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日本語
Proverbs & idioms
936 entries
Japanese proverbs (ことわざ), four-character idioms (四字熟語), and idioms — from JMdict.
Proverbs
Four-character idioms
Idioms
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借りる時の地蔵顔、済す時の閻魔顔
かりるときのじぞうがお、なすときのえんまがお
people look friendly when they ask for a loan but not so much when they repay it; when borrowing (the money), the face of the (bodhisattva) Kshitigarbha; when returning it, the face of the (hell king) Yama
健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る
けんぜんなるせいしんはけんぜんなるしんたいにやどる
a sound mind is in a sound body; mens sana in corpore sano
備えあれば憂いなし
そなえあればうれいなし
if you are prepared you don't have to worry; it's good to have a shelter against every storm
備えあれば憂えなし
そなえあればうれえなし
if you are prepared you don't have to worry; 'tis good to have a shelter against every storm; when one is prepared, difficulties do not come
働かざる者食うべからず
はたらかざるものくうべからず
if man will not work, he shall not eat; no work, no play
兄弟は他人の始まり
きょうだいはたにんのはじまり
even siblings turn into strangers
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先ず隗より始めよ
まずかいよりはじめよ
start with the first step; when embarking on a great project, start with immediate steps; he who first suggests it should be the first to do it
先のことは分からない
さきのことはわからない
one never knows (what will happen); there's no telling (what the future holds)
先んずれば人を制す
さきんずればひとをせいす
the early bird gets the worm
光は東から
ひかりはひがしから
the light comes from the East; the light rises from the East; ex oriente lux
光陰矢のごとし
こういんやのごとし
time flies like an arrow; time and tide wait for no man; life is short
兎死すれば狐これを悲しむ
うさぎしすればきつねこれをかなしむ
people have sympathy for kindred in distress; when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves
入るを量りて出ずるを制す
いるをはかりていずるをせいす
cut your coat according to your cloth
入るを量りて出ずるを為す
いるをはかりていずるをなす
consider your income before spending
八十の手習い
はちじゅうのてならい
you're never too old to learn
六十の三つ子
ろくじゅうのみつご
an old man is twice a child
内裸でも外錦
うちはだかでもそとにしき
we must keep up appearances to go through the world
冬来たりなば春遠からじ
ふゆきたりなばはるとおからじ
when winter comes spring isn't far behind
冷や酒と親の意見は後できく
ひやざけとおやのいけんはあとできく
you will appreciate your parents' advice as you grow older, just as it takes time to feel the effects of unwarmed sake
凝っては思案に能わず
こってはしあんにあたわず
too much thinking gets you nowhere; excessive enthusiasm clouds one's judgment
凹き所に水溜まる
くぼきところにみずたまる
when the right conditions are fulfilled, things will turn out well on their own; a sunken place will collect water; someone in bad circumstances will continue to accumulate difficulties
出すことは舌を出すも嫌い
だすことはしたをだすもきらい
being exceptionally stingy
出る杭は打たれる
でるくいはうたれる
the nail that sticks out gets hammered down; people that stick out too much get punished; tall trees catch much wind; people that excel at something become disliked
出る釘は打たれる
でるくぎはうたれる
the nail that sticks out gets hammered down; people that stick out too much get punished; tall trees catch much wind; people that excel at something become disliked
出物腫れ物所嫌わず
でものはれものところきらわず
when you've got to go, you've got to go; farts and boils aren't choosy about where (or when) to appear
初心忘るべからず
しょしんわするべからず
we were all beginners once; never lose your humility; don't let success get to your head; don't forget where you came from
前車の覆るは後車の戒め
ぜんしゃのくつがえるはこうしゃのいましめ
learn wisdom from the follies of others; learn from others' mistakes; the toppling over of the cart in front serves as a warning for the cart behind
割れ鍋に綴じ蓋
われなべにとじぶた
there is a suitable spouse for everyone; every Jack has his Jill; a mended lid for a cracked pot
創業は易く守成は難し
そうぎょうはやすくしゅせいはかたし
it is easy to start an enterprise but hard to maintain it
勇将の下に弱卒なし
ゆうしょうのもとにじゃくそつなし
followers take after their leaders; there are no cowardly soldiers under a brave general
勘定合って銭足らず
かんじょうあってぜにたらず
a profit on paper doesn't always mean a profit in the bank; what works in theory doesn't always work in practice
勝ちに不思議の勝ちあり、負けに不思議の負けなし
かちにふしぎのかちあり、まけにふしぎのまけなし
there may be mysterious wins, but there are no mysterious losses; luck may explain victory, but never defeat
勝って兜の緒を締めよ
かってかぶとのおをしめよ
do not let your guard down after a victory; tighten the strings of your helmet after winning
勝って驕らず負けて腐らず
かっておごらずまけてくさらず
in victory, remember your humility; in defeat, remember your fighting spirit
勝つも負けるも時の運
かつもまけるもときのうん
victory depends on the turn of fortune; winning and losing are both down to luck
勝てば官軍
かてばかんぐん
might is right; history is written by the victors
勝てば官軍、負ければ賊軍
かてばかんぐん、まければぞくぐん
might is right; history is written by the victors; winners are always right and losers are always in the wrong; if you win you are the loyalist army, if you lose you are the rebel army
勝負は時の運
しょうぶはときのうん
victory depends on the turn of fortune; winning and losing are both down to luck
匹夫も志を奪うべからず
ひっぷもこころざしをうばうべからず
one cannot shake the will of even the lowliest man; a person's will should be respected; even a menial deserves his convictions
千丈の堤も蟻の一穴より崩れる
せんじょうのつつみもありのいっけつよりくずれる
a small leak will sink a great ship
千里の行も足下に始まる
せんりのこうもそっかにはじまる
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
千里の道も一歩から
せんりのみちもいっぽから
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
千里も一里
せんりもいちり
a journey of a thousand miles feels like only one mile (when going to see the one you love)
千金の裘は一狐の腋に非ず
せんきんのきゅうはいっこのえきにあらず
to rule a country requires many great men; an expensive fur coat will not be made with a single fox
卑下も自慢の中
ひげもじまんのうち
taking pride in one's humility is a form of bragging; he that humbleth himself wishes to be exalted; too much humility is pride
卵を割らずにオムレツは作れない
たまごをわらずにオムレツはつくれない
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
去る者は日々に疎し
さるものはひびにうとし
with time we forget those who have died; out of sight, out of mind; friendships fade with distance
去る者は追わず
さるものはおわず
do not pursue those who leave you
去る者は追わず、来たる者は拒まず
さるものはおわず、きたるものはこばまず
do not pursue those who leave you and do not turn away those who come to you
去る者日々に疎し
さるものひびにうとし
with time we forget those who have died; out of sight, out of mind; friendships fade with distance