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by Japanese proverbs include 四字熟語 (Yojijukugo Four-character idioms), ことわざ (Kotowazaproverbs) and 慣用句 (Kanyouku Common idioms). Japanese love proverbs and use them in everyday life frequently.
Because traditional Japanese culture was tied to agriculture, many Japanese proverbs are derived from agricultural customs and practices. Many of them contain commentary on the behavior of women as well as natural phenomena. Some are from the Go game and Buddhism and many four-character phrases are from Chinese philosophy.
The heavy employment of proverbs enables Japanese language to be compact, quick and simple. Evidence might be found in Japanese animation and Japanese comics or manga. The huge popularity in instant messaging by cellular phones can be due to this.
Among them are:
知らぬが仏。
Shiranu ga hotoke.
Literally: Not knowing is Buddha.
Meaning: Ignorance is bliss. / What you don't know can't hurt you.
七転び八起き
Nanakorobi yaoki
Literally: fall seven times and stand up eight
Meaning: When life knocks you down, stand back up / Keep trying.
花より団子
Hana yori dango
Literally: Dumplings rather than flowers
Meaning: To prefer substance over style, as in to prefer to be given functional, useful items (such as dumplings) instead of merely decorative items (such as flowers).
悪因悪果
akuin akka
Literally: evil cause, evil effect / bad causes bring bad results
Meaning: Sow evil and reap evil. / You reap what you sow.
Note: this is a Buddhist sentiment that emphasizes the idea of karmic retribution.
弱肉強食
jaku niku kyō shoku
Literally: The weak are meat; the strong eat.
Meaning: Survival of the fittest.
能ある鷹は爪を隠す。
Nō aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu.
Literally: The talented hawk hides its claws
Meaning: Hide your expertise and prowess until it is requested.
水に流す
mizu ni nagasu
Literally: let flow in the water
Meaning: Forgive and forget; water under the bridge
石の上に三年
ishi no ue ni san nen
Literally: Three years on the rock.
Meaning: It takes a long time sitting on a stone before it becomes warm. Expect to work at something for three years before you see results
雲泥の差
(undei no sa)
Translation: “the separation between clouds and mud”
Meaning: A vast difference between two things.
犬猿の仲
(ken’en no naka)
Translation: “the relationship of dogs and monkeys”
Meaning: A relationship of mutual hatred. Natural enemies.
為せば成る
(naseba naru)
(Literal) Translation: “if you take action, it will become”
Meaning: You can do it if you try.
This proverb comes from a poem by Uesugi Youzan (上杉鷹山), from back in the Edo period. It’s pretty cool and being a Japanese poem isn’t so long, so here’s the full text.
為せば成る
為さねば成らぬ何事も
成らぬは人の為さぬなりけり
naseba naru
nasaneba naranu nanigoto mo
naranu wa hito no nasanu nari keri
If you try, you may succeed.
If you don’t try, you will not succeed. This is true for of all things.
Not succeeding is the result of not trying.
青天の霹靂
(seiten no hekireki)
Translation: A bolt (lit. thunder) out of the blue (sky).
Literally: Thunderclap from a clear sky.
Meaning: A bolt from the blue. / A complete surprise
鴨が葱をしょって来る
Reading: かもがねぎをしょってくる (kamo ga negi o shotte kuru)
Translation: “a duck comes along carrying a leek on its back”
Meaning: A very convenient happening, a stroke of luck.
Explanation: The reason for this proverb is that duck soup is made with leek, so it’s as though the duck came along just asking you to eat it.
Note: This proverb has a short form for everyday usage, 鴨ネギ (kamonegi)
忙中閑あり
(bouchuu kan ari)
Meaning: Even when you’re very busy, there’s occasionally time to take a rest.
初心忘るべからず
(shoshin wasuru bekarazu)
Translation: We should not forget our beginner’s spirit. (the excitement/humility of starting something new)
頭隠して尻隠さず
(atama kakushite siri kakusazu)
Translation: “hiding your head but not your butt”
Meaning: Failing to completely cover up your bad deeds.
沈む瀬あれば浮かぶ瀬あり
(shizumu se areba ukabu se ari)
Translation: “if the current sinks, it will rise (again)”
Meaning: Life has its ups and downs.
猫の首に鈴を付ける
Reading: (neko no kubi ni suzu o tsukeru)
Translation: “to put a bell around a cat’s neck”
Meaning: To discuss doing something that is nearly impossible to do.
Note: This proverb has its origin in one of Aesop’s fables.
長所は短所
Reading: ちょうしょはたんしょ (chousho wa tansho)
Translation: “our strong points are our weak points”
Meaning: Over-reliance on our strengths leads to make careless mistakes
起きて半畳，寝て一畳
Reading: おきてはんじょう、ねていちじょう (okite hanjou, nete ichijou)
Translation: “(man needs just) half a tatami mat when awake, one tatami mat when asleep.”
Meaning: You need not be rich to live a satisfied life.
李下に冠を整さず
Reading: りかにかんむりをたださず (rika ni kanmuri o tadasazu)
Translation: “don’t straighten your crown under the plum tree”
Meaning: Don’t invite undue suspicion on yourself.
Note: Because if you’re fiddling with your crown under the plum tree, people might think you’re trying to steal plums.
猫を追うより皿を引け
Reading: ねこをおうよりさらをひけ (neko o ou yori sara o hike)
Translation: “rather than chase the cat, take away the plate”
Meaning: Attack problems at their root
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
Reading: いのなかのかわずたいかいをしらず (i no naka no kawazu, taikai o shirazu)
Translation: “the frog in the well knows not of the great ocean”
Explanation: This proverb is a metaphor for being mentally trapped by a narrow understanding of things. People are satisfied to judge things by their own narrow experience, never knowing of the wide world outside.
Note: kawazu is the old way to say “frog”, in modern Japanese they are called kaeru
多芸は無芸
Reading: たげいはむげい (tagei wa mugei)
Translation: “many skills is no skill”
Meaning: a Jack of all trades is a master of none
盛年重ねて来らず
Reading: せいねんかさねてきたらず (seinen kasanete kitarazu)
Translation: “the prime of your life does not come twice”
Meaning: You’re only young once.
相槌を打つ
Reading: あいづちをうつ (aizuchi o utsu)
Translation: “striking the forge hammer”
Meaning: Giving verbal feedback while listening (eg. saying things like “yeah”, “uh-huh”, “I see”, etc)
Explanation: This proverb describes the rhythmic exchange of two smiths working on a katana
天は自ら助くるものを助く
Reading: てんはみずからたすくるものをたすく (ten wa mizukara tasukuru mono o tasuku)
Translation: Heaven helps those who help themselves.
元も子もない
Reading: もともこもない (moto mo ko mo nai)
Meaning: Failure not only to make a profit (子 = 利益), but losing your investment (元 = 元金) too.
これを知るをこれを知ると為し、知らざるを知らずと為せ。これ知るなり。
Reading: これをしるをこれをしるとなし、しらざるをしらずとなせ。これしるなり。
Romaji: kore o shiru o kore o shiru to nashi, shirazaru o shirazu to nase. kore shiru nari.
Translation: To know that one knows what one knows, and to know that one doesn’t know what one doesn’t know, there lies true wisdom.
Note: Okay, so it’s not a proverb, it’s a Confucius (孔子／こうし)
Original Chinese: 知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也
窮鼠 猫を噛む
Reading: きゅうそねこをかむ (kyuuso neko o kamu)
Translation: “a cornered rat will bite the cat”
Meaning: Left with no choice, even a relatively weak person/animal will fight back
庇を貸して母家を取られる
Reading: ひさしをかしておもやをとられる (hisashi o kashite omoya o torareru)
Translation: “to lend the eaves and have the main house taken”
Meaning: Give an inch and they take a mile.
悪銭 身につかず
Reading: あくせんみにつかず (akusen, mi ni tsukazu)
Translation: Dirty money doesn’t stay with a person for long.
ただより高い物はない
Reading: ただよりたかいものはない (tada yori takai mono wa nai)
Translation: “nothing is more expensive than free”
Meaning: Debts of money are more easily repaid than those of gratitude
毒を以て毒を制する
Reading: どくをもってどくをせいする (doku o motte doku o sei suru)
Translation: “to use a poison to overcome a poison”
Meaning: Sometimes we need shady means to tackle shady problems
けんもほろろ
Romaji: ken mo hororo
Translation: cackle and gobble [ken and hororo are pheasant sounds]
Meaning: Being blunt & unsympathetic (attitude, response, etc.)
生兵法は大怪我の基
Reading: なまびょうほうはおおけがのもと (namabyouhou wa ookega no moto)
Translation: Newly learned (unmastered) tactics are the origin of great blunders
悪妻は百年の不作。 (Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku) Literally: A bad wife spells a hundred years of bad harvest.
Meaning: A bad wife is a ruin of her husband.
残り物には福がある。 (Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru) Literally: Luck exists in the leftovers.
Meaning: There is luck in the last helping
虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。 (Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu) Literally: If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub.
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. / You can't do anything without risking something
夏炉冬扇 （karo tōsen) Literally: Summer heater winter fan
Meaning: Something which is out of season and therefore rendered useless
花鳥風月 (Kachou Fuugetsu) Literally: Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon
Meaning: Experience the beauties of nature, and in doing so learn about yourself
起死回生 (kishi kaisei) Literally: Wake from death and return to life
Meaning: To come out of a desperate situation and make a complete return in one sudden burst
自業自得 (Jigou Jitoku) Literally: One's Act, One's profit/Advantage.
Meaning: That's what you get, Just desserts, You reap what you sow
瓜田李下 (kaden rika) Literally: Melon field, under a plum tree
Meaning: Stepping into a melon field, standing under a plum tree (, such behavior causes misunderstanding that you want to steal those fruits); implying that you must avoid actions which could be taken on a bad faith
猿も木から落ちる。 (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) Literally: Even monkeys fall from trees.
Meaning: Everyone makes mistakes. / Nobody's perfect.
蓼食う虫も好き好き (Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki) Literally: There are even bugs that eat knotweed.
Meaning: There's no accounting for taste. / To each his own
蛙の子は蛙。 (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru) Literally: Child of a frog is a frog.
Meaning: Like father, like son
鳶が鷹を産む。 (Tonbi (or Tobi) ga taka wo umu) Literally: A kite breeding a hawk.
Meaning: A splendid child born from common parents
覆水盆に帰らず。 (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu) Literally: Spilt water will not return to the tray.
Meaning: It's no use crying over spilt milk. / A separated couple can never go back to as it was
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: One who chases after two hares won't catch even one.
Meaning: Trying to do two things at once will make you fail in both
継続は力なり。 (Keizoku wa chikara nari) Literally: Continuance (also) is power/strength.
Meaning: Don't give up. Just continuing to hold on will yield/reveal strength and power. Continuing on after a setback is its own kind of strength. Perseverance is power
門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む。 (Mon zen no kozō narawanu kyō wo yomu) Literally: An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught.
Meaning: The environment makes our characters
見ぬが花 (Minu ga hana) Literally: Not seeing is a flower.
Meaning: Things will never be as you imagine, so you're better off not seeing them. / Reality can't compete with imagination
猫に小判 (neko ni koban) Literally: gold coins to a cat.
Meaning: Giving a gift to someone who can't appreciate it; A useless gesture; "Pearls before swine."
猫に鰹節 (neko ni katsuobushi) Literally: fish to a cat.
Meaning: A situation where one cannot let their guard down (because the cat can't resist stealing your fish).
三日坊主 (mikka bōzu) Literally: a monk for (just) three days.
Meaning: Giving up at the first sign of difficulty.
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 the danger. / An attempt is sometimes easier than expected
馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない。 (Baka wa shinanakya naoranai) Literally: Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured.
Meaning: Only death will cure a fool. / You can't fix stupid
出る杭は打たれる。 (Deru kui wa utareru) Literally: The stake that sticks out gets hammered down.
Meaning: Don't make waves / Apply your effort where it will do the most good / Excellence breeds envy and/or enmity / It's better to conform than to stick out
挨拶は時の氏神。 (Aisatsu wa toki no ujigami) Literally: A greeting is the local deity who turns up providentially.
Meaning: Arbitration in a quarrel is a godsend
秋茄子は嫁に食わすな。 (Akinasu wa yome ni kuwasuna) Literally: Don't let your daughter-in-law eat your autumn eggplants.
Meaning: Don't let yourself be taken advantage of
雨降って地固まる (ame futte chi katamaru) Literally: after the rain, earth hardens
Meaning: Adversity builds character./After a storm, things will stand on more solid ground than they did before
油を売る (abura o uru) Literally: to sell oil
Meaning: to spend time chitchatting or to waste time in the middle of a task
竜頭蛇尾 (ryuutou dabi) Literally: dragon, head, snake, tail
Meaning: Anticlimax, the beginning is like a dragons head, great and majestic and the ending is like a snakes tail, tiny and pathetic
晴耕雨読 (seiko udoku) Literally: clear sky, cultivate, rainy, reading
Meaning: Farm when it's sunny, read when it rains.
四面楚歌 (Shimen soka) Literally: Chu songs on all sides
Meaning: Defeat is clear; Situation is desperate beyond hope
十人十色 (jūnin toiro) Literally: ten men, ten colors
Meaning: To each his/her own. / Different strokes for different folks.
大同小異 (daidō shōi) Literally: big similarity, small difference
Meaning: Similarities outweigh the differences
一石二鳥 (isseki nichō) Literally: one stone, two birds
Meaning: Killing two birds with one stone; Doing 2 things with one action.
雲散霧消 (unsan mushō) Literally: scattered clouds, disappearing mist
Meaning: Disappear without a trace
我田引水 (gaden insui) Literally: pulling water to my own rice paddy
Meaning: Doing/speaking about things in a way to benefit yourself
案ずるより生むが易し (Anjiru yori umu ga yasushi) -- (lit. It's easier to make it than thinking about it)
傍若無人 (Boujaku bujin) -- (lit. ) from 史記
着眼大局 (Chakugan taikyoku) -- (lit. ) from Go game. Comment: Go proverbs seem to be a rich source of proverbs that don't have direct equivalents in English. Does the author have more? If so, at least literal translations would help - Meaning to look at the global view (In Go, the most important thing to learn to is to fight in a way that you win overall)
智恵出でて大偽あり (Chie idete taigi ari)
血も涙もない (Chi mo namida mo nai) -- (lit. He has neither blood or tears)
長者にニ代なし (Choja-ni nidai nashi) (Lit. There is no second generation in the millionare) If you let your children inherit your money, they will blow it all.
知恵者一人馬鹿万人 (Chiesha hitori baka mannin) -- (lit. one wiseman and 10 thousands idiots)
泥中の蓮 (Deichuu no hachisu) -- (lit. )
海老で鯛を釣る (Ebi de tai wo tsuru) -- (lit. Fishing a sea beam by shrimp)
江戸っ子は五月の鯉の吹き流し (Edokko ha gogatsu no koi no fukinagashi) -- (lit. )
風前のともし火 (Fuuzen no tomoshibi) -- (lit. )
風樹の歎 (Fuuju no tan) -- (lit. )
芸が身を助ける (Gei ga mi wo tasukeru) -- (lit. Your skills help you)
芸が身を助けるほどの不仕合せ (Gei ga mi wo tasukeru hodo no fushiawase) -- (lit. )
下衆の後知恵 (Gesu no atojie) -- (lit. )
義を見てせざるは勇無きなり (Gi wo mite sezaru ha yuu naki nari) -- (lit. )
肺肝を披く (Haikan wo hiraku) -- (lit. ) from 杜甫
肺肝を砕く (Haikan wo kudaku) -- (lit. )
八方塞がり (Happou fusagari) -- (lit. )
盲蛇に怖じず (Mekura hebi ni ojizu) -- (lit. ) from 世話尽
へそで茶を沸かす (Heso de cha wo wakasu) -- (lit. Making tea on the navel)
日暮れて道遠し (Higurete michi tooshi) -- (lit. It's a long way after dark) from 史記
人の振り見て我が振りなおせ (Hito no furimite wagafuri naose) -- Instead of accusing others of bad manners, learn from it and behave yourself. (lit. Correct your own behavior by looking at others')
冷や飯を食わせる (Hiyameshi wo kuwaseru) -- (lit. Letting him eat cold meal)
臍を固める (Hozo wo katameru) -- (lit. )
言いたい事は明日言え (Iitai koto ha ashita ie) -- (lit. Say it tomorrow if you have something to say)
犬も歩けば棒に当たる (Inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru) -- things happen when you do something (lit. even walking dogs hit a bar)
入り鉄砲に出女 (Iri deppou ni deonna) -- (lit. guns enter and women leave)
医者の不養生 (Isha no fuyoujou) -- A doctor may be careless about his/her own health (lit. A doctor's carelessness about his/her own health)
言わぬが花 (Iwanu ga hana) -- When kept secret, people tend to imagine it is a very good thing (lit. not speaking is a flower) English equivalent: silence is golden.
地獄耳 (Jigoku mimi) -- Ability to catch rumor, gossip, or anything of his/her benefit, or the person who has that ability (lit. Hell ear)
壁に耳あり、障子に目あり (Kabe ni mimi ari, shoji ni me ari) -- one may not be fully aware of how closely one is being monitored by others (lit. the walls have ears, the doors have eyes) The English equivalent is just the walls have ears.
飼い犬に手をかまれる (Kaiinu ni te wo kamareru) -- (lit. Your own dog bites your hand)
金持ち喧嘩せず (Kanemochi kenka sezu) -- (lit. The rich don't fight)
堪忍袋の緒が切れる (Kanninbukuro no o ga kireru) -- (lit. )
河童の川流れ (Kappa no kawa nagare) -- Even professionals fails sometimes (lit. )
彼も人なりわれも人なり (Kare mo hito nari ware mo hito nari) -- (lit. He is a person and I am a person too)
風吹けば桶屋が儲かる (Kaze fukeba okeya ga moukaru) -- The world is interconnected even though it doesn't seem to be (lit. A bucket shop profits when wind blows)
風の中で育った木は根が強い (Kaze no naka de sodatta ki ha ne ga tsuyoi) -- (lit. The root of a tree that grew up in wind is strong)
風と女は閉じ込められない (Kaze to onna ha tojikome rarenai) -- (lit. You can't lock in wind or woman)
聞くは一時の恥 聞かぬは一生の恥 (Kiku ha ittoki no haji kikanu ha issh・no haji) -- (lit. Shame when you ask is less than when you didn't)
恋に師匠無し (Koi ni shishou nashi) -- (lit. There is no teacher for love)
国士無双 (Kokushi musou) -- (lit. No one else in the nation)
紺屋の白袴 (Kouya no shiro bakama) -- (lit. )
食うだけなら犬でも食う (Kuu dakenara inu demo kuu) -- (lit. Even dogs eat)
まかぬ種は生えぬ (Makanu tane ha haenu) -- (lit. It doesn't bud if you don't seed)
枕を高くして寝る (Makura wo takakushite neru) -- (lit. sleeping with tall pillow)
待てば甘露の日和有り (Mateba kanro no hiyori ari) -- (lit. )
芽が出る (Me ga deru) -- (lit. It buds)
明鏡も裏を照らさず (Meikyou mo ura wo terasazu) -- (lit. )
名物に美味いものなし (Meibutsu ni umaimono nashi) -- (lit. No famous food is delicious)
明鏡止水 (Meikyou shisui) -- (lit. ) from 荘子
餅は餅屋 (Mochi ha mochiya) -- Let a professional do it (lit. Mochi is mochi store)
ミイラとりがミイラになる (Miiratori ga miira ni naru) -- (lit. A mummy hunter becomes a mummy)
無理は三度 (Muri ha sando) -- (lit. impossible is three times)
水の泡となる (Mizuno awato naru) -- (lit. it becomes a bubble of water)
桃栗三年柿八年 (Momokuri sannen kaki hachinenn) -- (lit. You can harvest peaches and chestnuts in three years and persimmons in eight years)
物は試し (Monowa tameshi) -- give it a try (lit. things are to be tried) Just do it in English
門前市を成す (Monzen ichi wo nasu) -- (lit. )
求めよさらば与えられん (Motomeyo sareba ataeraren) -- (lit. Want then you can get it)
昔取った杵柄 (Mukashi totta kinezuka) -- Experiences from the past (lit. )
無い袖は振れぬ (Naisode ha furenu) -- You can't do anything with it if you don't have it (lit. ) from 世話尽
ならぬ堪忍するが堪忍 (Naranu kannin suru ga kannin) -- (lit. )
夏の雨は、馬の背を分ける (Natsu no ame ha, uma no se wo wakeru) -- (lit. Summer rain separates the top of horse)
猫も杓子も (Neko mo shakushi mo) -- Everybody (lit. )
猫を被る (Neko wo kaburu) -- Remain cool and hide your true intent/personality. (lit. You wear a cat)
煮え湯に水を差す (Nieyu ni mizu wo sasu) -- To spoil something that's going well. (lit. Applying cold water to boiling water. Short: Mizu wo sasu)
糠に釘 (Nuka ni kugi) -- (lit. )
老い木に花 (Oiki ni hana) -- An old person behaving like young (lit. Flowers on a old tree)
女心と秋の空 (Onnagokoro to aki no sora) -- (lit. The mind of a woman in fall sky)
押してもだめなら引いてみな (Oshitemo dame nara hiite mina) -- (lit. Pull if it does not work when you push)
男心と秋の空 (Otokogogoro to aki no sora) -- (lit. The mind of a man and the fall sky)
楽は苦の種 苦は楽の種 (Raku ha ku no tane ku ha raku no tane) -- (lit. )
礼も過ぎれば無礼 (Rei mo sugireba burei) -- (lit. More than polite is rude.)
老少不定 (Roushou fujou) -- (lit. ) From French
類は友を呼ぶ (Rui ha tomowo yobu) -- Like-minded tend to befriend with each other. (lit. Similarities call friends) from 易経 Birds of a feather flock together, or perhaps, 'Great minds think alike in English.
瑠璃も玻璃も照らせば光る (Ruri mo hari mo teraseba hikaru) -- (lit. )
瑠璃も玻璃も照らせばかわる (Ruri mo hari mo teraseba wakaru) -- (lit. )
塞翁が馬 (Saiou ga uma) -- (lit. the Horse of Saiou) You never know if something's a good or bad omen. (Saiou lost his horse, but it turned out that the horse went mating and brought a family of horse. Then Saiou's son rode on one of the new horses and fell off and broke his leg, and then a conscription order came for his son but his son was pardoned from duty because of the broken leg).
才子才に倒れる (Saishi sai ni taoreru) -- (lit. Talented person fails because of the talent)
策士、策におぼれる (Sakushi, sakushi ni oboreru) -- (lit. )
drop from a tree) (typically translated as Even Homer sometimes nods)
青雲の志 (Seiun no kokorozashi) -- (lit. ambitious of blue sky)
切磋琢磨 (Sessa takuma) -- (lit. )
四海波静か (Shikai nami shizuka) -- (lit. )
神出鬼没 (Shin shutsu ki botsu) -- unexpectedness of a person's behavior, indicating the person is clever (lit. to appear like a god and disappear like a phantom)
疾風に勁草を知る (Shippuu ni keisou wo shiru) -- (lit. )
袖すり合うも他生の縁 (Sode suriau mo tasyou no en) -- (lit. )
滄海の一粟 (Soukai no ichizoku) -- (lit. )
水火も辞せず (Suika mo jisezu) -- (lit. )
するのは失敗何もしないのは大失敗 (Suru noha shippai nanimo shinai noha daishippai) -- (lit. Doing is a mistake, not doing is a huge mistake)
旅の恥はかきすて (Tabi no haji ha kakisute) -- (lit. )
大海の一滴 (Taikai no itteki) -- (lit. One drop in the big ocean)
他人は時の花 (Tanin ha tokino hana) -- (lit. Others are flower of time)
楽しみは憂いに生ず (Tanoshimi ha ureini shouzu)
立て板に水 (Tateita ni mizu) -- (lit. Water running on a vertical board)
手を拱く (Te wo komaneku) -- (lit. )
天長地久 (Tenchou chikyuu) -- (lit. ) from 老子
亭主の好きな赤烏帽子 (Teishu no sukina akaeboshi)
唐人の寝言 (Toujin no negoto) -- incomprehensible words (lit. sleep talk of a Chinese)
燈台下暗し (Todai moto kurashi) -- Just like the base of a lighthouse is not lit, things happening near you are hard to notice. (lit. bottom of the lighthouse is dark)
年寄の冷水 (Toshiyori no hiyamizu) -- (lit. An old man's chilly water)
捕らぬ狸の皮算用 (Toranu tanuki no kawazan'you) -- Planning something based on the assumption that you will possess yet unobtained things. (lit. counting the skins of uncaught raccoon dogs)
取り付く島も無い (Toritsuku shima mo nai) -- (lit. )
頭角を表す (Toukaku wo arawasu) -- (lit. ) from 韓愈
ついた餅より心持ち (Tsuita mochi yori kokoro mochi) -- (lit. )
月夜に釜を抜かれる (Tsukiya ni kama wo nukareru) -- (lit. )
爪の垢を煎じて飲む (Tsume no aka wo senjite nomu) -- (lit. )
うどの大木 (Udo no taiboku) -- Just big man with nothing (lit. A huge udo tree) All bark and no bite or All hat and no cattle in English.
烏合の衆 (Ugou no shu) -- (lit. People like cloud of birds) the unwahsed masses, or an unruly mob in English, perhaps.
兎の角 (Usagi no tsuno) -- (lit. The horns of rabbits)
ワインを損なう器は悪い器 (Wain wo sokonau utsuwa ha warui utsuwa) -- (lit. )
アワビの貝の片想い (Warabi no kai no kataomoi) -- (lit. )
笑う門には福来る (Warau kado niha fuku kitaru) -- Laughter/smile brings happiness and fortune (lit. fortune comes to a street corner of someone smiling)
わわしい女は夫を食う (Wawashii onna ha otto wo kuu) -- (lit. )
災い転じて福となす (Wazawai tenjite fuku to nasu) -- (lit. )
薮から棒 (Yabu kara bou) -- (lit. A bar from bushes)
焼け石に水 (Yakeishi ni muzu) -- Your effort is too little to affect something (lit. Putting water on hot stones)
焼き餅焼くとて手を焼くな (Yakimochi yakutote te wo yakuna) -- (lit. )
病膏肓に入る (Yamai koukou ni iru) -- (lit. )
柳の下にいつも泥鰌はおらぬ (Yanagi no shita ni itsumo dojou ha oranu) -- (lit. )
宵越しの金は持たぬ (Yoigoshi no kane ha motanu) -- (lit. )
横槍を入れる (Yokoyari wo ireru) -- (lit. )
唯我独尊 (Yuiga dokuson) -- (lit. )
前人の植えた樹 (Zennin no ueta ki) -- You benefit from predecessors' hardships (lit. Trees planed by predecessors)
自画自賛 (jiga jisan) -- You praise yourself (lit. Praise one's own work, maybe shamelessly) Every potter praises his own pot in English
八細工七貧乏 (hachi saiku shichi binbou) -- (lit. )
水は方円の器に随う (mizu ha hou en no utsuwa ni shitagau) -- (lit. )
本木(幹木)に勝るうら木無し (motoki ni masaru uraki nashi) -- (lit. )
焼木杙に火がつく (yake bokkui ni hi ga tsuku) -- (lit. )
Because traditional Japanese culture was tied to agriculture, many Japanese proverbs are derived from agricultural customs and practices. Many of them contain commentary on the behavior of women as well as natural phenomena. Some are from the Go game and Buddhism and many four-character phrases are from Chinese philosophy.
The heavy employment of proverbs enables Japanese language to be compact, quick and simple. Evidence might be found in Japanese animation and Japanese comics or manga. The huge popularity in instant messaging by cellular phones can be due to this.
Among them are:
知らぬが仏。
Shiranu ga hotoke.
Literally: Not knowing is Buddha.
Meaning: Ignorance is bliss. / What you don't know can't hurt you.
七転び八起き
Nanakorobi yaoki
Literally: fall seven times and stand up eight
Meaning: When life knocks you down, stand back up / Keep trying.
花より団子
Hana yori dango
Literally: Dumplings rather than flowers
Meaning: To prefer substance over style, as in to prefer to be given functional, useful items (such as dumplings) instead of merely decorative items (such as flowers).
悪因悪果
akuin akka
Literally: evil cause, evil effect / bad causes bring bad results
Meaning: Sow evil and reap evil. / You reap what you sow.
Note: this is a Buddhist sentiment that emphasizes the idea of karmic retribution.
弱肉強食
jaku niku kyō shoku
Literally: The weak are meat; the strong eat.
Meaning: Survival of the fittest.
能ある鷹は爪を隠す。
Nō aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu.
Literally: The talented hawk hides its claws
Meaning: Hide your expertise and prowess until it is requested.
水に流す
mizu ni nagasu
Literally: let flow in the water
Meaning: Forgive and forget; water under the bridge
石の上に三年
ishi no ue ni san nen
Literally: Three years on the rock.
Meaning: It takes a long time sitting on a stone before it becomes warm. Expect to work at something for three years before you see results
雲泥の差
(undei no sa)
Translation: “the separation between clouds and mud”
Meaning: A vast difference between two things.
犬猿の仲
(ken’en no naka)
Translation: “the relationship of dogs and monkeys”
Meaning: A relationship of mutual hatred. Natural enemies.
為せば成る
(naseba naru)
(Literal) Translation: “if you take action, it will become”
Meaning: You can do it if you try.
This proverb comes from a poem by Uesugi Youzan (上杉鷹山), from back in the Edo period. It’s pretty cool and being a Japanese poem isn’t so long, so here’s the full text.
為せば成る
為さねば成らぬ何事も
成らぬは人の為さぬなりけり
naseba naru
nasaneba naranu nanigoto mo
naranu wa hito no nasanu nari keri
If you try, you may succeed.
If you don’t try, you will not succeed. This is true for of all things.
Not succeeding is the result of not trying.
青天の霹靂
(seiten no hekireki)
Translation: A bolt (lit. thunder) out of the blue (sky).
Literally: Thunderclap from a clear sky.
Meaning: A bolt from the blue. / A complete surprise
鴨が葱をしょって来る
Reading: かもがねぎをしょってくる (kamo ga negi o shotte kuru)
Translation: “a duck comes along carrying a leek on its back”
Meaning: A very convenient happening, a stroke of luck.
Explanation: The reason for this proverb is that duck soup is made with leek, so it’s as though the duck came along just asking you to eat it.
Note: This proverb has a short form for everyday usage, 鴨ネギ (kamonegi)
忙中閑あり
(bouchuu kan ari)
Meaning: Even when you’re very busy, there’s occasionally time to take a rest.
初心忘るべからず
(shoshin wasuru bekarazu)
Translation: We should not forget our beginner’s spirit. (the excitement/humility of starting something new)
頭隠して尻隠さず
(atama kakushite siri kakusazu)
Translation: “hiding your head but not your butt”
Meaning: Failing to completely cover up your bad deeds.
沈む瀬あれば浮かぶ瀬あり
(shizumu se areba ukabu se ari)
Translation: “if the current sinks, it will rise (again)”
Meaning: Life has its ups and downs.
猫の首に鈴を付ける
Reading: (neko no kubi ni suzu o tsukeru)
Translation: “to put a bell around a cat’s neck”
Meaning: To discuss doing something that is nearly impossible to do.
Note: This proverb has its origin in one of Aesop’s fables.
長所は短所
Reading: ちょうしょはたんしょ (chousho wa tansho)
Translation: “our strong points are our weak points”
Meaning: Over-reliance on our strengths leads to make careless mistakes
起きて半畳，寝て一畳
Reading: おきてはんじょう、ねていちじょう (okite hanjou, nete ichijou)
Translation: “(man needs just) half a tatami mat when awake, one tatami mat when asleep.”
Meaning: You need not be rich to live a satisfied life.
李下に冠を整さず
Reading: りかにかんむりをたださず (rika ni kanmuri o tadasazu)
Translation: “don’t straighten your crown under the plum tree”
Meaning: Don’t invite undue suspicion on yourself.
Note: Because if you’re fiddling with your crown under the plum tree, people might think you’re trying to steal plums.
猫を追うより皿を引け
Reading: ねこをおうよりさらをひけ (neko o ou yori sara o hike)
Translation: “rather than chase the cat, take away the plate”
Meaning: Attack problems at their root
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
Reading: いのなかのかわずたいかいをしらず (i no naka no kawazu, taikai o shirazu)
Translation: “the frog in the well knows not of the great ocean”
Explanation: This proverb is a metaphor for being mentally trapped by a narrow understanding of things. People are satisfied to judge things by their own narrow experience, never knowing of the wide world outside.
Note: kawazu is the old way to say “frog”, in modern Japanese they are called kaeru
多芸は無芸
Reading: たげいはむげい (tagei wa mugei)
Translation: “many skills is no skill”
Meaning: a Jack of all trades is a master of none
盛年重ねて来らず
Reading: せいねんかさねてきたらず (seinen kasanete kitarazu)
Translation: “the prime of your life does not come twice”
Meaning: You’re only young once.
相槌を打つ
Reading: あいづちをうつ (aizuchi o utsu)
Translation: “striking the forge hammer”
Meaning: Giving verbal feedback while listening (eg. saying things like “yeah”, “uh-huh”, “I see”, etc)
Explanation: This proverb describes the rhythmic exchange of two smiths working on a katana
天は自ら助くるものを助く
Reading: てんはみずからたすくるものをたすく (ten wa mizukara tasukuru mono o tasuku)
Translation: Heaven helps those who help themselves.
元も子もない
Reading: もともこもない (moto mo ko mo nai)
Meaning: Failure not only to make a profit (子 = 利益), but losing your investment (元 = 元金) too.
これを知るをこれを知ると為し、知らざるを知らずと為せ。これ知るなり。
Reading: これをしるをこれをしるとなし、しらざるをしらずとなせ。これしるなり。
Romaji: kore o shiru o kore o shiru to nashi, shirazaru o shirazu to nase. kore shiru nari.
Translation: To know that one knows what one knows, and to know that one doesn’t know what one doesn’t know, there lies true wisdom.
Note: Okay, so it’s not a proverb, it’s a Confucius (孔子／こうし)
Original Chinese: 知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也
窮鼠 猫を噛む
Reading: きゅうそねこをかむ (kyuuso neko o kamu)
Translation: “a cornered rat will bite the cat”
Meaning: Left with no choice, even a relatively weak person/animal will fight back
庇を貸して母家を取られる
Reading: ひさしをかしておもやをとられる (hisashi o kashite omoya o torareru)
Translation: “to lend the eaves and have the main house taken”
Meaning: Give an inch and they take a mile.
悪銭 身につかず
Reading: あくせんみにつかず (akusen, mi ni tsukazu)
Translation: Dirty money doesn’t stay with a person for long.
ただより高い物はない
Reading: ただよりたかいものはない (tada yori takai mono wa nai)
Translation: “nothing is more expensive than free”
Meaning: Debts of money are more easily repaid than those of gratitude
毒を以て毒を制する
Reading: どくをもってどくをせいする (doku o motte doku o sei suru)
Translation: “to use a poison to overcome a poison”
Meaning: Sometimes we need shady means to tackle shady problems
けんもほろろ
Romaji: ken mo hororo
Translation: cackle and gobble [ken and hororo are pheasant sounds]
Meaning: Being blunt & unsympathetic (attitude, response, etc.)
生兵法は大怪我の基
Reading: なまびょうほうはおおけがのもと (namabyouhou wa ookega no moto)
Translation: Newly learned (unmastered) tactics are the origin of great blunders
悪妻は百年の不作。 (Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku) Literally: A bad wife spells a hundred years of bad harvest.
Meaning: A bad wife is a ruin of her husband.
残り物には福がある。 (Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru) Literally: Luck exists in the leftovers.
Meaning: There is luck in the last helping
虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。 (Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu) Literally: If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub.
Meaning: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. / You can't do anything without risking something
夏炉冬扇 （karo tōsen) Literally: Summer heater winter fan
Meaning: Something which is out of season and therefore rendered useless
花鳥風月 (Kachou Fuugetsu) Literally: Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon
Meaning: Experience the beauties of nature, and in doing so learn about yourself
起死回生 (kishi kaisei) Literally: Wake from death and return to life
Meaning: To come out of a desperate situation and make a complete return in one sudden burst
自業自得 (Jigou Jitoku) Literally: One's Act, One's profit/Advantage.
Meaning: That's what you get, Just desserts, You reap what you sow
瓜田李下 (kaden rika) Literally: Melon field, under a plum tree
Meaning: Stepping into a melon field, standing under a plum tree (, such behavior causes misunderstanding that you want to steal those fruits); implying that you must avoid actions which could be taken on a bad faith
猿も木から落ちる。 (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) Literally: Even monkeys fall from trees.
Meaning: Everyone makes mistakes. / Nobody's perfect.
蓼食う虫も好き好き (Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki) Literally: There are even bugs that eat knotweed.
Meaning: There's no accounting for taste. / To each his own
蛙の子は蛙。 (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru) Literally: Child of a frog is a frog.
Meaning: Like father, like son
鳶が鷹を産む。 (Tonbi (or Tobi) ga taka wo umu) Literally: A kite breeding a hawk.
Meaning: A splendid child born from common parents
覆水盆に帰らず。 (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu) Literally: Spilt water will not return to the tray.
Meaning: It's no use crying over spilt milk. / A separated couple can never go back to as it was
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: One who chases after two hares won't catch even one.
Meaning: Trying to do two things at once will make you fail in both
継続は力なり。 (Keizoku wa chikara nari) Literally: Continuance (also) is power/strength.
Meaning: Don't give up. Just continuing to hold on will yield/reveal strength and power. Continuing on after a setback is its own kind of strength. Perseverance is power
門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む。 (Mon zen no kozō narawanu kyō wo yomu) Literally: An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught.
Meaning: The environment makes our characters
見ぬが花 (Minu ga hana) Literally: Not seeing is a flower.
Meaning: Things will never be as you imagine, so you're better off not seeing them. / Reality can't compete with imagination
猫に小判 (neko ni koban) Literally: gold coins to a cat.
Meaning: Giving a gift to someone who can't appreciate it; A useless gesture; "Pearls before swine."
猫に鰹節 (neko ni katsuobushi) Literally: fish to a cat.
Meaning: A situation where one cannot let their guard down (because the cat can't resist stealing your fish).
三日坊主 (mikka bōzu) Literally: a monk for (just) three days.
Meaning: Giving up at the first sign of difficulty.
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 the danger. / An attempt is sometimes easier than expected
馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない。 (Baka wa shinanakya naoranai) Literally: Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured.
Meaning: Only death will cure a fool. / You can't fix stupid
出る杭は打たれる。 (Deru kui wa utareru) Literally: The stake that sticks out gets hammered down.
Meaning: Don't make waves / Apply your effort where it will do the most good / Excellence breeds envy and/or enmity / It's better to conform than to stick out
挨拶は時の氏神。 (Aisatsu wa toki no ujigami) Literally: A greeting is the local deity who turns up providentially.
Meaning: Arbitration in a quarrel is a godsend
秋茄子は嫁に食わすな。 (Akinasu wa yome ni kuwasuna) Literally: Don't let your daughter-in-law eat your autumn eggplants.
Meaning: Don't let yourself be taken advantage of
雨降って地固まる (ame futte chi katamaru) Literally: after the rain, earth hardens
Meaning: Adversity builds character./After a storm, things will stand on more solid ground than they did before
油を売る (abura o uru) Literally: to sell oil
Meaning: to spend time chitchatting or to waste time in the middle of a task
竜頭蛇尾 (ryuutou dabi) Literally: dragon, head, snake, tail
Meaning: Anticlimax, the beginning is like a dragons head, great and majestic and the ending is like a snakes tail, tiny and pathetic
晴耕雨読 (seiko udoku) Literally: clear sky, cultivate, rainy, reading
Meaning: Farm when it's sunny, read when it rains.
四面楚歌 (Shimen soka) Literally: Chu songs on all sides
Meaning: Defeat is clear; Situation is desperate beyond hope
十人十色 (jūnin toiro) Literally: ten men, ten colors
Meaning: To each his/her own. / Different strokes for different folks.
大同小異 (daidō shōi) Literally: big similarity, small difference
Meaning: Similarities outweigh the differences
一石二鳥 (isseki nichō) Literally: one stone, two birds
Meaning: Killing two birds with one stone; Doing 2 things with one action.
雲散霧消 (unsan mushō) Literally: scattered clouds, disappearing mist
Meaning: Disappear without a trace
我田引水 (gaden insui) Literally: pulling water to my own rice paddy
Meaning: Doing/speaking about things in a way to benefit yourself
案ずるより生むが易し (Anjiru yori umu ga yasushi) -- (lit. It's easier to make it than thinking about it)
傍若無人 (Boujaku bujin) -- (lit. ) from 史記
着眼大局 (Chakugan taikyoku) -- (lit. ) from Go game. Comment: Go proverbs seem to be a rich source of proverbs that don't have direct equivalents in English. Does the author have more? If so, at least literal translations would help - Meaning to look at the global view (In Go, the most important thing to learn to is to fight in a way that you win overall)
智恵出でて大偽あり (Chie idete taigi ari)
血も涙もない (Chi mo namida mo nai) -- (lit. He has neither blood or tears)
長者にニ代なし (Choja-ni nidai nashi) (Lit. There is no second generation in the millionare) If you let your children inherit your money, they will blow it all.
知恵者一人馬鹿万人 (Chiesha hitori baka mannin) -- (lit. one wiseman and 10 thousands idiots)
泥中の蓮 (Deichuu no hachisu) -- (lit. )
海老で鯛を釣る (Ebi de tai wo tsuru) -- (lit. Fishing a sea beam by shrimp)
江戸っ子は五月の鯉の吹き流し (Edokko ha gogatsu no koi no fukinagashi) -- (lit. )
風前のともし火 (Fuuzen no tomoshibi) -- (lit. )
風樹の歎 (Fuuju no tan) -- (lit. )
芸が身を助ける (Gei ga mi wo tasukeru) -- (lit. Your skills help you)
芸が身を助けるほどの不仕合せ (Gei ga mi wo tasukeru hodo no fushiawase) -- (lit. )
下衆の後知恵 (Gesu no atojie) -- (lit. )
義を見てせざるは勇無きなり (Gi wo mite sezaru ha yuu naki nari) -- (lit. )
肺肝を披く (Haikan wo hiraku) -- (lit. ) from 杜甫
肺肝を砕く (Haikan wo kudaku) -- (lit. )
八方塞がり (Happou fusagari) -- (lit. )
盲蛇に怖じず (Mekura hebi ni ojizu) -- (lit. ) from 世話尽
へそで茶を沸かす (Heso de cha wo wakasu) -- (lit. Making tea on the navel)
日暮れて道遠し (Higurete michi tooshi) -- (lit. It's a long way after dark) from 史記
人の振り見て我が振りなおせ (Hito no furimite wagafuri naose) -- Instead of accusing others of bad manners, learn from it and behave yourself. (lit. Correct your own behavior by looking at others')
冷や飯を食わせる (Hiyameshi wo kuwaseru) -- (lit. Letting him eat cold meal)
臍を固める (Hozo wo katameru) -- (lit. )
言いたい事は明日言え (Iitai koto ha ashita ie) -- (lit. Say it tomorrow if you have something to say)
犬も歩けば棒に当たる (Inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru) -- things happen when you do something (lit. even walking dogs hit a bar)
入り鉄砲に出女 (Iri deppou ni deonna) -- (lit. guns enter and women leave)
医者の不養生 (Isha no fuyoujou) -- A doctor may be careless about his/her own health (lit. A doctor's carelessness about his/her own health)
言わぬが花 (Iwanu ga hana) -- When kept secret, people tend to imagine it is a very good thing (lit. not speaking is a flower) English equivalent: silence is golden.
地獄耳 (Jigoku mimi) -- Ability to catch rumor, gossip, or anything of his/her benefit, or the person who has that ability (lit. Hell ear)
壁に耳あり、障子に目あり (Kabe ni mimi ari, shoji ni me ari) -- one may not be fully aware of how closely one is being monitored by others (lit. the walls have ears, the doors have eyes) The English equivalent is just the walls have ears.
飼い犬に手をかまれる (Kaiinu ni te wo kamareru) -- (lit. Your own dog bites your hand)
金持ち喧嘩せず (Kanemochi kenka sezu) -- (lit. The rich don't fight)
堪忍袋の緒が切れる (Kanninbukuro no o ga kireru) -- (lit. )
河童の川流れ (Kappa no kawa nagare) -- Even professionals fails sometimes (lit. )
彼も人なりわれも人なり (Kare mo hito nari ware mo hito nari) -- (lit. He is a person and I am a person too)
風吹けば桶屋が儲かる (Kaze fukeba okeya ga moukaru) -- The world is interconnected even though it doesn't seem to be (lit. A bucket shop profits when wind blows)
風の中で育った木は根が強い (Kaze no naka de sodatta ki ha ne ga tsuyoi) -- (lit. The root of a tree that grew up in wind is strong)
風と女は閉じ込められない (Kaze to onna ha tojikome rarenai) -- (lit. You can't lock in wind or woman)
聞くは一時の恥 聞かぬは一生の恥 (Kiku ha ittoki no haji kikanu ha issh・no haji) -- (lit. Shame when you ask is less than when you didn't)
恋に師匠無し (Koi ni shishou nashi) -- (lit. There is no teacher for love)
国士無双 (Kokushi musou) -- (lit. No one else in the nation)
紺屋の白袴 (Kouya no shiro bakama) -- (lit. )
食うだけなら犬でも食う (Kuu dakenara inu demo kuu) -- (lit. Even dogs eat)
まかぬ種は生えぬ (Makanu tane ha haenu) -- (lit. It doesn't bud if you don't seed)
枕を高くして寝る (Makura wo takakushite neru) -- (lit. sleeping with tall pillow)
待てば甘露の日和有り (Mateba kanro no hiyori ari) -- (lit. )
芽が出る (Me ga deru) -- (lit. It buds)
明鏡も裏を照らさず (Meikyou mo ura wo terasazu) -- (lit. )
名物に美味いものなし (Meibutsu ni umaimono nashi) -- (lit. No famous food is delicious)
明鏡止水 (Meikyou shisui) -- (lit. ) from 荘子
餅は餅屋 (Mochi ha mochiya) -- Let a professional do it (lit. Mochi is mochi store)
ミイラとりがミイラになる (Miiratori ga miira ni naru) -- (lit. A mummy hunter becomes a mummy)
無理は三度 (Muri ha sando) -- (lit. impossible is three times)
水の泡となる (Mizuno awato naru) -- (lit. it becomes a bubble of water)
桃栗三年柿八年 (Momokuri sannen kaki hachinenn) -- (lit. You can harvest peaches and chestnuts in three years and persimmons in eight years)
物は試し (Monowa tameshi) -- give it a try (lit. things are to be tried) Just do it in English
門前市を成す (Monzen ichi wo nasu) -- (lit. )
求めよさらば与えられん (Motomeyo sareba ataeraren) -- (lit. Want then you can get it)
昔取った杵柄 (Mukashi totta kinezuka) -- Experiences from the past (lit. )
無い袖は振れぬ (Naisode ha furenu) -- You can't do anything with it if you don't have it (lit. ) from 世話尽
ならぬ堪忍するが堪忍 (Naranu kannin suru ga kannin) -- (lit. )
夏の雨は、馬の背を分ける (Natsu no ame ha, uma no se wo wakeru) -- (lit. Summer rain separates the top of horse)
猫も杓子も (Neko mo shakushi mo) -- Everybody (lit. )
猫を被る (Neko wo kaburu) -- Remain cool and hide your true intent/personality. (lit. You wear a cat)
煮え湯に水を差す (Nieyu ni mizu wo sasu) -- To spoil something that's going well. (lit. Applying cold water to boiling water. Short: Mizu wo sasu)
糠に釘 (Nuka ni kugi) -- (lit. )
老い木に花 (Oiki ni hana) -- An old person behaving like young (lit. Flowers on a old tree)
女心と秋の空 (Onnagokoro to aki no sora) -- (lit. The mind of a woman in fall sky)
押してもだめなら引いてみな (Oshitemo dame nara hiite mina) -- (lit. Pull if it does not work when you push)
男心と秋の空 (Otokogogoro to aki no sora) -- (lit. The mind of a man and the fall sky)
楽は苦の種 苦は楽の種 (Raku ha ku no tane ku ha raku no tane) -- (lit. )
礼も過ぎれば無礼 (Rei mo sugireba burei) -- (lit. More than polite is rude.)
老少不定 (Roushou fujou) -- (lit. ) From French
類は友を呼ぶ (Rui ha tomowo yobu) -- Like-minded tend to befriend with each other. (lit. Similarities call friends) from 易経 Birds of a feather flock together, or perhaps, 'Great minds think alike in English.
瑠璃も玻璃も照らせば光る (Ruri mo hari mo teraseba hikaru) -- (lit. )
瑠璃も玻璃も照らせばかわる (Ruri mo hari mo teraseba wakaru) -- (lit. )
塞翁が馬 (Saiou ga uma) -- (lit. the Horse of Saiou) You never know if something's a good or bad omen. (Saiou lost his horse, but it turned out that the horse went mating and brought a family of horse. Then Saiou's son rode on one of the new horses and fell off and broke his leg, and then a conscription order came for his son but his son was pardoned from duty because of the broken leg).
才子才に倒れる (Saishi sai ni taoreru) -- (lit. Talented person fails because of the talent)
策士、策におぼれる (Sakushi, sakushi ni oboreru) -- (lit. )
drop from a tree) (typically translated as Even Homer sometimes nods)
青雲の志 (Seiun no kokorozashi) -- (lit. ambitious of blue sky)
切磋琢磨 (Sessa takuma) -- (lit. )
四海波静か (Shikai nami shizuka) -- (lit. )
神出鬼没 (Shin shutsu ki botsu) -- unexpectedness of a person's behavior, indicating the person is clever (lit. to appear like a god and disappear like a phantom)
疾風に勁草を知る (Shippuu ni keisou wo shiru) -- (lit. )
袖すり合うも他生の縁 (Sode suriau mo tasyou no en) -- (lit. )
滄海の一粟 (Soukai no ichizoku) -- (lit. )
水火も辞せず (Suika mo jisezu) -- (lit. )
するのは失敗何もしないのは大失敗 (Suru noha shippai nanimo shinai noha daishippai) -- (lit. Doing is a mistake, not doing is a huge mistake)
旅の恥はかきすて (Tabi no haji ha kakisute) -- (lit. )
大海の一滴 (Taikai no itteki) -- (lit. One drop in the big ocean)
他人は時の花 (Tanin ha tokino hana) -- (lit. Others are flower of time)
楽しみは憂いに生ず (Tanoshimi ha ureini shouzu)
立て板に水 (Tateita ni mizu) -- (lit. Water running on a vertical board)
手を拱く (Te wo komaneku) -- (lit. )
天長地久 (Tenchou chikyuu) -- (lit. ) from 老子
亭主の好きな赤烏帽子 (Teishu no sukina akaeboshi)
唐人の寝言 (Toujin no negoto) -- incomprehensible words (lit. sleep talk of a Chinese)
燈台下暗し (Todai moto kurashi) -- Just like the base of a lighthouse is not lit, things happening near you are hard to notice. (lit. bottom of the lighthouse is dark)
年寄の冷水 (Toshiyori no hiyamizu) -- (lit. An old man's chilly water)
捕らぬ狸の皮算用 (Toranu tanuki no kawazan'you) -- Planning something based on the assumption that you will possess yet unobtained things. (lit. counting the skins of uncaught raccoon dogs)
取り付く島も無い (Toritsuku shima mo nai) -- (lit. )
頭角を表す (Toukaku wo arawasu) -- (lit. ) from 韓愈
ついた餅より心持ち (Tsuita mochi yori kokoro mochi) -- (lit. )
月夜に釜を抜かれる (Tsukiya ni kama wo nukareru) -- (lit. )
爪の垢を煎じて飲む (Tsume no aka wo senjite nomu) -- (lit. )
うどの大木 (Udo no taiboku) -- Just big man with nothing (lit. A huge udo tree) All bark and no bite or All hat and no cattle in English.
烏合の衆 (Ugou no shu) -- (lit. People like cloud of birds) the unwahsed masses, or an unruly mob in English, perhaps.
兎の角 (Usagi no tsuno) -- (lit. The horns of rabbits)
ワインを損なう器は悪い器 (Wain wo sokonau utsuwa ha warui utsuwa) -- (lit. )
アワビの貝の片想い (Warabi no kai no kataomoi) -- (lit. )
笑う門には福来る (Warau kado niha fuku kitaru) -- Laughter/smile brings happiness and fortune (lit. fortune comes to a street corner of someone smiling)
わわしい女は夫を食う (Wawashii onna ha otto wo kuu) -- (lit. )
災い転じて福となす (Wazawai tenjite fuku to nasu) -- (lit. )
薮から棒 (Yabu kara bou) -- (lit. A bar from bushes)
焼け石に水 (Yakeishi ni muzu) -- Your effort is too little to affect something (lit. Putting water on hot stones)
焼き餅焼くとて手を焼くな (Yakimochi yakutote te wo yakuna) -- (lit. )
病膏肓に入る (Yamai koukou ni iru) -- (lit. )
柳の下にいつも泥鰌はおらぬ (Yanagi no shita ni itsumo dojou ha oranu) -- (lit. )
宵越しの金は持たぬ (Yoigoshi no kane ha motanu) -- (lit. )
横槍を入れる (Yokoyari wo ireru) -- (lit. )
唯我独尊 (Yuiga dokuson) -- (lit. )
前人の植えた樹 (Zennin no ueta ki) -- You benefit from predecessors' hardships (lit. Trees planed by predecessors)
自画自賛 (jiga jisan) -- You praise yourself (lit. Praise one's own work, maybe shamelessly) Every potter praises his own pot in English
八細工七貧乏 (hachi saiku shichi binbou) -- (lit. )
水は方円の器に随う (mizu ha hou en no utsuwa ni shitagau) -- (lit. )
本木(幹木)に勝るうら木無し (motoki ni masaru uraki nashi) -- (lit. )
焼木杙に火がつく (yake bokkui ni hi ga tsuku) -- (lit. )
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