Japanese quotes and proverbs, known as “kotowaza” in Japanese, hold significant cultural and linguistic importance in Japan.
They encapsulate the wisdom, values, and cultural heritage of the Japanese people.
Here are some key characteristics of Japanese quotes and proverbs:
- Conciseness: Japanese quotes and proverbs are typically short and concise, often consisting of just a few words or a simple sentence. Despite their brevity, they convey profound meanings and are meant to capture essential truths or insights.
- Figurative language: Many Japanese quotes and proverbs employ vivid and metaphorical language to convey their message. They often use imagery, symbolism, and analogies to illustrate complex ideas or moral lessons.
- Historical and cultural references: Japanese quotes and proverbs often reference historical events, classical literature, traditional customs, or mythical stories. These references reflect Japan’s rich cultural heritage and serve to connect the present with the past.
- Politeness and indirectness: Japanese culture places a strong emphasis on politeness and indirect communication. This is also reflected in many Japanese quotes and proverbs, which often use euphemisms, allegories, or subtle expressions to convey messages without being too direct or confrontational.
- Wisdom and life lessons: Japanese quotes and proverbs are deeply rooted in the philosophy and values of the Japanese people. They often offer guidance, moral lessons, or practical wisdom on various aspects of life, such as relationships, work, perseverance, and personal development.
- Universality: While Japanese quotes and proverbs emerge from the Japanese cultural context, many of them convey universal truths and can be appreciated by people from different cultures. They often address common human experiences, emotions, and challenges, making them relatable on a broader scale.
- Rhyme and rhythm: Some Japanese quotes and proverbs use rhyme or rhythm to enhance their memorability and impact. These rhythmic qualities contribute to the oral tradition of passing down these quotes and proverbs through generations.
- Humor and wit: Japanese culture has a long-standing tradition of appreciating wit and wordplay. Some Japanese quotes and proverbs incorporate humor or clever wordplay to convey their message in a lighthearted or entertaining manner.
Japanese quotes and proverbs are an integral part of the Japanese language and culture.
They continue to inspire, educate, and resonate with people, reflecting the timeless wisdom and collective experiences of the Japanese people.
Japanese Quotes & Proverbs
Here are some Japanese quotes and proverbs for you:
- 一寸先は闇 (Issun saki wa yami) – “Darkness lies just one step ahead.”
- 七転び八起き (Nanakorobi yaoki) – “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
- 習うより慣れろ (Narau yori nare) – “Practice makes perfect.”
- 虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず (Koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu) – “If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub.”
- 十人十色 (Juunin toiro) – “Ten people, ten colors” or “Different strokes for different folks.”
- 自業自得 (Jigou jitoku) – “One’s own doing, one’s own reward” or “You reap what you sow.”
- 論より証拠 (Ron yori shouko) – “Actions speak louder than words.”
- 石の上にも三年 (Ishi no ue ni mo sannen) – “Even on a stone, one can sit for three years” or “Patience pays off.”
- 忍耐は美徳 (Nintai wa bitoku) – “Patience is a virtue.”
- 出る杭は打たれる (Deru kui wa utareru) – “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”
- 良薬は口に苦し (Ryouyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi) – “Good medicine tastes bitter.”
- 知らぬが仏 (Shiranu ga hotoke) – “Not knowing is Buddha” or “Ignorance is bliss.”
- 石の上にも生きている (Ishi no ue ni mo ikite iru) – “Even on a stone, life exists” or “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
- 笑う門には福来る (Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru) – “Happiness comes to those who smile.”
- 後悔先に立たず (Koukai saki ni tatazu) – “Regret won’t get you anywhere.”
- 悪因悪果 (Akuin akka) – “Evil begets evil” or “You reap what you sow.”
- 蛙の子は蛙 (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru) – “Like father, like son” or “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
- 石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi o tataite wataru) – “To be overly cautious.”
- 閉じた扉を開けるためには蹴る (Tojita tobira o akeru tame ni wa keru) – “To open a closed door, sometimes you need to kick it.”
- 一期一会 (Ichi-go ichi-e) – “One encounter, one chance” or “Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur.”
- 好きこそ物の上手なれ (Suki koso mono no jouzu nare) – “What one likes, one will do well.”
- 禍転じて福となす (Magatama jite fuku to nasu) – “Misfortune may turn into a blessing.”
- 知識は力なり (Chishiki wa chikara nari) – “Knowledge is power.”
- 人のふり見て我がふり直せ (Hito no furi mite waga furi naose) – “Observe others, correct yourself.”
- 痛み分け (Itamiwake) – “Sharing both joys and sorrows.”
- 世間は狭い (Seken wa semai) – “The world is small” or “What goes around comes around.”
- 機は熟した (Ki wa jukushita) – “The time is ripe.”
- 覆水盆に返らず (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu) – “Spilt water cannot be scooped up again” or “What’s done is done.”
- 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 sea” or “Narrow-mindedness.”
- 急がば回れ (Isogaba maware) – “If you hurry, take a detour” or “Haste makes waste.”
- 虎の子 (Tora no ko) – “A treasure” or “Something highly valued.”
- 無理は禁物 (Muri wa kinmotsu) – “Avoid the impossible” or “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
- 雨降って地固まる (Ame futte ji katamaru) – “After the rain, the ground hardens” or “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
- 継続は力なり (Keizoku wa chikara nari) – “Perseverance is power.”
- 口は災いの元 (Kuchi wa wazawai no moto) – “The mouth is the source of disaster” or “Think before you speak.”
- 馬の耳に念仏 (Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu) – “Like water off a duck’s back” or “Falling on deaf ears.”
- 健康は富に勝る (Kenkou wa tomi ni masaru) – “Health is wealth.”
- 二兎を追う者は一兎も得ず (Ni usagi o ou mono wa ichi usagi mo ezu) – “He who chases two rabbits catches neither.”
- 悪事千里を走る (Akujin senri o hashiru) – “Evil spreads far and wide” or “Bad news travels fast.”
- 行く年くる年 (Yuku toshi kuru toshi) – “Out with the old year, in with the new year.”
- 諦めたらそこで試合終了 (Akirametara soko de shiai shuuryou) – “If you give up, that’s the end of the game” or “Never give up.”
- 石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi o tataite wataru) – “To be overly cautious.”
- 雨降って地固まる (Ame futte ji katamaru) – “After the rain, the ground hardens” or “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
- 蓼食う虫も好き好き (Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki) – “Different strokes for different folks.”
- 無理は禁物 (Muri wa kinmotsu) – “Avoid the impossible” or “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
- 自業自得 (Jigou jitoku) – “One’s own doing, one’s own reward” or “You reap what you sow.”
- 能ある鷹は爪を隠す (Nou aru taka wa tsume o kakusu) – “A capable hawk hides its talons.”
- 類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo o yobu) – “Birds of a feather flock together.”
- 金持ちは知恵を持て (Kanemochi wa chie o mote) – “The rich should be wise.”
- 泣く子も黙る (Naku ko mo damaru) – “Even a crying child will become silent” or “Silence speaks volumes.”
- 一寸の虫にも五分の魂 (Issun no mushi ni mo gobu no tamashii) – “Even a tiny insect has a fighting spirit.”
- 真実はいつも一つ (Shinjitsu wa itsumo hitotsu) – “There is always only one truth.”
- 覆水盆に返らず (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu) – “Spilt water cannot be scooped up again” or “What’s done is done.”
- 悪事千里を走る (Akujin senri o hashiru) – “Evil spreads far and wide” or “Bad news travels fast.”
- 道は開ける (Michi wa hirakeru) – “A path will open” or “There’s always a way.”
- 忍耐は美徳 (Nintai wa bitoku) – “Patience is a virtue.”
- 二度あることは三度ある (Nido aru koto wa sando aru) – “What happens twice will happen three times.”
- 死人に口なし (Shibito ni kuchi nashi) – “The dead have no voice” or “Don’t speak ill of the dead.”
- 先手必勝 (Sente hisshou) – “The one who moves first wins” or “Take the initiative.”
- 試される時期が訪れた (Tamesareru jiki ga otozureta) – “The time of trial has come.”
These quotes and proverbs encompass a variety of themes, from perseverance and wisdom to humility and the value of relationships.
Inspirational Japanese Quotes & Proverbs
Inspirational Japanese Quotes & Proverbs:
- “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” (七転び八起き, Nana korobi ya oki)
- “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” (千里の道も一歩から, Senri no michi mo ippo kara)
- “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” (曲がりくねった竹は、やわらかくて、強い, Magarikunetta take wa, yawarakakute, tsuyoi)
- “The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” (逆境に咲く花は最も珍しく美しい, Gyakkyō ni saku hana wa mottomo mezurashiku utsukushii)
- “Even monkeys fall from trees.” (猿も木から落ちる, Saru mo ki kara ochiru)
- “When one door closes, another opens.” (障害は通り道, Shōgai wa tōrimichi)
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” (偉大な仕事をする唯一の方法は、自分のすることを愛すること, Idai na shigoto o suru yuiitsu no hōhō wa, jibun no suru koto o aisuru koto)
- “If you want to know what water is, don’t ask the fish.” (水の中にいる魚に水の中のことを聞いてはいけません, Mizu no naka ni iru sakana ni mizu no naka no koto o kiite wa ikemasen)
- “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and to let it come in.” (人生で最も大切なことは、愛を分け与えること、受け入れることを学ぶこと, Jinsei de mottomo taisetsu na koto wa, ai o wake ataeru koto, ukeireru koto o manabu koto)
- “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” (穏やかな海は上手な船乗りを作らない, Odayaka na umi wa jōzu na funanori o tsukuranai)
Short Japanese Quotes & Proverbs
Short Japanese Quotes & Proverbs:
- “Nanakorobi yaoki” (七転び八起き) – “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
- “Ichigo ichie” (一期一会) – “One time, one meeting.”
- “Yudan taiteki” (油断大敵) – “Complacency is the greatest enemy.”
- “Mizu no kokoro” (水の心) – “A mind like water.”
- “Ganbatte kudasai” (頑張ってください) – “Please do your best.”
- “Mono no aware” (物の哀れ) – “The beauty of impermanence.”
- “Yume wa yume no mama” (夢は夢のまま) – “Dreams are just dreams.”
- “Nanakusa gayu” (七草粥) – “Seven-herb rice porridge” (refers to a traditional dish eaten on January 7th to promote good health).
- “Ichi-go ichi-e” (一期一会) – “One time, one meeting.”
- “Sen no kaze ni natte” (千の風になって) – “Become a thousand winds.”
Funny Japanese Quotes & Proverbs
Funny Japanese Quotes & Proverbs:
- “It’s faster to do it the long way.” (長い道でも早い, Nagai michi demo hayai)
- “A bad craftsman blames his tools.” (下手の手先にも鉄砲が当たる, Heta no tesaki ni mo teppō ga ataru)
- “Even a dog won’t eat the food you’ve dropped.” (犬も食わないような飯を落とした, Inu mo kuwanai yōna meshi o otoshita)
- “A lie has no legs.” (嘘にも足がない, Uso ni mo ashi ga nai)
- “If you chase two hares, you won’t catch either.” (二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず, Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu)
- “Even monkeys fall from trees.” (猿も木から落ちる, Saru mo ki kara ochiru)
- “Money is thicker than blood.” (金は水よりも濃い, Kane wa mizu yori mo koi)
- “If a fool throws a stone into a well, even a thousand wise men cannot recover it.” (馬鹿が井戸に石を投げ込んでも、千人の賢人でも取り出せない, Baka ga ido ni ishi o nagekondemo, sen’nin no kenjin de mo toridasenai)
- “A badger won’t change its spots.” (狢が変わりゃ文句, Mujina ga kawaryā monku)
- “Even a sheet of paper has two sides.” (紙一重, Kami hitoe)
Famous Japanese Quotes & Proverbs
Famous Japanese Quotes & Proverbs:
- “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” (出る釘は打たれる, Deru kugi wa utareru)
- “Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare.” (夢見ることに行動はついてこない。夢なくして行動は地獄を生む, Yumemiru koto ni kōdō wa tsuite konai. Yume nakushite kōdō wa jigoku o umu)
- “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” (七転び八起き, Nana korobi ya oki)
- “When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.” (人物の性格が分からないときは、友達を見れば分かる, Jinbutsu no seikaku ga wakaranai toki wa, tomodachi o mireba wakaru)
- “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” (人間の真の姿を知りたいなら、下にいる者に対する態度を見ることだ, Ningen no shin no sugata o shiritai nara, shita ni iru mono ni taisuru taido o miru koto da)
- “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” (木を植える一番良い時は20年前だった。二番目に良い時は今だ, Ki o ueru ichiban yoi toki wa nijūnen mae datta. Nibanme ni yoi toki wa ima da)
- “One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.” (怒るより笑う方が常に強い, Okoru yori warau hō ga tsune ni tsuyoi)
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” (千里の道も一歩から, Senri no michi mo ippo kara)
- “Life is like a candle flame in the wind.” (人生は風に燃えるろうそくの炎のようなものだ, Jinsei wa kaze ni moeru rōsoku no honō no yōna mono da)
- “He who chases after two hares won’t catch even one.” (二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず, Nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu)
Deep Japanese Quotes & Proverbs
Deep Japanese Quotes & Proverbs:
- “The darkest place is underneath the candlestick.” (炬燵の下暗し, Kotatsu no shita kurashi)
- “A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.” (一本の矢は折れやすいが、束になると折れにくい, Ippon no ya wa ore yasui ga, taba ni naru to ore nikui)
- “Those who know the depths of sorrow can truly appreciate happiness.” (悲しみの底を知る者ほど、幸せを真に味わえる, Kanashimi no soko o shiru mono hodo, shiawase o shin ni ajiwaeru)
- “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” (自分が座ることのない木陰を植える老人がいるような社会こそ偉大である, Jibun ga suwaru koto no nai kokage o ueru rōjin ga iru yōna shakai koso idai de aru)
- “If there are rocks in the path, embrace them as your allies.” (道に石があれば、それを味方として受け入れなさい, Michi ni ishi ga areba, sore o mikata to shite ukeirenasai)
- “A wise man learns by other men’s mistakes, a fool by his own.” (賢者は他人の過ちから学び、愚者は自分の過ちから学ぶ, Kenja wa tanin no ayamachi kara manabi, gusha wa jibun no ayamachi kara manabu)
- “The most beautiful flowers bloom from the darkest soil.” (一番美しい花は、一番暗い土から咲く, Ichiban utsukushii hana wa, ichiban kurai tsuchi kara saku)
- “The truth is like a mountain; it cannot be hidden.” (真実は山のようであり、隠すことはできない, Shinjitsu wa yama no yōde ari, kakusu koto wa dekinai)
- “Not seeing is a flower, not hearing is a bird.” (見ずは花、聞かずは鳥, Muzu wa hana, kikazu wa tori)
- “Do not fear mistakes; you will know failure. Continue to reach out.” (失敗を恐れず、失敗を知ることができる。常に前に進み続ける, Shippai o osorezu, shippai o shiru koto ga dekiru. Tsune ni mae ni susumi tsudzukeru)
Conclusion
Japanese quotes and proverbs, known as “kotowaza,” are concise and powerful expressions that encapsulate the wisdom, values, and cultural heritage of the Japanese people.
These quotes and proverbs are characterized by their figurative language, historical and cultural references, politeness and indirectness, and their ability to convey universal truths.
They offer guidance, moral lessons, and practical wisdom on various aspects of life.
Whether addressing perseverance, relationships, personal development, or the importance of actions, Japanese quotes and proverbs serve as timeless reminders of the collective experiences and philosophy of the Japanese culture.
They continue to inspire, educate, and resonate with people from different backgrounds, highlighting the enduring value of these succinct and profound expressions.
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