Proverbs & idioms

Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.

• 暑さ寒さも彼岸まであつささむさもひがんまでno heat or cold lasts over the equinox
• 月とすっぽんつきとすっぽんas different as the moon and a snapping turtle — two things that look alike but are vastly different in quality
• 朝起きは三文の徳あさおきはさんもんのとくthe early bird catches the worm
• 柳の下にいつも泥鰌はいないやなぎのしたにいつもどじょうはいないa fox is not taken twice in the same snare; there are no birds in last year's nest; there aren't always loach under the willow tree; good luck does not always repeat itself
• 柳の下にいつも泥鰌はおらぬやなぎのしたにいつもどじょうはおらぬa fox is not taken twice in the same snare; there are no birds in last year's nest; there aren't always loaches under the willow tree
• 桜切る馬鹿、梅切らぬ馬鹿さくらきるばか、うめきらぬばかonly an idiot prunes cherry trees and only an idiot does not prune plum trees