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Japanese Proverbs
The Japanese language is filled with proverbs of all sorts, many from classical references from ancient Chinese to modern versions of English proverbs, all used in every aspect of the language. Whether you are traveling to Japan for fun or on business, or are living there, you'll find proverbs indispensible to understanding and using the daily language. Browse below to find the ones you want or simply explore the many possible ways to express yourself in Japanese.
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警戒は警備
[けいかいはけいび, keikai wa keibi] forewarned is forearmed (lit.: a warning is a preparation; n.b.: this proverb was taken from the English one)
けいせいに誠なし
[けいせいにまことなし, keisei ni makoto nashi] a whore is not sincere (i.e.: be careful of such women)
兄足りがたく、弟たりがたし
[けいたりがたく、ていたりがたし, kei-tarigataku, tei-taritagashi] there is little to choose between the two (lit.: to be neither the elder brother nor the younger brother; i.e.: two men who are of equal worth, or are equally worthless)
怪我の功名
[けがのこうみょう, kega no koumyou] an unexpected success from a failure; a lucky hit; a fluke
毛深い者は色深い
[けぶかいものはいろぶかい, kebukai mono wa iro-bukai] a hairy person is sexy
煙を見て火あるを知る
[けむりをみてひあるをしる, kemuri o mite hi aru o shiru] where there's smoke, there's fire (lit.: you know there is a fire by seeing the smoke; n.b.: this is a translation of the English expression)
家来とならねば、家来を使えぬ
[けらいをならねば、けらいをつかえぬ, kerai o naraneba, kerai o tsukaenu] by obeying we learn to command (lit.: you cannot use a retainer unless you have been a retainer)
毛を見て馬を奏す
[けをみてうまをそうす, ke o mite uma o sousu] judge a book by its cover; judge by appearances only (lit.: judge a horse by looking at the hair)
犬猿の仲
[けんえんのなか, ken-en no naka] on bad terms (lit.: relations between a dog and a monkey)
喧嘩両成敗
[けんかりょうせいばい, kenka ryouseibai] in a quarrel both parties share the blame; when two quarrel, both are in the wrong
健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る
[けんぜんなるせいしんはけんぜんなるしんたいやどる, kenzen naru seishin wa kenzen naru shintai ni yadoru] a sound mind in a sound body (lit.: a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body; n.b.: this is a direct translation of the English proverb, which comes from the Latin mens sanus in corpore sano)
芸は身の仇
[げいはみのあだ, gei wa mi no ada] an accomplishment is an enemy
下駄に焼き味噌
[げたにやきみそ, geta ni yakimiso] a foolish and useless deed (lit.: roast bean paste on wooden clogs)
下駄を履く
[げたをはく, geta o haku] take a squeeze, to; get by graft, to (lit.: wear clogs)
言いずれば四馬及ばず
[げんいずればしばおよばず, gen izureba shi-ba oyobazu] a statement once let loose cannot be caught by four (running) horses