#japanese proverbs

Don't stress about tomorrow. Tomorrow's wind will blow tomorrow. Anxious about what's coming next? Ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku sa ┐(´ー｀)┌

Vocabularies:

明日 (ashita) — Tomorrow 風 (kaze) — Wind 吹く (fuku) — To blow

ことわざ are Japanese proverbs, and I have listed some basic proverbs, their equivalents in English, and a rough translation of the meanings of the Japanese phrase.

There is a test for ことわざ called the ことわざ能力検定 (ことわざのうりょくけんてい) and these are some of the phrases that appear in level 8 or 8級 (10 being the lowest level). Try one or two of these out the next time you speak with a native Japanese speaker!

Additional ことわざ (こと検8級): 19 | 20 More ことわざ (こと検9級): 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 Even More ことわざ (こと検10級): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

猿も木から落ちる

さるもきからおちる

Even monkeys fall from trees

Even experts make mistakes.

触らぬ神にたたりなし

さわらぬかみにたたりなし

Leave the gods untouched and no curse will come

Stay away from trouble and you avoid problems.

三人寄れば文殊の知恵

さんにんよればもんじゅのちえ

Two heads are better than one

Three people together have the wisdom of Monju (the boddhisatva who represents wisdom).

失敗は成功のもと

しっぱいはせいこうのもと

Failure is the foundation of success

You learn from mistakes and improve.

親しき仲にも礼儀あり

したしきなかにもれいぎあり

Even among close friends, there is etiquette

Be respectful even with people you know well.

知らぬが仏

しらぬがほとけ

Ignorance is bliss

Not knowing is Buddha.

好きこそ物の上手なれ

すきこそもののじょうずなれ

What one likes, one will do well

People improve at things they enjoy.

雀百まで踊り忘れず

すずめひゃくまでおどりわすれず

Habits from youth remain for life

A sparrow never forgets dancing even at 100.

急いては事を仕損じる

せいてはことをしそんじる

Haste makes waste

Rushing causes mistakes.

背に腹はかえられぬ

せにはらはかえられぬ

In an emergency, necessities come first

One cannot substitute the back for the belly.

備えあれば憂いなし

そなえあればうれいなし

Forewarned is forearmed

If prepared, there is no worry.

そうは問屋がおろさない

そうはとんやがおろさない

It won't be that easy

脱兎のごとし — Datto no gotoshi. “Like a fleeing rabbit” is a way of describing something extremely quick. It derives originally from advice from the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu that one should first appear to be delicate like a girl to encourage carelessness, and then act as swiftly as a speeding rabbit before the enemy is ready to respond.

うさぎに祭文 — Usagi ni saimon. In this phrase, saimon are proclamations to the gods, and “to recite saimon to a rabbit,” which cannot understand such matters, means to talk to no purpose.

Quote of the Day – December 22, 2021