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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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酔いては本性を現す
[よいてはほんしょうをあらわす, yoitewa honshou o arawasu] when drunk people reveal their true selves
良い仲に垣をせよ
[よいなかにかきをせよ, yoi naka ni kaki o seyo] build a fence between close relations (i.e.: make certain to keep a bit of distance or boundaries even between close friends)
良い物に安い物なし
[よいものにやすいものなし, you mono ni yasui mono nashi] good things are never cheap (lit.: there are no cheap things among good things; i.e.: you get what you pay for)
用心に空きはない
[ようじんにあきはない, youjin ni aki wa nai] one cannot be too cautious
用心は前にあり
[ようじんはまえにあり, youjin wa mae ni ari] precautions must be taken in advance
良き分別は老人に問え
[よきふんべつはろうじんにとえ, yoki funbetsu wa roujin ni tou] ask an elderly person if you want good judgment (i.e.: long experience and perspective bring good advice and insight)
よく言う者よく行わず
[よくいうものよくおこのわず, yoku iu mono yoku okonowazu] he who talks well does not do or act well (i.e.: be careful of people who speak instead of acting)
よく泳ぐ者はよくおぼる
[よくおよぐものはよくおぼる, yoku oyogu mono wa yoku oboru] the best swimmer often drowns (lit.: the person who swims well often drowns)
欲には限りなし
[よくにはかぎりなし, yoku niwa kagiri nashi] there are not limits to greed
欲の袋に底なし
[よくのふくろにそこなし, yoku no fukuro ni soko nashi] the bag of greed is bottomless
世の中は三日見ぬ間の桜
[よのなかはみっかみぬまさくら, yonaka wa mikka minu ma no sakura] cherry blossoms after three days of not looking at the world (i.e.: wondrous change comes quickly in the natural world)
世は七下がり七上がり
[よはななさがりななあがり, yo wa nana-sagari nana-agari] life has many ups and downs (lit.: life has seven downs and seven ups)
嫁と姑は犬と猿
[よめとしゅうとはいぬとさる, yome to shuuto wa inu to saru] brides and mothers-in-law are always on bad terms (lit.: a bride and a mother-in-law [get along like a] dog and a monkey)
嫁と反物は昼間選べ
[よめとたんものはひるまえらべ, yome to tanmono wa hiroma erabe] choose neither a woman nor linen by candellight (lit.: select a bride and goods in the daytime)
選り好みする者は粕を掴む
[よりごのみするものはかさをつかむ, yorigonomi suru mono wa kasa o tsukamu] a person who is too picky will not do well (lit.: the person who is too choosy will grasp junk)
喜びあれば悲しみあり
[よろこびあればかなしみあり, yorokobi areba kanashimi ari] where there is joy there is also sorrow