Kotowaza

Japanese proverbs

A Japanese proverb (諺, ことわざ, kotowaza) may take the form of:

• a short saying (言い習わし, iinarawashi),
• an idiomatic phrase (慣用句, kan'yōku), or
• a four-character idiom (四字熟語, yojijukugo).

Although “proverb” and “saying” are practically synonymous, the same cannot be said about “idiomatic phrase” and “four-character idiom”. Not all kan'yōku and yojijukugo are proverbial. For instance, the kan'yōku kitsune no yomeiri (狐の嫁入り, literally 'a fox's wedding', meaning “a sunshower”) and the yojijukugo koharubiyori (小春日和, literally 'small spring weather', meaning “Indian summer” – warm spring-like weather in early winter) are not proverbs. To be considered a proverb, a word or phrase must express a common truth or wisdom; it cannot be a mere noun.[citation needed]

Origin

Numerous Asian proverbs, including Japanese, appear to be derived from older Chinese proverbs, although it often is impossible to be completely sure about the direction of cultural influences (and hence, the origins of a particular proverb or idiomatic phrase).[1]

Because traditional Japanese culture was tied to agriculture, many Japanese proverbs are derived from agricultural customs and practices. Some are from the board game Go (e.g., fuseki o utsu (布石を打つ)), the tea ceremony (e.g., ichi go ichi e (一期一会)), and Buddhism. Many four-character idioms are from Chinese philosophy written in Classical Chinese, in particular “The Analects” by Confucius. (I no naka no kawazu (井の中の蛙, 'a frog in a well') is Classical Chinese, from the Zhuangzi.)

Usage

Japanese commonly use proverbs, often citing just the first part of common phrases for brevity. For example, one might say i no naka no kawazu (井の中の蛙, 'a frog in a well') to refer to the proverb i no naka no kawazu, taikai o shirazu (井の中の蛙、大海を知らず, 'a frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean'). Whereas proverbs in English are typically multi-worded phrases (e.g. “kill two birds with one stone”), Japanese yojijukugo borrow from Chinese and compactly convey the concept in one compound word (e.g., isseki nichō (一石二鳥, 'one stone two birds')).

Examples

Sayings

出る杭は打たれる。 Deru kui wa utareru Literally: The stake that sticks up gets hammered down. Meaning: If you stand out, you will be subject to criticism. 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. 見ぬが花。 Minu ga hana Literally: Not seeing is a flower. Meaning: Reality can't compete with imagination. 花は桜木人は武士 Hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi Literally: Of flowers, the cherry blossom; of men, the warrior. Meaning: As the cherry blossom is considered foremost among flowers, so the warrior is foremost among men. 井の中の蛙大海を知らず I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu Literally: The frog in the well knows nothing of the ocean. Meaning: People who experience very little have a narrow world view. / He that stays in the valley shall never get over the hill. かわいい子には旅をさせよ Kawaii ko ni wa tabi wo saseyo Literally: Let your darling child travel. Meaning: If you don't discipline your child, they will not learn obedience. / Spare the rod and spoil the child. 案ずるより産むが易しい。 Anzuru yori umu ga yasashii 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. 船頭多くして船山に登る Sendou ooku shite fune yama ni noboru Literally: Too many captains will steer the ship up a mountain. Meaning: Something may not be successful if too many people work on it at the same time. / Too many cooks spoil the broth. 蛙の子は蛙 Kaeru no ko wa kaeru Literally: The child of a frog is frog. Meaning: A child grows up similar to their parents. / Like father, like son. / The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. 馬鹿は風邪を引かない Baka wa kaze o hikanai Literally: Idiots don't catch colds. Meaning: Carefree people are less likely to notice they are sick or to worry about being sick. Idiomatic phrases edit 猫に小判 Neko ni koban Literally: Gold coins to a cat. Meaning: Casting pearls before swine / Giving something of value to a recipient that does not value it. 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; What matters is not the bad that happened, but what one does after. 猿も木から落ちる Saru mo ki kara ochiru Literally: Even monkeys fall from trees Meaning: Anyone can make a mistake. 花より団子 Hana yori dango Literally: Dumplings rather than flowers Meaning: To prefer substance over form, as in to prefer to be given functional, useful items (such as dumplings) instead of merely decorative items (such as flowers). 馬の耳に念仏 Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu Literally: Chanting nenbutsu to a horse. Meaning: Attempting to make an argument to a party that will not listen. / Preaching to the deaf. 水と油 Mizu to abura Literally: Water and oil. Meaning: Totally incompatible. / [Go together like] oil and water.

Article principal : Yojijukugo

十人十色 jūnin toiro Literally: ten persons, ten colors Meaning: To each his own. / Different strokes for different folks. 因果応報 inga ōhō Literally: Cause brings result / bad causes bring bad results Meaning: what goes around comes around 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.

猿も木から落ちる Saru mo ki kara ochiru. Even monkeys fall from trees. English equivalent: It is a good horse that never stumbles. Garrison, Jeff. 日本語イディオム辞典. Kodansha International. p. 491. ISBN 978-4-7700-2797-9. 井の中の蛙大海を知らず I no naka no kawazu taikai-o shirazu. A frog in a well does not know the great ocean. Chinese equivalent: 井底之蛙。 “Do not associate with a fool because he will beautify his actions before you and long that you too be like him.” Ali, Nahj al-Balagha, Hadith n. 293, at the Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. (7th-8th century) 日本博学倶楽部 (2002). 「ことわざ」なるほど雑学事典: よくあるカン違いから本来の意味まで、話がはずむ面白ネタ. p. 63. ISBN 978-4-569-57753-1. 二兎を追う者は一兎も得ず Nito-o ou mono wa itto mo ezu. Who chases two rabbits catches neither. Italian equivalent: Chi troppo vuole, nulla stringe. English equivalents: You must not run after two hares at the same time. donkey can starve choosing between two bales of hay. 日英言語文化研究会 (2006). 日英語の比較: 発想・背景・文化. p. 137. ISBN 978-4-384-05436-1. 良薬口に苦し Ryooyaku Kuchi ni Nigashi. Translation: Good medicine is bitter to the mouth. English equivalent: The truth hurts. Chinese equivalent: 良藥苦口。 Maynard (1993). Listen and Learn: 101 Japanese Idioms. McGraw-Hill. p. 123. ISBN 1 Invalid ISBN. 角を矯めて牛を殺す Tsuno-o tamete ushi-o korosu. Translation: To kill a bull by straightening its horns. 池田彌三郎; Donald Keene; 常名鉾二郎 (1982). 日英故事ことわざ辞典. 北星堂書店. p. 56. 継続は力なり Keizoku wa chikara nari. Translation: To continue is power. ポケット図解ドラッカー経営のツボがよーくわかる本:. 秀和システム. 2008. p. 37. ISBN 4798020680. 鳥なき里の蝙蝠 Tori naki sato no koumori. Translation: A bat in a village without birds. 石本登也 (February 2003). 虜囚. 文芸社. p. 176. ISBN 978-4-8355-5134-0. 苦あれば楽あり Ku areba raku ari. Translation: There are hardships and there are delights. English equivalent: After rain comes fair weather; No pain, no gain; March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers. Chinese equivalent: 苦盡甘来。 上田彬 (April 2005). 小我を取れば、うまくいく. 文芸社. p. 120. ISBN 978-4-8355-8853-7. 毒食わば皿まで Doku kuwaba sara made. Translation: When poisoned, one might as well swallow the plate. English equivalent: “In for a penny, in for a pound.” Yiddish equivalent: “If you're going to eat pork, eat it till your mouth drips.” 喜多見淳 (25 January 1999). 淳樹物語: 続・天草に蜩は鳴かない. 文芸社. p. 232. ISBN 978-4-88737-200-9. 早起きは三文の徳 Haya oki wa sanmon no toku. Translation: Early rising benefits you three pence. English equivalent: The early bird gets the worm. Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 5 September 2013. 山口晃範 (November 2006). 無人島の娘たち. 文芸社. p. 128. ISBN 978-4-286-02018-1.

愚公山を移す Gukou yama-o utsusu. Translation: Yugong moves a mountain. English equivalent: Faith can move mountains; where there's a will, there's a way. Chinese equivalent: 愚公移山。 “愚公移山” is a Chinese fable from the book Liezi (《列子》). “Nothing is impossible to those who have sufficient faith; applied not only to religious faith, but to any strong belief in a cause or objective.” Martin H. Manser; David Pickering (2003). The Facts On File Dictionary of Classical and Biblical Allusions. Infobase Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-8160-4868-7. Retrieved on 25 September 2013. Studies in Chinese language, literature and philosophy. 1971. p. 72. 井戸の中の独言も三年たてば知れる Ido no naka no hitori-goto mo san'nen tateba shireru. Translation: Even the mutterings of a man in a well are widely known after three years. 山口翼 (2003). 日本語大シソーラス: 類語検索大辞典. 大修館書店. p. 87. 亀の甲より年の功 Kame no kou yori toshi no kou. Translation: Wisdom gotten from age is better than the shell of a tortoise. English equivalent 1: Years know more than books. English equivalent 2: “Experience is the mother of wisdom.” “Prudence is the footprint of Wisdom.” Amos Bronson Alcott, Orphic Sayings (1840) 高田哲郎 (June 2010). あちゃ・むし・だんべぇ物語パート5. 幹書房. p. 248. ISBN 978-4-902615-68-5. 創元社編集部 (September 2000). ことわざ・名言事典. 創元社. p. 20. ISBN 978-4-422-02106-5. 一盲衆を引く Ichi mou shuu-o hiku. Translation: One blind man leads the crowd. English equivalent: If the BLIND lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. “Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire. Translation: A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him. Variant A fool always finds a greater fool to admire him.” Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, L'Art Poétique (The Art of Poetry), Canto I, l. 232 (1674). Paczolay, Gyula (1997). “35”. European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 203. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. Kokugakuin zasshi. 國學院大學. 1978. p. 4. 一寸先は闇 Issun saki wa yami. Translation: It is dark one inch ahead of you. English equivalent 1: Who can see in the future? English equivalent 2: Expect the unexpected. 関洸念 (15 December 1999). 諺にみる運・根・鈍: 日本人の魂の故郷を温ねて. 文芸社. p. 35. ISBN 978-4-88737-686-1. 出る釘は打たれる Deru kugi wa utareru. Translation: The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Chinese equivalent: 棒打出頭鳥。 Note: While kui (杭, stake) is sometimes used in place of kugi (釘, nail) some purists point to the incongruity of using “kui” since, in traditional Japanese post and beam house construction, it is physically impossible to hammer a stake flush with the wood, and a stake in the ground would have no structural function. “It has often been said that power corrupts. But it is perhaps equally important to realize that weakness, too, corrupts. Power corrupts the few, while weakness corrupts the many. Hatred, malice, rudeness, intolerance, and suspicion are the faults of weakness. The resentment of the weak does not spring from any injustice done to them but from the sense of inadequacy and impotence. They hate not wickedness but weakness. When it is their power to do so, the weak destroy weakness wherever they see it.” Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State Of Mind, and Other Aphorisms (1955) Roku Okada, Japanese Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, Japan Travel Bureau, Tokyo 1955, page 28 艱難にあって初めて真友を知る Kannan ni atte hajimete shinyū-o shiru. Translation: Friends are known first in hardships. English equivalent: A friend in need is a friend indeed. Chinese equivalent: 患難見真情。 Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 159. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず Koketsu ni irazunba koji-o ezu. Translation: If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub. English equivalent: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Chinese equivalent: 不入虎穴，焉得虎子。 “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. When you can see that, you begin to meet people who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you. I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid, and doors will open where you didn't know they were going to be.” Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (1988) Meaning: “Nothing can be achieved without effort, suffering or hardship.” Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 205. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 茂田滄海 (2002). サラリーマンの父から息子への、67通の手紙: 中国の名言をちりばめて. 文芸社. p. 81. ISBN 4835539524. 木の実は元へ落つる Kinomi wa moto e otsuru. Translation: A berry falls to (its tree's) roots. English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree. “Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents.” Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 七転び八起き Nana korobi ya oki. Translation: Fall down seven times, get up eight. English equivalent: If at first you don't succeed try, try again. McDermott, Patrick (2007). Mind Body Spirit: The Triangle of Life. iUniverse. p. 84. ISBN 0595420761. 能ある鷹は爪を隠す Nou aru taka wa tsume-o kakusu. Translation: The smart hawk hides its talons. Meaning: One should hide his best abilities until the time comes to show them. Closest English equivalent: “Still water runs deep.” 関洸念 (1999). 諺にみる運・根・鈍: 日本人の魂の故郷を温ねて. 文芸社. p. 399. ISBN 4887376863. 小打も積もれば大木を倒す Shouda mo tsumoreba taiboku-o taosu. Translation: With many little strokes a large tree is felled. English equivalent: Little strokes fell great oaks. Meaning: “A difficult task, e. g. removing a person/group from a strong position, or changing established ideas cannot be done quickly. It can be achieved gradually, by small steps, a little at a time.” Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 252. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 立つ鳥跡を濁さず Tatsu tori ato-o nigosazu. Translation: A leaving bird does not leave a mess. English equivalent: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest; Don't wash your dirty linen in public. Meaning: “Why wantonly proclaim one's own disgrace, or expose the faults or weaknesses of one's kindred or people?” Meaning 2: “It is considered contemptible to defy the rule of solidarity by revealing facts harmful to the group one belongs to.” Proverbs of All Nations. W. Kent & Company (late D. Bogue). 1859. p. 109. Paczolay, Gyula (1997). “106”. European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 466. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. この父にしてこの子あり Kono chichi ni shite kono ko ari. Translation: With such father there is such a child. English equivalent: Like father, like son. Chinese equivalent: 有其父，必有其子。 Meaning: “Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.” Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 170. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 酒は本心を表す Sake-wa honshin-o arawasu. Translation: Sake [in other words alcohol], reveals the true heart. English equivalent: In wine there is truth; In vino veritas. Chinese equivalent: 酒後吐真言。 Meaning: “Alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret.” Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 272. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 目は口ほどに物を言う Me-wa kuchi hodo mono-o iu. English equivalent: The eyes are sometimes a true index of the heart. 旺文社 (13 September 2014). 中学入試でる順　ポケでる　国語　慣用句・ことわざ（三訂版）. 株式会社 旺文社. p. 176. ISBN 978-4-01-011051-5. 義は険しい山よりも重く、死は大鳥の羽よりも軽い Duty is weightier than a mountain, while death is lighter than a feather. Imperial Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors (1882), as quoted in Sources of the Japanese tradition, Volume II. Columbia University Press. 1964. p. 199. Idiomatic phrases edit 水に流す Mizu ni nagasu. Translation: let the water flow. English equivalent: Forgive and forget; w:water under the bridge. “I never take vengeance unless I am forced to do so by an oath or in self-protection. I believe that evil is its own punishment.” Claudius (later Caesar/Emperor of the Roman Empire), in Robert Graves' historical novel I, Claudius (1934). 真面目なのに生きるのが辛い人. PHP研究所. 2011. p. 25. ISBN 456979551X. 石の上にも三年 Ishi no ue nimo san nen. Translation: [To stay] three years on a rock. Meaning: “This proverb teaches the principle of perseverance by encouraging one to see an enterprise through to its conclusion.” Jonathan H. X. Lee; Kathleen M. Nadeau (2011). Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife. ABC-CLIO. p. 636. ISBN 978-0-313-35066-5. 黄金の天馬: 合気道を創始した男. PHP研究所. 2009. p. 134. ISBN 4569673775. 乗りかかった船 Nori-kakatta fune. Translation: A ship that you are already partially in. English equivalent: In for a penny, in for a pound. 中地正行 (November 2001). 遥かなる大地. 文芸社. p. 145. ISBN 978-4-8355-2160-2. 竜頭蛇尾 Ryuto-dabi Translation: A dragon's head, a serpent's tail. English equivalentː A good Start often means a bad finish. ポケット版ことわざ辞典. 1995. p. 437. ISBN 4415081304.

Liste de kotowaza

Japanese culture

Japanese language

Stone, Jon R. (2006). The Routledge Book of World Proverbs (Taylor & Francis e-Library ed.). 270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016: Routledge. pp. xiv–xv. ISBN 9780203968956. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

Further reading

De Lange, William. (2013). A Dictionary of Japanese Proverbs. TOYO Press. ISBN 978-1-891640-51-3

Look up Category:Japanese proverbs in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Japanese proverbs.

故事ことわざ辞典 (in Japanese)

Japanese Proverbs

Japanese Language Kotowaza –

proverbs & sayings

Words of Wisdom OK312 「英⇔日」対照・名言ことわざ辞典

Nihon no Kotowaza ことわざ辞典 (in Japanese)

Japanese Kotowaza (in Japanese and English)

Japanese / English / Dutch v.v. Proverb dictionary

Golden Proverbs A nice collection of Japanese proverbs.

Yojijukugo Japanese lexeme consisting of four kanji

Anapodoton

Figure of speech

Kotowaza

Uji Yori sodachi

Petit extrait de sagesse zen à méditer :

Le malheur peut être un pont vers le bonheur“

Liste de kotowaza

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Japanese_proverbs