Proverbs & idioms

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

• 美人は三日で飽きるびじんはみっかであきるbeauty is only skin-deep; one gets tired of a beauty in three days
• 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better to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know
• 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは末代の恥きくはいっときのはじ、きかぬはまつだいのはじbetter to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know
• 若い時の苦労は買うてもせよわかいときのくろうはこうてもせよspare no effort while you are young; heavy work in youth is quiet rest in old age
• 若い時の苦労は買ってもせよわかいときのくろうはかってもせよspare no effort while you are young; heavy work in youth is quiet rest in old age
• 若い時は二度ないわかいときはにどないyou are only young once; youth doesn't come twice; gather ye rosebuds while ye may