Tori naki sato no koumori.) Translation: "In a village without birds, bats are great singers."

縁の下の力持ち。(En no shita no chikara mochi.) Translation: "The person behind the scenes who holds the power."

馬の耳に念仏。(Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu.) Translation: "Buddhist sutras to a horse's ear."

継続は力なり。(Keizoku wa chikara nari.) Translation: "Continuation is power."

石の上にも三年。(Ishi no ue ni mo sannen.) Translation: "Even on a rock, it takes three years."

人のふり見て我がふり直せ。(Hito no furi mite waga furi naose.) Translation: "Observe the behavior of others and correct your own."

高い山から落ちる石は重い。(Takai yama kara ochiru ishi wa omoi.) Translation: "A stone falling from a high mountain is heavy."

鶏口となるも牛後となるな。(Keikou to naru mo gyuugo to naru na.) Translation: "Rather than becoming the mouth of a chicken, become the tail of an ox."

空鶴も１枚や２枚。(Karatsuru mo ichimai ya nimai.) Translation: "Even a crane dances a step or two."

蛙の子は蛙。(Kaeru no ko wa kaeru.) Translation: "A child of a frog is a frog."

立つ鳥跡を濁さず。(Tatsu tori ato o nigosazu.) Translation: "A departing bird leaves no trace."

二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず。(Nito o ou mono wa itto mo ezu.) Translation: "One who chases after two hares will not catch even one."

弘法にも筆の誤り。(Koubou ni mo fude no ayamari.) Translation: "Even Koubou made mistakes with his brush."

悪因悪果。(Akuin akka.) Translation: "Evil begets evil."

隣の芝生は青く見える。(Tonari no shibafu wa aoku mieru.) Translation: "The grass is always greener on the other side."

悪事千里を走る。(Akugoto senri o hashiru.) Translation: "Evil deeds run a thousand miles."

火のないところに煙は立たぬ。(Hi no nai tokoro ni kemuri wa tatanu.) Translation: "There is no smoke without fire."

弱肉強食。(Jakuniku kyoushoku.) Translation: "Survival of the fittest."

塵も積もれば山となる。(Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru.) Translation: "Even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain."

意気地なし。(Ikujinashi.) Translation: "No fighting spirit."

逆境に勝つ者は逆境に強い。(Gyakkyou ni katsu mono wa gyakkyou ni tsuyoi.) Translation: "Those who win in adversity are strong in adversity."

転ばぬ先の杖。(Korobanu saki no tsue.) Translation: "A cane before you fall."

時は金なり。(Toki wa kane nari.) Translation: "Time is money."

後悔先に立たず。(Koukai saki ni tatazu.) Translation: "Regret does not come before."

三人寄れば文殊の知恵。(Sannin yoreba Monju no chie.) Translation: "When three people gather, there is wisdom."

乞食の馬鹿は乞食をする。(Kojiki no baka wa kojiki o suru.) Translation: "A beggar's fool begs."

頭隠して尻隠さず。(Atama kakushite shiri kakusazu.) Translation: "Covering the head but not the bottom."

千里の道も一歩から。(Senri no michi mo ippo kara.) Translation: "Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

弘法にも筆の誤り。(Koubou ni mo fude no ayamari.) Translation: "Even Koubou made mistakes with his brush."