Japanese proverbs with English translation and audio pronunciation guide.
青い鳥
Happiness that is nearby but unnoticed.
明日は明日の風が吹く
Don't worry about the future and live for today.
足下から鳥が立つ
Unexpected events can happen right around you.
頭隠して尻隠さず
Even if you think you have concealed a misdeed or fault perfectly, some part of it will reveal itself.
後の祭り
It's too late to be of any use; missing the opportunity.
後は野となれ山となれ
Not worrying about what happens afterwards.
痘痕も靨
There can be beauty in ugliness.
虻蜂とらず
Trying to catch two things at once and getting neither.
雨降って地固まる
Difficulties often lead to stability and strength.
案ずるより産むが易し
Doing is easier than worrying.
石の上にも三年
Patience will yield favourable results.
石橋をたたいて渡る
Being overly cautious.
急がば回れ
When in a hurry, it's better to take a safe, even if longer, route.
一事が万事
One example reflects all.
一難去ってまた一難
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
一寸先は闇
The future is uncertain.
犬も歩けば棒に当たる
When you try to do something, you're likely to encounter trouble; or you might encounter unexpected fortune while you're at it.
命あっての物種
Life enables everything, and death accomplishes nothing.
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
Limited perspective due to lack of exposure to the world.
魚心あれば水心
If there is mutual affection, there is mutual willingness.
馬の耳に念仏
Speaking to deaf ears; futile advice.
海老で鯛を釣る
Gaining large profits with little investment.
縁の下の力持ち
Someone who supports others without being recognized.
負うた子に教えられる
Learning from those less experienced or younger.
鬼に金棒
Giving additional power to someone already powerful.
帯に短したすきに長し
Something that is not useful because it is in between – not enough or too much.
親の心子知らず
Parents worry about their children, who often don’t realize the extent of their concern and act selfishly or rebelliously.
飼い犬に手をかまれる
Being harmed by someone you have favoured or looked after.
霞に千鳥
Something unsuitable or out of place.
河童の川流れ
Even experts can make mistakes or have an off moment.
金さえあれば飛ぶ鳥も落ちる
Most things in the world can be resolved with money.
亀の甲より年の劫
The experience and wisdom accumulated over many years are valuable and precious.
可愛い子には旅をさせよ
If you love your children, don't pamper them; instead, let them experience hardships.
聞いて極楽見て地獄
Something might seem like paradise when heard about but hell when actually seen.
聞くは一時の恥聞かぬは一生の恥
Asking may be a moment of shame, but not asking and remaining ignorant is a lifetime of shame; better to ask soon.
芸は身を助ける
A special skill can be a lifesaver in difficult times.
後悔先に立たず
Regretting something you've done doesn't change the past.
郷に入っては郷に従え
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
弘法にも筆の誤り
Even experts make mistakes.
紺屋の白袴
Being so busy with work that you neglect your own matters.
この親にしてこの子あり
A child's behaviour reflects its parents.
猿も木から落ちる
Even experts can make mistakes.
触らぬ神に祟りなし
If you don't interfere, you won't invite trouble.
三人寄れば文殊の知恵
Collective wisdom surpasses individual wisdom.
親しき仲にも礼儀あり
Even in close relationships, manners are important.
釈迦に説法
Trying to teach an expert in their field.
朱に交われば赤くなる
You are influenced by the people you associate with.
知らぬが仏
Ignorance is bliss.
好きこそ物の上手なれ
Passion makes you good at something.
過ぎたるはなお及ばざるが如し
Excess is equivalent to deficiency.
雀百まで踊り忘れず
What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave.
背に腹はかえられぬ
Dire circumstances allow no choice.
善は急げ
Make hay while the sun shines.
千里の道も一歩から
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
損して得取る
Sometimes you have to lose to win.
大は小を兼ねる
Larger can substitute for smaller, so larger things are more useful.
立つ鳥、跡を濁さず
One must leave things in order when departing.
蓼食う虫も好き好き
Everyone has their own taste, preferences greatly differ among people.
棚から牡丹餅
An unexpected and often effortless fortune.
忠言耳に逆らう
Honest advice is often unwelcome to the ears because it points out our faults.
塵も積もれば山となる
Even small amounts accumulate to become a mountain.
月とすっぽん
Describing a huge difference between two things.
釣り落とした魚は大きい
What slipped through our fingers feels bigger than it was.
出る杭は打たれる
Those who stand out get attacked or criticized.
灯台下暗し
It's often hard to see what's right under one's nose.
遠くの親類より近くの他人
Nearby strangers can be more reliable than distant relatives.
時は金なり
Time is precious and should not be wasted.
年寄りの冷や水
Elderly people taking actions without considering their age or strength.
とらぬ狸の皮算用
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
鳥疲れて枝を選ばず
When desperate, one cannot be choosy.
三尺下がって師の影を踏まず
When following a master, a disciple should not tread upon their shadow, showing respect and maintaining a distance.
泥棒を捕らえて縄をなう
Preparing only after a crisis has occurred.
団栗の背比べ
Everyone or everything is on the same mediocre level.
飛んで火に入る夏の虫
Blithely rushing into danger without realizing it.
ない袖は振れぬ
Unable to help due to lack of resources or power.
長い物には巻かれろ
It's wise to yield to those more powerful.
鳴かぬなら鳴くまで待とう時鳥
Patience until the opportune moment arrives.
泣きっ面に蜂
Misfortunes rarely come singly.
情けは人の為ならず
Kindness is rewarded.
七転び八起き
Persevere through numerous failures.
二階から目薬
Ineffectively trying to achieve a goal from an indirect approach.
二度あることは三度ある
Things tend to recur, so be cautious of patterns.
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
Attempting to do two things at once may result in failure in both.
糠に釘
Efforts or words being completely ineffective or wasted.
濡れ手で粟
Gaining profit without making much effort.
濡れぬ先の傘
It's important to prepare beforehand when starting something.
猫に鰹節
It's dangerous to leave someone's favourite thing near them.
猫に小判
No matter how valuable something is, it's useless to someone who doesn't understand its value.
寝耳に水
Being surprised by an unexpected event.
能ある鷹は爪を隠す
Talented or skilled people do not show off their abilities unnecessarily.
喉もと過ぎれば熱さを忘れる
People tend to forget the hardships or favours once they are over or received.
暖簾に腕押し
Something that is done without resistance or opposition.
話上手は聞き上手
Someone good at speaking is also good at listening.
早起きは三文の得
Early risers can gain some advantage or benefit.
人の噂も七十五日
Rumours or gossips about someone don't last long and will be forgotten after a short while.
人のふり見て我がふり直せ
Learn from others, whether their actions are good or bad, and correct yourself.
火のない所に煙は立たぬ
There’s no smoke without fire.
百聞は一見にしかず
Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.
瓢箪から駒が出る
Unexpected outcomes can arise from unexpected places.
豚に真珠
Giving something valuable to someone who can't appreciate it.
下手な鉄砲も数打てば当たる
Even a poor shot will hit the target with enough attempts.
下手の横好き
A fondness for something despite being bad at it.
仏の顔も三度
Even a patient person will lose their temper eventually.
負けるが勝ち
Sometimes conceding is a win.
待てば海路の日和あり
Good things come to those who wait.
ミイラ取りがミイラになる
The one who goes to retrieve the mummy becomes a mummy
身から出た錆
Suffering due to one's own actions
三つ子の魂百まで
Childhood traits last a lifetime
昔取った杵柄
Confident in skills learned in the past
目から鱗
Having a revelation
目から鼻へ抜ける
Very quick-witted and understanding.
餅は餅屋
Every expert has their own specialty.
焼け石に水
Slight efforts or assistance are hardly effective.
安物買いの銭失い
Buying cheap items leads to eventual loss due to poor quality.
柳の下のどじょう
Success may not occur in the same way again.
弱り目に祟り目
Misfortunes seldom come singly.
楽あれば苦あり
Life has its ups and downs.
良薬は口に苦し
Good medicine tastes bitter.
論より証拠
Actions speak louder than words.
禍いを転じて福となす
Turning misfortune into fortune.
渡る世間に鬼はない
There are also kind and compassionate people in the world, not only those who are cold like demons.
笑う門には福来たる
Happiness naturally comes to the homes of those who always live cheerfully and brightly.
恋は盲目
Love is blind.
果報は寝て待て
Good things comes to those who wait
匙を投げる
Give up when success seems unattainable, despite efforts. Throw in the towel.
三度目の正直
The third time’s a charm.
他 人の飯を食う
Gaining real-world experience by living and working among others, away from one's parents.
住めば都
Anywhere can become comfortable once you get used to it.
備えあれば憂いなし
If you are prepared, you have no worries.
枯れ木も山の賑わい
Even something trivial is better than nothing.
濡れ衣を着せる
Falsely accusing somebody.
腐っても鯛
Something valuable retains its worth even in a deteriorated condition.
花より団子
Substance is preferred over appearance.
蚤の夫婦
Refers to a couple where the wife is larger or stronger than the husband.
両手に花
Enjoying two great things at the same time.
地獄の沙汰も金次第
Everything, even the judgments of hell, can be influenced by money.
釣った魚に餌はやらぬ
Once a goal is achieved, you may neglect the effort to maintain it.