In this article, we are going to share a complete list of Japanese proverbs known in Japan as Kotowaza. The famous Ninja phrases, famous for saying little, but speaking the truth.
The word for proverbs in Japanese is kotowaza [谚], which, in addition to proverb, can mean saying, aphorism, and citation. Japanese proverbs often don't make much sense because Japanese grammar is very simple.
To understand a Kotowaza, it is necessary to delve into the meaning of the ideograms presented in the sentence. I will try to explain in detail each Japanese proverb and also quote a similar saying in English.
We also recommend reading:
- Ichariba Choode - The union in Okinawa sayings
- Love in Japanese + 50 ways to say I love you
- Seisho no shomei – Japanese Bible Books
Table of Contents
List of Japanese Proverbs - Kotowaza
毒を食らわば皿まで
Doku wo kurawaba sara made
- Literally: If eating poison, eat the dish;
- Note: It does not mean that you should literally eat the dish, just lick it. 食らわ is a strong and violent expression for eating;
- Meaning: It means that if you are going to do something dangerous, take some risks, do it wholeheartedly;
見ぬが花
Minu ga hana
- Literally: I do not sell a flower;
- Meaning: Reality cannot compete with imagination. Sometimes you imagine things without seeing their reality;
案ずるより産むが易し.
Anzuru yori umu ga yasashi
- Literally: Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it;
- Meaning: Fear is greater than danger. Sometimes an attempt is easier than we expect. Many are afraid for no reason, that is the greatest Enemy;
バカは 死ななきゃ 治らない
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai
- Literally: Only death cures an idiot;
- Meaning: There is no cure for stupidity;
出る杭は打たれる
Deru kui wa utareru
- Literally: The nail that sticks up is hammered down;
- Meaning: If you stand out, you will be subject to criticism;
秋茄子は嫁に食わすな
Akinasu wa yome ni kuwasuna
- Literally: Do not let your stepdaughter eat your eggplants;
- Meaning: Don't let yourself be taken advantage of;
残り物には福がある
Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru
- Literally: Luck exists in the leftovers. / There is a fortune in the leftovers;
- Meaning: You are saving the best for last. Just because it is behind doesn’t mean it is bad. It is often used to comfort people and help them persevere;
虎穴に入らずんば 虎子 を 得ず
Koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu
- Literally: If you don’t enter the tiger’s cave, you won’t be able to get its cub;
- Meaning: Take a risk to be successful. Those who don't take risks won't get rewards. Nothing is achieved without effort;
さるも木から落ちる
Saru mo ki kara ochiru
- Literally: The Monkey also falls from the tree
- Meaning: Even a specialist can make mistakes;
泣いて暮らすも一生、笑って暮らすも一生
Naite kurasu mo issho, waratte kurasu mo issho
- Literally: Even living life crying, even living life laughing;
- Meaning: Life is the same, whether you are happy or sad;
蓼食う虫も好き好き
Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki
- Literally: Insects that eat the tade (a weed) also do it for the sake of taste;
- Meaning: Taste is not to be disputed;
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu
- Literally: The frog from the well does not know the ocean;
- Meaning: One only knows about something by knowing or experiencing it. Perfect for those who criticize other countries without knowing them;
鳶が鷹を生む
Tonbi ga taka o umu
- Literally: From a parrot, a hawk is born
- Meaning: common parents can have extraordinary children.
郷に入りては郷に従え
Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae
- Literally: Upon entering the village, obey those who live there;
- Meaning: In Japan, be Japanese;
- Equivalent: Dance according to the music;
頭隠して尻隠さず
Atama kakushite, shiri kakusazu
- Literally: Hides its head but doesn't cover its tail;
- Meaning: You solve problems partially. There's no way to escape in a lie;
花よりだんご
Hana yori dango
- Literally: Before flowers, food;
- Meaning: Practicality;
- It makes sense, the person goes to a Hanami festival, and instead of looking at the flowers, they go eat sweets at the food stalls.
悪妻は百年の不作
Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku
- Literally: A bad wife harms the harvest for a hundred years;
- Meaning: A man's success depends on his wife;
かえるの子はかえる
Kaeru no ko wa kaeru.
- Literally: The frog's tadpole is a frog;
- Equivalent: Like father, like son;
覆水盆に帰らず
Fukusui bon ni kaerazu
- Literally: The spilled water does not return to the bowl.
Meaning: Nothing will be the same as before. There's no point in crying over spilled milk;
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
Ni usagi wo ou mono wa ichi usagi wo mo ezu
- Literally: If you chase two hares, you end up with none;
- Equivalent: He who wants everything, has nothing;
継続は力なり
Keizoku wa chikara nari.
- Literally: Perseverance brings power;
猫に小判
Neko ni koban
- Literally: Pearl to the cat;
- Equivalent: Pearls before swine;
雨降って地固まる
Ame futte chi katamaru
- Literally: The rain leaves the ground hardened;
- Meaning: Adversity makes us strong. Equivalent: What doesn’t kill makes you stronger. What doesn’t kill, strengthens;
馬鹿があって力行が引き立つ
Baka ga atte rikkō ga hikitatsu
- Literally: Power stands out when among fools;
- Meaning: The presence of fools highlights that of the intelligent;
馬鹿も一芸
Baka mo ichi gei
- Literally: Fools also have talent;
- Meaning: Do not underestimate even the donkeys;
悪に強ければ善にも強
Aku ni tsuyokereba zen ni mo tsuyoshi
- Literally: The effort [applied] in doing evil is the same as that which can do good;
- Meaning: The same perseverance in doing harm can be used for doing good. A strong enemy can become a friend with the same intensity;
金は火で試み人は酒で試む
Kane wa hi de kokoromi, hito wa sake de kokoromu
- Literally: Gold is tested by fire, people by alcohol;
- Meaning: It speaks about the superstition that drunkenness reveals the true face of people;
相手のない喧嘩はできぬ
Aite no nai kenka wa dekinu
- Literally: You can't fight alone;
- Meaning: When one doesn't want to, two do not quarrel;
悪事千里をはしる
Akuji senri o hashiru
- Literally: Evil is swift;
- Equivalent: Bad news arrives quickly. Gossip does too;
朝起きは七つの得あり
Asaoki wa nanatsu no toku ari
- Literally: Waking up early has seven advantages;
- Equivalent: God helps those who wake up early;
明日は明日、今日は今日
Ashita wa ashita, kyo wa kyou
- Literally: Tomorrow is tomorrow, today is today
- Meaning: One day at a time. Don't overthink tomorrow;
痘痕も笑窪
Abata mo ekubo
- Literally: Warts/zits become dimples
- Equivalent: Love is blind
一を聞いて十を知る
Ichi o kiite, juu o shiru
- Literally: Listen once, understand ten times
- Equivalent: For a good understanding, one word is enough;
家ほどいい所ない
Uchi hodo ii tokoro nai
- Literally: There is no better place than our home
- Equivalent: Home, sweet home
海のことは漁夫に問え
Umi no koto wa gyofu ni to e
- Literally: Ask the fisherman about the sea
- Meaning: ask people about something they master;
男心と秋の空
Otokogokoro to aki no sora
- Literally: The mind of man changes like the autumn sky;
- Meaning: Men are fickle;
男は知恵、女は情け
Otoko wa chie, onna wa nasake
- Literally: The man has wisdom, the woman, comion;
Videos about Japanese Proverbs
If you liked the proverbs, you can take a look at the great videos below, teaching the pronunciation and explaining more about the meaning of some Japanese proverbs.
