Proverbs & idioms

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

• 人のふり見てわがふり直せひとのふりみてわがふりなおせone man's fault is another's lesson
• 人の口には戸が立てられないひとのくちにはとがたてられないyou can't control what people say; you can't stop rumours (rumors)
• 人の口に戸は立てられぬひとのくちにとはたてられぬyou can't control what people say; you can't stop rumours (rumors)
• 人の噂も七十五日ひとのうわさもしちじゅうごにちa wonder lasts but nine days; gossip lasts just 75 days
• 人の花は赤いひとのはなはあかいthe grass is always greener on the other side of the fence; other people's flowers are redder
• 人の蠅を追うより己の蠅を追えひとのはえをおうよりおのれのはえをおえtake care of yourself before you take care of others; wave off your own flies before you wave off someone else's flies