Ultimate Guide to Japanese Proverbs
By The Japan Switch Team | August 16th, 2024
Welcome to the ultimate guide of Japanese proverbs! In this article, I will show you a set of practical Japanese proverbs (kotowaza) with an interpretation and sample sentence for your deeper understanding. Some of you might have already heard of some proverbs in Japan, but not sure about when to use them? Not to worry! By the time you finish reading this article, you will have an idea of what, how, and when to use the precise Japanese proverb. Plus, you will learn the benefits and definitions of proverbs, useful proverbs according to situations, a helpful platform where you can browse through them in more detail, and common wrong usages.
This article is a part of our extensive series on Learning about Japan through Online Japanese Lessons at Japan Switch.
Is it necessary to learn Japanese proverbs?
Before you dive into the world of Japanese proverbs, you might wonder if it’s necessary at all to learn them. Let’s find the truth to that question! If someone asks if learning Japanese proverbs is “necessary,” then the answer is both yes and no at the same time.
Naturally, it’s not as important as, let’s say, learning how to apologize in a polite manner, and it doesn’t rank as the top priority of learning Japanese. However, I don’t want you to be discouraged by what I just wrote, because there are obvious benefits and advantages in learning them.
On one hand, mastering Japanese proverbs means that you already have a very good command of Japanese. If you know some proverbs and are capable of using them at the right time, then you could impress your colleagues, bosses, or friends. In a certain situation, if you can produce the proverb “郷に入っては郷に従え Go ni itte ha go ni shitagae (When in Rome, do as the Romans do),” it demonstrates a deeper understanding of both Japanese language and culture. On the other hand, it will be a powerful tool that enables you to have an even wider set of expressions in Japanese. As such, learning kotowaza brings you joy and further motivates you to learn more.
There are a few things to keep in mind before doing so. First, be very careful of using them in the wrong situations. I can’t stress this enough, but even if you do, because there are typical proverbs which even native Japanese speakers use at the wrong time.
Using them at the wrong time leads to an awkward situation, or even worse, you might make the person you’re addressing angry. Second, although proverbs can come in handy, overusing it might sound strange in the conversation. Proverbs are indeed useful in specific situations, but it might sound repetitive when you use it again and again in the same conversation, so it’s always better to use it conservatively.
What’s the difference between a Japanese proverb, idiom, and a quote?
Both Japanese natives and Japanese learners often mix these up, so let’s clarify the difference before we move forward!
Proverb
Since most card games do hail originally from It has to be stressed that the difference between proverbs and idioms is sometimes subtle and many people confuse proverbs with idioms. Let’s clarify each definition before you go on to read the actual proverbs. Proverbs are life advice that enriches your perspectives and point of views. It also has literal meanings and which allows you to easily see the meaning just by looking at the phrase.
Example of a Proverb
猫の手も借りたい - ねこのてもかりたい
Neko no te mo karitai
I also want to borrow a cat’s hand.
Interpretation:
I’ll take all the help I can get.
The cat can’t give you a helpful hand, of course. But this proverb is used for a situation where you feel overwhelmed by a lot of things, whether it is homework or a pile of tasks for your job, that you feel like borrowing a cat’s hand.
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Idiom
Idioms, on the other hand, refer to phrases that generally have non-literal meanings and therefore are not really used in everyday situations. Therefore, one cannot infer the meaning from those of individual words.
Example of an idiom 1
“See the light”
It is not about literally seeing the light, but it means that someone realizes something after a long contemplation.
According to the definition above, 四字熟語 (yojijukugo) could fall into this category. Yojijukugo is a phrase that always consists of four Chinese characters such as an example below. The origin of yojijukugo comes from old events that occurred in China or words old Chinese thinkers left for future generations. Or it comes from the teaching of Buddhism.
Be aware, however, that neither the definition of proverbs nor the definition of idioms mention anything about the style of the phrase. This means that yojijukugo can qualify as proverbs if it is actually used in a daily situation and has a literal meaning. (And kotowaza can qualify as an idiom if it is not really used in daily situations and has a non-literal meaning.) It is just that, as a general tendency, kotowaza usually falls under the category of proverbs because they have literal meanings for most of the time.
Example of an idiom 2 ( in a form of yojijukugo)
“一期一会” - いちごいちえ
Ichi go ichi e
Interpretation:
Once in a lifetime
This idiom, or yojijukugo, is one of the most introduced idioms in books and on websites. It suggests that an encounter with a certain person or certain thing can be once in a lifetime, so you should appreciate those encounters.
If you would like to learn more about idioms, check out the Ultimate Guide to Japanese Idioms here.
Quote
According to the definition from Oxford language, a quote is “a quotation from a text or speech.” That being said, a quote can be a sentence from a book or play, a line spoken by a character in animation, or simply a citation of what your friend said. Below are some examples of quotes.
Quote from a play
“To be, or not to be, that is the question.” Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Quote from an animation
あきらめたらそこで試合終了ですよ (Akirametara sokode shiai shūryōdesu yo)
The moment you give up the game is over. スラムダンク (Slam Dunk) by Takehiko Inoue
Popular Japanese proverbs by situation
Japanese proverbs about Love
可愛さ余って憎さ百倍
かわいさあまってにくさひゃくばい
Kawaisa amatte nikusa hyakubai
The greatest hate stems from the greatest love.
This literally means that the more you care about someone, the greater the hatred will be once you start disliking them. It is frequently used when a romantic relationship doesn’t work out after a while.
If you want to explore more about the proverbs related to love and romance, look at this article.
恋は盲目
こいはもうもく
Koi ha Moumoku
Love is blind.
A classic, isn’t it? I shouldn't even have to explain, but it means that when you fall in love, it blinds you and makes you overlook any shortcomings.
高嶺の花
たかねのはな
Takane no hana
She/He is out of my league.
You use this phrase when you want to mention someone who is way more capable of e.g. sports, subjects etc. that you feel hesitant to interact with him/her. Be aware that it has a connotation that someone you’re mentioning is more or less arrogant and therefore is picky with who she/he wants to interact with.
The English interpretation of this means someone is much more attractive and/or accomplished than the speaker, which makes it impossible for them to match, and it applies to the proverb I introduced.
Motivational Japanese proverbs
聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥
きくはいっときのはじ、きかぬはいっしょうのはじ
Kiku ha ittoki no haji, kikanu ha issyou no haji
Asking is a moment of shame, not asking is a lifetime of shame.
This is about not hesitating to ask questions, even when you’re ashamed of showing your ignorance, because otherwise you’ll be ashamed for even longer. It’s similar to, ‘There are no stupid questions.’
失敗は成功の元
しっぱいはせいこうのもと
Shippai ha Seikou no moto
Failure is the mother of success.
This one is more straightforward as there is an exact English counterpart of this proverb. It is a motivational phrase as it encourages you to keep going even after you fail.
人間万事塞翁が馬
にんげんばんじさいおうがうま
Ninngen bannji saiou ga uma
Inscrutable are the ways of heaven.
The proverb indicates that life is always unpredictable, so you should neither be happy nor sorrowful based on just one event. You can use it e.g. when you did not pass the entrance exam of a university you wanted to get accepted by the most. Although you are disappointed by the result and reluctant to go to another university, you might be meeting many excellent friends or finding a good mentor there.
In short, you cannot judge an event just because it did not work out as intended, because you never know what this event will bring you in the long run. The closest saying in English is, “Whatever will be, will be.”
Though a little less frequent, another situation to use is when you want to be cautious after you had a series of successful events. For example, when you won a lottery and inherited a considerable amount of money (yes, a quite unlikely and exaggerated situation), then you would say it to yourself so that you will not get carried away. In this case, a similar English counterpart is “You have to take the good with the bad.”
Japanese proverbs that describe a person’s character
仏の顔も３度まで
ほとけのかおもさんどまで
Hotoke no kao mo sanndo made
Even the patience of a saint has limits.
Buddha is known to be good-natured and rarely gets angry. The proverb indicates, however, even a person who resembles Buddha’s character can get outraged if you keep offending him/her. Interestingly, the English counterpart which has the opposite meaning is more famous and it is “He/She has the patience of a saint.”
清水の舞台から飛び降りる
きよみずのぶたいからとびおりる
Kiyomizu no butai kara tobioriru
Jumping off the stage of Kiyomizu-dera.
If you have visited Kyoto already, you might know the famous temple called Kiyomizu-dera. As this temple is located at the height of a 4 story-building, jumping off its stage means you risk your life. That said, it is used for a situation where you take a great risk in something such as opening a new business, or going overseas to find a new job without any safety nets.
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虎の威を借る狐
とらのいをかるきつね
Tora no i wo karu kitsune
A fox that borrows the authority of a tiger.
This proverb is used to describe someone who behaves arrogantly by borrowing someone’s authority.
Japanese proverbs about Life Advice
急がば回れ
いそがばまわれ
Isogaba maware
Haste makes waste.
Even when you’re in a rush, you should be doing things one step at a time, otherwise you will mess up. It is a useful phrase to use for yourself or your friends when there is a need to stay calm in an overwhelming situation.
習うより慣れろ
ならうよりなれろ
Narau yori narero
Practice makes perfect.
This proverb translates easily, which means that practice and actually doing something again and again is better than only learning the theory.
石の上にも三年
いしのうえにもさんねん
Ishi no ue nimo san-nen
Sit on a stone for three years.
I picked this one because it communicates the stereotypical nature of Japanese people that can be described as patient and tolerant. As a general tendency, Japanese people believe that continuing something, be it work, sports, or study, perseverance rather than quitting early will be rewarded in the long run.
5 Japanese proverbs that all Japanese people know (and use!)
晴天の霹靂
せいてんのへきれき
Seiten no hekireki
A bolt from the blue.
Don’t get frightened by the intimidating Chinese characters used here. “霹靂 Hekireki” indicates a sudden lighting. As you never expect a sudden lightning when it’s sunny, it is used when you hear news that you would never expect. This is similar to the English version, ‘out of the blue.’
棚からぼたもち
たなからぼたもち
Tanakara botamochi
Having a windfall.
Using ぼたもち (a type of mochi covered with red beans) in proverbs is idiosyncratic to Japanese culture. It means that you get luck when you least expect it.
雲泥の差
うんでいのさ
Undei no sa
Having a huge gap / difference in terms of one’s ability
This phrase is used when you want to say that two things have a huge gap in a certain ability. It metaphorically expresses that feeling by using the word “雲”, cloud, and “泥”, mud.
出る杭は打たれる
でるくいはうたれる
Deru kui ha utareru
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
This describes someone who stands out among other individuals because of his/her talents in a particular area, yet gets criticized or disliked because of that very talent. I think this expression is unique to Japanese culture, where individuals are preferred to be homogeneous so no one stands out.
Wearing masks during Covid pandemic even when there is no lawful enforcement or punishment, or elementary school children carrying the homogeneous rucksack called randoseru although it is not required by school or government are a good few examples. This contrasts the general tendency in the Western culture where individuals are responsible for their own behavior and thus harmony is not as appreciated as in Japan.
For those who would like to know more about this proverb, here is the link to a website that explores its meaning, synonyms, etc.
ちりも積もれば山となる
ちりもつもればやまとなる
Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru
If the dust piles up, it becomes a mountain.
As the literal meaning suggests, it indicates that if you continue to make efforts, even if they are tiny efforts a day, it will be rewarded in the end. It is interesting to use the word ‘dust’ for such a positive proverb because, generally speaking, the word ‘dust’ is associated with a negative connotation.
I personally like this proverb as the meaning is versatile and it can indeed be used for everyday situations. As the phrase is a bit lengthy, native Japanese speakers, young ones specifically, prefer to use the abbreviated version of this proverb, which is, “ちりつも (Chiri tsumo)”, which you might find convenient to use.
If you would like to learn about useful Japanese phrases in general, check out this article.
3 Resources where you can learn and search for Japanese proverbs
Now that I listed some practical proverbs, some of you might want to explore its world more in-depth. For those of you who do, I have listed 3 resources where you can learn Japanese proverbs, ranging from beginner level to advanced.
Skritter Japanese Proverbs: ことわざ
This website is suitable for novices, as they list only essential proverbs and have only 17 of them. Besides the proverbs themselves, they explain everything in Japanese and it also comes with the translation, which makes it easier to browse through. The resource is free for everyone.
日本語NET ことわざ記事一覧 (nihonngo net kotowaza article list)
This is also a website that lists essential proverbs used in Japan. From the link above, you can jump to the page that showcases the articles, every one of which focuses on only one proverb. As such, you could click a page that might interest you and then see the detailed explanation of the selected proverb.
This website is suitable for the intermediate level, because of the more comprehensive selection of proverbs. Also, be prepared that only the meaning of the proverb is explained in English, otherwise the articles are written in Japanese. This website is free for everyone.
英語対訳で読む日本のことわざ (Japanese Proverbs in Simple English)
For the last resource which is suitable for the advanced level, I would like to introduce a book which exists in Japan that is dedicated to the world of proverbs This book dives deeper into the topic we have discussed so far, often comparing cultural and habitual differences between Japan and the Western countries through the perspective of Japanese proverbs.
As such, the book is for someone who is curious, not only about the meaning of proverbs, but also the cultural difference that surrounds it. In order to have access, you will have to purchase a physical book online or at bookstores.
Apps are another good option to learn Japanese. Read this article to learn what kind of apps are out there.
Typical wrong usage for Japanese proverbs that even native Japanese speakers mess up
Last but not least, there are indeed many proverbs native Japanese speakers use at the wrong time. Below are three Japanese proverbs that are frequently misused, even by Japanese speakers. It is best to avoid using them at the wrong times, because the person you’re addressing might find it rude to hear the Japanese proverb used in the wrong situation. So let’s learn the typical mistakes and how to properly use them.
気が置けない
きがおけない
Ki ga okenai
Feeling at ease with someone
This describes someone who is close to you so that you can be frank and don’t have to be polite. Probably because of its negative form, some people consider this to have a negative connotation, although in fact it doesn’t.
× The WRONG situation to use
When you use it to describe a situation where you can’t be at ease with someone, so you have to be considerate and behave modestly.
○ The RIGHT situation to use
When you use it to describe a situation where you can be at ease with someone and don’t have to be considerate and behave modestly.
情けは人のためならず
なさけはひとのためならず
Nasake ha hito no tamenarazu
It is better to be kind to everyone, because it will be rewarded in the end.
It is a mindset where you believe that being kind to someone will be rewarded eventually. It might give you an impression that it has a negative connotation because it has a negative form also, but it indeed teaches you a good life lesson.
× The WRONG situation to use
When you use this proverb to confirm that you shouldn’t be kind to someone because it isn’t beneficial to him/her.
○ The RIGHT situation to use
When you use this proverb to confirm that you should be kind to someone because it will be rewarded at the end of the day.
If you want to explore more about this proverb, have a look at this article that’s dedicated to this specific proverb.
蛙の子は蛙
かえるのこはかえる
Kaeru no ko ha kaeru
Like father, like son.
You can NEVER use this proverb to your boss or someone older than you! This phrase means that a child who was born into mediocre parents will eventually grow up to be mediocre as well.
That said, it has a connotation of criticizing/showing a little disappointment for someone, and it is NOT used as a compliment. Unlike the similar English counterpart “Like father, like son.” that has both positive and negative connotations, this proverb has only a negative connotation.
× The WRONG situation to use
When you use it with your boss with the intention of complimenting his/her child.
○ The RIGHT situation to use
When you want to acknowledge someone’s mediocre ability in a particular area.
Conclusion: Why learning Japanese proverbs matter
Congratulations and now you’re equipped with some useful Japanese proverbs for daily life! Now that you have explored some proverbs that are actively used by native Japanese speakers, let me reiterate the importance of learning Japanese proverbs.
In a nutshell, learning them matters because it is key to enhancing your Japanese proficiency. This is especially the case for someone who already has an intermediate to advanced level of Japanese, and yet intends to further hone their skills.
As I mentioned in the very beginning, learning and mastering popular proverbs will give native Japanese speakers an impression that you have an excellent command of Japanese, which is necessary if you intend to live in Japan for a long time. Well, at the end of the day, it is really exciting to explore how Japanese people express a certain situation in their own way!
