覆水盆に返らず

ja-pos

ふくすい ぼん に かえらず

覆(ふく)水(すい)盆(ぼん)に返(かえ)らず • (fukusui bon ni kaerazu)

覆水盆に返らず (canonical)
fukusui bon ni kaerazu (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟kɯ̟sɨi bo̞ɲ̟ ɲ̟i ka̠e̞ɾa̠zɨ]

Partial calque of Literary Chinese 覆水難收 (fùshuǐnánshōu, literally “It is hard to retrieve spilt water”). Originally read as 覆水収(ふくすいおさ)め難(がた)し (fukusui osame-gatashi) in kanbun kundoku.
This form literally means "spilt water does not return to the basin". The back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 覆水不返盆.

ja-r

ふくすい おさめ-がたし

Once a married couple divorce, they cannot reconcile.

don't cry over spilt milk
don't cry over spilt milk


船頭多くして船山に登る

ja-pos

せんどう おおく して ふね やま に のぼる

船(せん)頭(どう)多(おお)くして船(ふね)山(やま)に登(のぼ)る • (sendō ōku shite fune yama ni noboru)

船頭多くして船山に登る (canonical)
sendō ōku shite fune yama ni noboru (romanization)

[sẽ̞ndo̞ː o̞ːkɯ̟ ɕite̞ ɸɯ̟ne̞ ja̠ma̠ ɲ̟i no̞bo̞ɾɯ̟]

Literally, “the boat with many captains will be driven up a mountain.”
Compare Korean 사공(沙工)이 많으면 배가 산(山)으로 간다 (sagong'i maneumyeon baega saneuro ganda).

cog

사공(沙工)이 많으면 배가 산(山)으로 간다

too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the broth


猿も木から落ちる

ja-pos

さる も き から おちる

猿(さる)も木(き)から落(お)ちる • (saru mo ki kara ochiru)

猿も木から落ちる (canonical)
saru mo ki kara ochiru (romanization)

[sa̠ɾɯ̟ mo̞ kʲi ka̠ɾa̠ o̞t͡ɕiɾɯ̟]

Phrase consisting of 猿 (saru, “monkey”) + も (mo, “even, also”) + 木 (ki, “tree”) + から (kara, “from”) + 落ちる (ochiru, “fall”). Literally “even monkeys fall from trees”.
First cited to a text from 1638.

even experts occasionally make mistakes: even Homer nods, a horse may stumble though he has four legs

Daijirin
Daijisen
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
ja:松村明

弘法にも筆の誤り

there are brush mistakes even with Kūkai [a master calligrapher]

河童の川流れ

a water-imp's getting washed away by the river

豚もおだてりゃ木に登る

if surprised, even a pig will climb a tree


弱肉強食

ja-noun

じゃくにく きょうしょく

弱(じゃく)肉(にく)強(きょう)食(しょく) • (jakuniku kyōshoku) ^(←じゃくにくきょうしょく (zyakunikukyousyoku)?)

弱肉強食 (canonical)
jakuniku kyōshoku (romanization)
zyakunikukyousyoku (romanization)
じゃくにくきょうしょく (hiragana historical)

じゃくにく・きょーしょく

[d͡ʑa̠kɯ̟ɲ̟ikɯ̟ kʲo̞ːɕo̞kɯ̟]


蛙の子は蛙

ja-pos

かえる の こ は かえる

蛙(かえる)の子(こ)は蛙(かえる) • (kaeru no ko wa kaeru)

蛙の子は蛙 (canonical)
kaeru no ko wa kaeru (romanization)

Literally "The child of a frog is a frog".

A child grows up to be very similar to its parents, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.


転石苔むさず

転(てん)石(せき)苔(こけ)むさず • (tenseki koke musazu)

転石苔むさず (canonical)
tenseki koke musazu (romanization)

a rolling stone gathers no moss
a rolling stone gathers no moss


おのれに忠実であれ

おのれ に ちゅうじつ で あれ

おのれに忠(ちゅう)実(じつ)であれ • (onore ni chūjitsu de are)

おのれに忠実であれ (canonical)
onore ni chūjitsu de are (romanization)

to thine own self be true
to thine own self be true


虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず

こけつ に いらずんば こじ を えず

虎(こ)穴(けつ)に入(い)らずんば虎(こ)子(じ)を得(え)ず • (koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu)

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず (canonical)
koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu (romanization)

虎穴 (“tiger lair”) + に (“locative marker”) + 入らず (“not enter”) + んば (“if”) + 虎子 (“tiger cub”) + を + 得ず (“not gain”).
Calque of Literary Chinese 不入虎穴，不得虎子 (literally “one may not catch a tiger cub without entering a tiger's lair”) from the Book of the Later Han. Attributed to Ban Chao. Compare Chinese 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 (bù rù hǔxué, yān dé hǔzǐ) (the more common form in modern Chinese).

calque

こけつにいらずんばこじをえず

zh-l

不入虎穴，焉得虎子 (bù rù hǔxué, yān dé hǔzǐ)

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained


郷に入っては郷に従え

ja-pos

ごう に いって は ごう に したがえ

郷(ごう)に入(い)っては郷(ごう)に従(したが)え • (gō ni itte wa gō ni shitagae)

郷に入っては郷に従え (canonical)
gō ni itte wa gō ni shitagae (romanization)
郷に入りては郷に従え (alternative)

[ɡo̞ː ɲ̟i it̚te̞ β̞a̠ ɡo̞ː ɲ̟i ɕita̠ɡa̠e̞]

Partial calque of Literary Chinese 入鄉隨俗 (rùxiāngsuísú, literally “entering the countryside, follow the custom (thereof)”). The back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 入鄉從鄉 (also compare Chinese 入鄉隨鄉 /入乡随乡).

partial calque

ごうにいってはごうにしたがえ

cog

Chinese 入鄉隨鄉 /入乡随乡

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
when in Rome, do as the Romans do


郷に入りては郷に従え

ja-pos

ごう に いりて は ごう に したがえ

郷(ごう)に入(い)りては郷(ごう)に従(したが)え • (gō ni irite wa gō ni shitagae)

郷に入りては郷に従え (canonical)
gō ni irite wa gō ni shitagae (romanization)
郷に入っては郷に従え (alternative)

Literally “entering the countryside, follow the custom [thereof].”


井の中の蛙大海を知らず

い の なか の かわず たいかい を しらず

ゐ の なか の かはづ たいかい を しらず

井(い)の中(なか)の蛙(かわず)大(たい)海(かい)を知(し)らず • (i no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu) ^(←ゐのなかのかはづたいかいをしらず (wi no naka no kafadu taikai wo sirazu)?)

井の中の蛙大海を知らず (canonical)
i no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu (romanization)
wi no naka no kafadu taikai wo sirazu (romanization)
ゐのなかのかはづたいかいをしらず (hiragana historical)

いの・なかの・かわず・たいかいを・しらず

[i no̞ na̠ka̠ no̞ ka̠β̞a̠zɨ ta̠ika̠i o̞ ɕiɾa̠zɨ]

Partial calque from Literary Chinese 井鼃不可以語於海者，拘於虛也 ("A frog in a well cannot be talked with about an ocean - it is confined to its own narrow place."), from the writings of Zhuangzi.
Comprised of 井 (i, “well”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 中 (naka, “inside”) + の (no, possessive particle) + 蛙 (kawazu, “frog”) + 大海 (taikai, “great ocean”) + を (o, object particle) + 知らず (shirazu, “not know”, the classical negative conjugation of verb 知る (shiru, “to know”)), literally “a frog in a well does not know the great ocean”.
The back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 井中之蛙不知大海. Compare modern Chinese 井底之蛙 (jǐngdǐzhīwā), Korean 정중지와 부지대해 (井中之蛙 不知大海, jeongjungjiwa bujidaehae).
First cited to 1179.

lang

井鼃不可以語於海者，拘於虛也

井鼃不可以語於海者，拘於虛也

compound

the classical negative conjugation of verb <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">知る</i> (shiru, “to know”)

ko-l

2006, 下 健, 言葉と生きる, 新風舎, page 23,
また、私たちは往々にしてほんの少し周囲の人たちより良い結果がでると、有頂天になって自慢したいような気持ちになりがちです。
まさに『井の中の蛙大海を知らず』で恥ずかしい話であります。
Mata, watashi-tachi wa ōō ni shite hon no sukoshi shūi no hito-tachi yori yoi kekka ga deru to, uchōten ni natte jiman shitai yō na kimochi ni narigachi desu.
Masa ni “i no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu” de hazukashii hanashi de arimasu.
We are also prone to feel proud of ourselves and feel like bragging when we get a result that is just a little bit better than that of the others around us.
This is indeed a case of "a frog in a well does not know the great ocean" and is an embarrassing state of affairs.

(figuratively) a narrow world view based on limited experience


歳月人を待たず

ja-pos

さいげつ ひと を またず

歳(さい)月(げつ)人(ひと)を待(ま)たず • (saigetsu hito o matazu)

歳月人を待たず (canonical)
saigetsu hito o matazu (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 歲月不待人. From Tao Yuanming's poem.

time and tide wait for no man
time and tide wait for no man


雨降って地固まる

あめ ふって じ かたまる

雨(あめ)降(ふ)って地(じ)固(かた)まる • (ame futte ji katamaru)

雨降って地固まる (canonical)
ame futte ji katamaru (romanization)

Phrase composed of 雨 (ame, “rain”) + 降って (futte, conjunctive form of 降る (furu, “to fall”, as of rain or other precipitation)) + 地 (ji, “ground”) + 固まる (katamaru, “to get hard, to harden”, intransitive).
Literally “the rain falls and the ground hardens”.

2006, 紺家 孝雄, 激流を泳ぐ: 日本と米国の狭間に生きて!, 新風舎, page 208,
日米の国交が戦後やっと再開され、大使館も同時に戦時中の閉鎖的期間を過去の出来事として再度開館されることとなり、日本とアメリカは、「雨降って地固まる」の譬えを地でいくように、より緊密な外交関係によって固く結ばれるようになった。
Nichibei no kokkō ga sengo yatto saikai sare, taishikan mo dōji ni senjichū no heisateki kikan o kako no dekigoto to shite saido kaikan sareru koto to nari, Nihon to Amerika wa, “ame futte ji katamaru” no tatoe o ji de iku yō ni, yori kinmitsu na gaikō kankei ni yotte kataku musubareru yō ni natta.
US-Japan diplomatic relations finally resumed after the war, and at the same time the embassy was reopened, putting the closure during the war into the past, with Japan and America turning the metaphor of “the rain falls and the ground hardens (→ seeing clearly once the rain is gone)” into a reality and forming a close and strong diplomatic relationship.

a relationship is stronger after conflict


花より団子

花より団子 (canonical)
hana yori dango (romanization)

(idiomatic): "dango instead of flowers", substance over form → indicating a preference for the practical over the purely aesthetic, preferring dango (which are tasty and nutritious) rather than flowers (which are merely decorative)


病は口より入り、禍は口より出ず

やまい は くち より いり、 わざわい は くち より いず

病(やまい)は口(くち)より入(い)り、禍(わざわい)は口(くち)より出(い)ず • (yamai wa kuchi yori iri, wazawai wa kuchi yori izu)

病は口より入り、禍は口より出ず (canonical)

Calque from Literary Chinese 病從口入，禍從口出／病从口入，祸从口出.

zh-l

病從口入，禍從口出／病从口入，祸从口出

Speak no ill-fated words
Speak no ill-fated words

let no feeding cause you ailment
let no feeding cause you ailment

(idiomatic) Speak no ill-fated words; let no feeding cause you ailment; literally Diseases enter through the mouth, disasters come out of the mouth.


佳人薄命

佳人薄命 (canonical)
kajinhakumei (romanization)

[ka̠ʑĩɰ̃ha̠kɯ̟me̞ː]

Whom the gods love dies young
Whom the gods love dies young

Whom the gods love dies young. Lit. A fair lady's destiny is thin indeed.


多言は身を害す

ja-pos

たげん は み を がいす

多(た)言(げん)は身(み)を害(がい)す • (tagen wa mi o gaisu)

多言は身を害す (canonical)
tagen wa mi o gaisu (romanization)

Literally, "too much words will harm oneself." Calque of Literary Chinese 多言害身.

One word too many will be the end of me.


沈魚落雁

沈魚落雁 (canonical)
chingyorakugan (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 沈魚落雁 (MC drim ngjo lak ngaenH).

(idiomatic) Beauty truly can be stunning. Lit. Such was her beauty that, in a fluster, fish sank to the bottom of the sea and geese dropped from the sky.


豺狼道に当たる

さい ろう みち に あたる

豺(さい)狼(ろう)道(みち)に当(あ)たる • (sai rō michi ni ataru)

豺狼道に当たる (canonical)
sai rō michi ni ataru (romanization)

Literally, “dholes and wolves have taken over the roads”. Calque of Literary Chinese 豺狼當道 (cháilángdāngdào).

calque

politics abound in usurpers
politics abound in usurpers


琴棋書画

琴棋書画 (canonical)
kinkishoga (romanization)

* From Middle Chinese 琴棋書畫 /琴棋书画 (qínqíshūhuà). Literally "Koto, go, calligraphy and painting".

He who is poorly versed in koto, go, calligraphy or painting is not a person of taste.


一将功成りて万骨枯る

ja-pos

いっしょう こう なりて ばん こつ かる

一(いっ)将(しょう)功(こう)成(な)りて万(ばん)骨(こつ)枯(か)る • (isshō kō narite ban kotsu karu)

一将功成りて万骨枯る (canonical)
isshō kō narite ban kotsu karu (romanization)

Behind one general's glory lie the remains of countless unsung heroes. Lit. While one general reaches glory, ten thousand bones are decaying.


多々益々善し

た た ます ます よし

多(た)々(た)益(ます)々(ます)善(よ)し • (ta ta masu masu yoshi)

多々益々善し (canonical)
ta ta masu masu yoshi (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 多多益善 (duōduōyìshàn).


同病相憐む

ja-pos

どうびょう あいあわれむ

同病相憐(どうびょうあいあわれ)む • (dōbyō aiawaremu)

同病相憐む (canonical)
dōbyō aiawaremu (romanization)

Literally, "those who suffer from the same illness can sympathize best with each other."

misery loves company
misery loves company


舟に刻みて剣を求む

ふね に きざみて けん を もとむ

舟(ふね)に刻(きざ)みて剣(けん)を求(もと)む • (fune ni kizamite ken o motomu)

舟に刻みて剣を求む (canonical)
fune ni kizamite ken o motomu (romanization)

Literally, “to carve a mark on a ship (where a sword was dropped into the sea) in the hope of finding the sword later near that carving”. Calque of Literary Chinese 刻舟求劍 (kèzhōuqiújiàn).

calque

(figuratively) Foolish it is to ignore that times are changing.


口に蜜あり腹に剣あり

ja-pos

くち に みつ あり はら に けん あり

口(くち)に蜜(みつ)あり腹(はら)に剣(けん)あり • (kuchi ni mitsu ari hara ni ken ari)

口に蜜あり腹に剣あり (canonical)
kuchi ni mitsu ari hara ni ken ari (romanization)

Literally, "where there is a mouth of honey, there is a sword in the belly." Calque of Literary Chinese 口密腹劍.


門前雀羅を張る

もんぜん じゃくら を はる

門(もん)前(ぜん)雀(じゃく)羅(ら)を張(は)る • (monzen jakura o haru)

門前雀羅を張る (canonical)
monzen jakura o haru (romanization)

* From Literary Chinese 門可羅雀 (ménkěluóquè).

Desolated is a door when no guests come knocking. Lit. To hang a net on the door and use it to catch sparrows (as no guests ever come).


瓜田に履を納れず、李下に冠を正さず

かでん に くつ を いれず、りか に かんむり を たださず

瓜(か)田(でん)に履(くつ)を納(い)れず、李(り)下(か)に冠(かんむり)を正(ただ)さず • (kaden ni kutsu o irezu, rika ni kanmuri o tadasazu)

瓜田に履を納れず、李下に冠を正さず (canonical)

[ka̠de̞ɲ̟ ɲ̟i kɯ̟t͡sɨ o̞ iɾe̞zɨ ɾʲika̠ ɲ̟i kã̠mːɯ̟ɾʲi o̞ ta̠da̠sa̠zɨ]

Calque from Literary Chinese 瓜田不納履，李下不整冠 (literally “Do not put on sandals in a field of melons, and do not adjust your hat under a plum tree (for you might be suspected of stealing plums and melons).”) from Cao Zhi's Jūnzǐ Xíng (《君子行》, Three Kingdoms period).

calque

かでんにくつをいれず、りかにかんむりをたださず

zh-l

*瓜田不納履，李下不整冠


日暮れて道遠し

ja-pos

ひ くれて みち とおし

日(ひ)暮(く)れて道(みち)遠(とお)し • (hi kurete michi tōshi) ^(←ひくれてみちとほし (fikuretemititofosi)?)

日暮れて道遠し (canonical)
hi kurete michi tōshi (romanization)
fikuretemititofosi (romanization)
ひくれてみちとほし (hiragana historical)

* From Middle Chinese 日暮途窮／日暮途穷 (rìmùtúqióng)

zh-l

日暮途窮／日暮途穷 (rìmùtúqióng)

arduous is the race against time as one grows old. (literally "as the sun goes down, the road remains a long one.")


骨に刻み、肝に銘ずる

ja-pos

ほね に きざみ、きも に めいずる

骨(ほね)に刻(きざ)み、肝(きも)に銘(めい)ずる • (hone ni kizami, kimo ni meizuru)

骨に刻み、肝に銘ずる (canonical)
hone ni kizami, kimo ni meizuru (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 刻骨銘心 (kègǔmíngxīn). Literally "carved on one's bones and set in one's liver."

calque

To have one's resolve carved on the forehead.


己に如かざる者を友とするなかれ

ja-pos

おのれ に しかざる もの を とも と するなかれ

己(おのれ)に如(し)かざる者(もの)を友(とも)とするなかれ • (onore ni shikazaru mono o tomo to surunakare)

己に如かざる者を友とするなかれ (canonical)

Calque of Literary Chinese 無友不如己者 (wú yǒu bùrú jǐ zhě).

calque

Do not befriend people who are not as sincere as you are.


過ちては則ち改むるに憚ること勿れ

ja-pos

あやまちて は すなわち あらたむる に はばかる こと なかれ

過(あやま)ちては則(すなわ)ち改(あらた)むるに憚(はばか)ること勿(なか)れ • (ayamachite wa sunawachi aratamuru ni habakaru koto nakare)

過ちては則ち改むるに憚ること勿れ (canonical)

Calque of Literary Chinese 過則勿憚改 (guòzéwùdàngǎi), from The Analects:
: 子(し)曰(いわ)く、「君(くん)子(し)重(おも)からざれば則(すなわ)ち威(い)あらず、学(なら)べば則(すなわ)ち固(こ)ならず。忠(ちゅう)信(しん)を主(しゅ)とし、己(おのれ)に如(し)かざる者(もの)を友(とも)とすること無(な)かれ、過(あやま)ちては則(すなわ)ち改(あらた)むるに憚(はばか)ること勿(なか)れ。」
Shi iwaku, “Kunshi omokarazareba sunawachi i arazu, narabeba sunawachi ko narazu. chūshin o shu to shi, onore ni shikazaru mono o tomo to suru koto nakare, ayamachite wa sunawachi aratamuru ni habakaru koto nakare.”
The Master said, "If the scholar be not grave, he will not call forth any veneration, and his learning will not be solid. Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."

calque

あやまちてはすなわちあらたむるにはばかることなかれ

ja-usex

子%曰く、「君%子%重からざれば則ち威あらず、学べば則ち固ならず。忠%信を主とし、己に如かざる者を友とすること無かれ、過ちては則ち改むるに憚ること勿れ。」

^し% いわく、 「^くん%し% おもからざれば すなわち い あらず、ならべば すなわち こ ならず。ちゅう%しん を しゅ と し、おのれ に しかざる もの を とも と する こと なかれ、あやまちて は すなわち あらたむる に はばかる こと なかれ。」

When making a mistake, do not be afraid to correct it. Be quick to amend one's wrongs.


温良恭倹譲

ja-pos

おん-りょう-きょう-けん-じょう

温(おん)良(りょう)恭(きょう)倹(けん)譲(じょう) • (on-ryō-kyō-ken-jō)

温良恭倹譲 (canonical)
on-ryō-kyō-ken-jō (romanization)

From Middle Chinese 溫良恭儉讓 (MC 'won ljang kjowng gjemX nyangH).

ltc-l

Be cordial, kind, courteous, modest, and deferential.


君子は器ならず

ja-pos

君(くん)子(し)は器(き)ならず • (kunshi wa ki narazu)

君子は器ならず (canonical)
kunshi wa ki narazu (romanization)

A gentleman is no specialist. That is, unlike a tool fashioned for a specific purpose, a gentleman is well-rounded, someone who has talents suited to any task.


君子は周して比せず小人は比して周せず

くんし は しゅうして ひせず しょうじん は ひして しゅうせず

君(くん)子(し)は周(しゅう)して比(ひ)せず小(しょう)人(じん)は比(ひ)して周(しゅう)せず • (kunshi wa shūshite hisezu shōjin wa hishite shūsezu)

君子は周して比せず小人は比して周せず (canonical)

[kɯ̟̃ɰ̃ɕi β̞a̠ ɕɨːɕite̞ çise̞zɨ ɕo̞ːʑiɰ̃ β̞a̠ çiɕite̞ ɕɨːse̞zɨ]

Calque of Literary Chinese 君子周而不比，小人比而不周.

calque

君子周而不比，小人比而不周

A gentleman encompasses all and remains impartial. A petty mind is partial and does not encompass all. That is, a gentleman shows kindness to all with fairness, but a petty person is only kind to a few friends.

en-君子は周して比せず小人は比して周せず-ja-proverb-akjD~I-o


学びて思わざれば則ち罔し

ja-pos

まなびて おもわざれば すなわち くらし

学(まな)びて思(おも)わざれば則(すなわ)ち罔(くら)し • (manabite omowazareba sunawachi kurashi)

学びて思わざれば則ち罔し (canonical)
manabite omowazareba sunawachi kurashi (romanization)

If one learns without thinking, one will be lost in his learning. That is, if one does not think about what one learns, he will not arrive at the truth of it.


既往は咎めず

既往は咎めず (canonical)
kiō wa togamezu (romanization)

let bygones be bygones
let bygones be bygones

On things that are past, it is needless to pursue past mistakes; let bygones be bygones.


朝に道を聞かば夕べに死すとも可なり

朝に道を聞かば夕べに死すとも可なり

あした に みち を きかば ゆうべ に しす とも かなり

朝(あした)に道(みち)を聞(き)かば夕(ゆう)べに死(し)すとも可(か)なり • (ashita ni michi o kikaba yūbe ni shisu tomo kanari)

朝に道を聞かば夕べに死すとも可なり (canonical)

From the Analects of Confucius, a calque of Literary Chinese 朝聞道，夕死可矣 (zhāo wén dào, xī sǐ kě yǐ).
Literally, “if the [[[correct]]] path is [[[hear]]d] next morning, it is sufficient even [if] it dies in the evening”.

m-g

if the [[􂀿correct]]􂁀 path is [[􂀿hear]]d􂁀 next morning, it is sufficient even 􂀿if􂁀 it dies in the evening

lit

one has not lived in vain if he dies after he is told of the true path

en-朝に道を聞かば夕べに死すとも可なり-ja-proverb-j3tQfLW8


徳は孤ならず必ず隣あり

ja-pos

とく は こ ならず かならず となり あり

徳(とく)は孤(こ)ならず必(かなら)ず隣(となり)あり • (toku wa ko narazu kanarazu tonari ari)

徳は孤ならず必ず隣あり (canonical)
toku wa ko narazu kanarazu tonari ari (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 德不孤，必有鄰 (débùgū, bìyǒulín).

cal

(idiomatic) virtue never has solitude and always has companionship


十人十色

ja-pos

十(じゅう)人(にん)十(と)色(いろ) • (jūnin toiro) ^(←じふにんといろ (zifunin toiro)?)

十人十色 (canonical)
jūnin toiro (romanization)
zifunin toiro (romanization)
じふにんといろ (hiragana historical)

[d͡ʑɨːɲ̟in to̞iɾo̞]

different strokes for different folks
different strokes for different folks

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

to each his own; different strokes for different folks; there's no accounting for taste


能ある鷹は爪を隠す

のう ある たか は つめ を かくす

能(のう)ある鷹(たか)は爪(つめ)を隠(かく)す • (nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu)

能ある鷹は爪を隠す (canonical)
nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu (romanization)

Literally, “The skilled hawk hides its talons.” Compare English hide one's light under a bushel and keep one's cards close to one's chest.

能鷹隠爪

能鷹隠爪 のうよういんそう


去る者は日々に疎し

さる もの は ひび に うとし

去(さ)る者(もの)は日(ひ)々(び)に疎(うと)し • (saru mono wa hibi ni utoshi)

去る者は日々に疎し (canonical)
saru mono wa hibi ni utoshi (romanization)

[sa̠ɾɯ̟ mo̞no̞ β̞a̠ çibʲi ɲ̟i ɯ̟to̞ɕi]

Calque of Literary Chinese 去者日以疏 from the early 6th century Chinese text Wen Xuan

去者日以疏，生者日以親

去者日以疏，生者日以亲

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind

feelings for a departed one grow weaker over time; out of sight, out of mind


愚公山を移す

ぐこう やま を うつす

愚(ぐ)公(こう)山(やま)を移(うつ)す • (gukō yama o utsusu)

愚公山を移す (canonical)
gukō yama o utsusu (romanization)

[ɡɯ̟ko̞ː ja̠ma̠ o̞ ɯ̟t͡sɨsɨ]

Calque of Literary Chinese 愚公移山 (yúgōngyíshān, literally “stupid old man moves mountains”), an anecdote in the Chinese Taoist work Liezi.
In the story, two large mountains stand before the house of a character named 愚公 (literally "stupid old man"), impeding access, so the character and his family begin moving the mountains. A different character portrayed as a clever wag derides the family for their foolishness in moving the mountains instead of their house, but God hears about them and is so impressed with their ambition and dedication that he arranges to have the mountains moved. (See Citations:愚公移山 for the full story.)

cal

where there's a will, there's a way
where there's a will, there's a way

perseverance and hard work can overcome any obstacle; where there's a will, there's a way


七転八起

七転八起 (canonical)
shichiten hakki (romanization)

→ Korean: 칠전팔기(七轉八起) (chiljeonpalgi)

Sinified or short form of 七転び八起き (nana korobi ya oki, literally “seven tumbles, eight stand ups”).
“Seven tumbles” commonly refers to “a lot of troubles” while standing up eight times indicates “bear up and keep trying”.

an encouragement to keep going no matter how tough it is


七転八起

ja-verb-suru

七(しち)転(てん)八(はっ)起(き)する • (shichiten hakki suru) suru (stem 七(しち)転(てん)八(はっ)起(き)し (shichiten hakki shi), past 七(しち)転(てん)八(はっ)起(き)した (shichiten hakki shita))

七転八起する (canonical)
shichiten hakki suru (romanization)
七転八起し (stem)
七転八起した (past)
七転八起し
しちてんはっきし
shichiten hakki shi
七転八起する
しちてんはっきする
shichiten hakki suru
七転八起すれ
しちてんはっきすれ
shichiten hakki sure
七転八起せよ (imperative literary)
七転八起しろ (colloquial imperative)
しちてんはっきせよ (imperative literary)
しちてんはっきしろ (colloquial imperative)
shichiten hakki seyo (imperative literary)
shichiten hakki shiro (colloquial imperative)
七転八起される (passive)
しちてんはっきされる (passive)
shichiten hakki sareru (passive)
七転八起させる (causative)
七転八起さす (causative)
しちてんはっきさせる (causative)
しちてんはっきさす (causative)
shichiten hakki saseru (causative)
shichiten hakki sasu (causative)
七転八起できる (potential)
しちてんはっきできる (potential)
shichiten hakki dekiru (potential)
七転八起しよう (volitional)
しちてんはっきしよう (volitional)
shichiten hakki shiyō (volitional)
七転八起しない (negative)
しちてんはっきしない (negative)
shichiten hakki shinai (negative)
七転八起せず (continuative negative)
しちてんはっきせず (continuative negative)
shichiten hakki sezu (continuative negative)
七転八起します (formal)
しちてんはっきします (formal)
shichiten hakki shimasu (formal)
七転八起した (perfective)
しちてんはっきした (perfective)
shichiten hakki shita (perfective)
七転八起して (conjunctive)
しちてんはっきして (conjunctive)
shichiten hakki shite (conjunctive)
七転八起すれば (conditional hypothetical)
しちてんはっきすれば (conditional hypothetical)
shichiten hakki sureba (conditional hypothetical)

to stand up for oneself even in multiple instances of failure or in difficult situations


会者定離

会者定離 (canonical)
eshajōri (romanization)

From 遺教經 (The Sutra on the Buddha's Bequeathed Teachings, a Chinese translation; the original version in Sanskrit has been lost.):
Literal translation (kanbun kundoku) in Japanese:
世(よ)皆(みな)常(つね)無(な)し、会(あ)えば必(かなら)ず離(はな)る有(あ)り。
Yo mina tsune nashi, aeba kanarazu hanaru ari.
Everything about the world is impermanent. A meeting is always accompanied with a parting.

ja-usex

世 皆 常 無し、会えば 必ず 離る 有り。

よ みな つね なし、あえば かならず はなる あり。

世皆無常，會必有離。

世皆无常，会必有离。

(Buddhism) those who meet must part (Every human relationship will end someday due to the transient nature of life.)


地震雷火事親父

ja-pos

じしん かみなり かじ おやじ

地(じ)震(しん)雷(かみなり)火(か)事(じ)親(おや)父(じ) • (jishin kaminari kaji oyaji)

地震雷火事親父 (canonical)
jishin kaminari kaji oyaji (romanization)

Literally, “earthquake, lightning, fire, father”.

lit

the father is feared as much as the worst natural occurrences


油断大敵

油断大敵 (canonical)
yudantaiteki (romanization)


案ずるより産むが易し

ja-pos

あんずる より うむ が やすし

案(あん)ずるより産(う)むが易(やす)し • (anzuru yori umu ga yasushi)

案ずるより産むが易し (canonical)
anzuru yori umu ga yasushi (romanization)

案(あん)ずる (anzuru, “worrying”) + より (yori, “than”) + 産(う)む (umu, “giving birth”) + が (ga, “is”) + 易(やす)し (yasushi, “easy”), "Giving birth is easier than worrying (about it)."

ja-compound

Doing something is easier than worrying about it.


喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる

ja-pos

のどもと すぎれば あつさ を わすれる

喉(のど)元(もと)過(す)ぎれば熱(あつ)さを忘(わす)れる • (nodomoto sugireba atsusa o wasureru)

喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる (canonical)
nodomoto sugireba atsusa o wasureru (romanization)

Literally, "you forget the heat once it passes your throat," meaning that once you swallow something that's too hot, you feel relieved and are apt to eat something just as hot again.

once on shore, we pray no more
once on shore, we pray no more

danger past and God forgotten
danger past and God forgotten

once on shore, we pray no more, danger past and God forgotten


蓼食う虫も好き好き

たで く.う むし も すきずき

蓼(たで)食(く)う虫(むし)も好(す)き好(ず)き • (tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki)

蓼食う虫も好き好き (canonical)
tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki (romanization)

Comprised of 蓼 (tade, “Persicaria hydropiper or Polygonum hydropiper: water pepper, smartweed”) + 食う (kuu, “eat”) + 虫 (mushi, “bug”) + も (mo, “even, also”, inclusive particle) + 好き好き (sukizuki, “a matter of taste”, literally “likes and likes”). As a full phrase, literally "[there are] even bugs that eat smartweed, it's a matter of taste."
First cited to a text from the late 1500s, early 1600s.

compound

Daijirin
Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten


思い立ったが吉日

ja-pos

おもいたった が きちじつ

思(おも)い立(た)ったが吉(きち)日(じつ) • (omoitatta ga kichijitsu)

思い立ったが吉日 (canonical)
omoitatta ga kichijitsu (romanization)

there's no time like the present
there's no time like the present

make hay while the sun shines
make hay while the sun shines

there's no time like the present, make hay while the sun shines


窮鼠猫を噛む

きゅうそ ねこ を かむ

窮(きゅう)鼠(そ)猫(ねこ)を噛(か)む • (kyūso neko o kamu)

窮鼠猫を噛む (canonical)
kyūso neko o kamu (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 窮鼠嚙狸 (qióngshǔ nièlí, literally “a cornered rat will bite a cat”), from the Discourses on Salt and Iron (鹽鐵論·詔聖 /盐铁论·诏圣). Note that the character 狸 (lí) is replaced by 猫 in Japanese.

calque

a cornered rat will bite a cat, weak people will attack when cornered


悪事千里を走る

ja-pos

あくじ せんり を はしる

悪(あく)事(じ)千(せん)里(り)を走(はし)る • (akuji senri o hashiru)

悪事千里を走る (canonical)
akuji senri o hashiru (romanization)

bad news travels fast
bad news travels fast


疑心暗鬼を生ず

ぎしんあんき を しょうず

疑(ぎ)心(しん)暗(あん)鬼(き)を生(しょう)ず • (gishin'anki o shōzu)

疑心暗鬼を生ず (canonical)
gishin'anki o shōzu (romanization)

once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious


情けは人の為ならず

なさけ は ひと の ため ならず

情(なさ)けは人(ひと)の為(ため)ならず • (nasake wa hito no tame narazu)

情けは人の為ならず (canonical)
nasake wa hito no tame narazu (romanization)

good done to others is good done to oneself


少年老いやすく学なりがたし

しょうねん おいやすく がく なりがたし

少(しょう)年(ねん)老(お)いやすく学(がく)なりがたし • (shōnen oiyasuku gaku narigatashi)

少年老いやすく学なりがたし (canonical)
shōnen oiyasuku gaku narigatashi (romanization)

[ɕo̞ːne̞ɰ̃ o̞ija̠sɨkɯ̟ ɡa̠kɯ̟ na̠ɾʲiɡa̠ta̠ɕi]

Calque of Literary Chinese 少年易老學難成 (shàonián yì lǎo xué nán chéng). From Zhu Xi's poem 《偶成》.

cal

しょうねんおいやすくがくなりがたし

if you do not study when you are young, you will grow old quickly without accomplishing much learning


笑う門には福来たる

ja-pos

わらう かど に は ふく きたる

笑(わら)う門(かど)には福(ふく)来(き)たる • (warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru)

笑う門には福来たる (canonical)
warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru (romanization)

fortune and happiness will come to the home of those who smile


頭隠して尻隠さず

あたま かくして しり かくさず

頭(あたま)隠(かく)して尻(しり)隠(かく)さず • (atama kakushite shiri kakusazu)

頭隠して尻隠さず (canonical)
atama kakushite shiri kakusazu (romanization)

Compound of 頭 (atama, “head”) + 隠して (kakushite, “the -te form of 隠(かく)す (kakusu, “to hide”)”) + 尻 (shiri, “one's bottom”) + 隠さず (kakusazu, “the negative continuative form of 隠(かく)す (kakusu, “to hide”)”)

com

bury one's head in the sand
bury one's head in the sand

one shouldn't bury one's head in the sand while leaving one's bottom exposed


あばたもえくぼ

Literally, "even pockmarks are dimples".

love is blind, one will overlook the shortcomings of someone one loves


言わぬが花

言わぬが花 (canonical)
iwanu ga hana (romanization)

(idiomatic) silence is golden, better left unsaid


犬も歩けば棒に当たる

ja-pos

いぬ も あるけば ぼう に あたる

犬(いぬ)も歩(ある)けば棒(ぼう)に当(あ)たる • (inu mo arukeba bō ni ataru)

犬も歩けば棒に当たる (canonical)
inu mo arukeba bō ni ataru (romanization)

[inɯ̟ mo̞ a̠ɾɯ̟ke̞ba̠ bo̞ː ɲ̟i a̠ta̠ɾɯ̟]

Phrase consisting of 犬 (“dog”) + も (“also”) + 歩けば (“if (it) were to walk, hypothetical form of the verb 歩(ある)く (aruku)”) + 棒 (“stick, rod, pole”) + に (“directional particle”) + 当たる (“to hit”), literally "even a dog could be hit by a stick if walking"

com

(idiomatic) good luck may come unexpectedly


一寸先は闇

ja-pos

いっすん さき は やみ

一(いっ)寸(すん)先(さき)は闇(やみ) • (issun saki wa yami)

一寸先は闇 (canonical)
issun saki wa yami (romanization)

一(いっ)寸(すん) (issun, “Japanese classical unit of length equivalent approximately 3.03 cm”) + 先(さき) (saki, “ahead”) + は (ha, topic marker) + 闇(やみ) (yami, “dark”), literally ahead of a bit is dark.

com-ja

unpredictable; no one knows what the future holds.


嘘から出た実

ja-pos

うそ から でた まこと

嘘(うそ)から出(で)た実(まこと) • (uso kara deta makoto)

嘘から出た実 (canonical)
uso kara deta makoto (romanization)

many a true word is spoken in jest
many a true word is spoken in jest

many a true word is spoken in jest; words spoken in jest may come true (often by accident)


得手に帆を揚ぐ

得手に帆を揚ぐ (canonical)
ete ni ho o agu (romanization)

得手に帆を揚げる 得手に帆を揚げる#Japanese

(literary) synonym of 得手に帆を揚げる (ete ni ho o ageru)


知らぬが仏

知らぬが仏 (canonical)
shiranu ga hotoke (romanization)


踏んだり蹴ったり

踏んだり蹴ったり (canonical)
fundari kettari (romanization)

it never rains but it pours
it never rains but it pours


泣きっ面に蜂

泣(な)きっ面(つら)に蜂(はち) • (nakittsura ni hachi)

泣きっ面に蜂 (canonical)
nakittsura ni hachi (romanization)


憎まれっ子世に憚る

にくまれっこ よ に はばかる

憎(にく)まれっ子(こ)世(よ)に憚(はばか)る • (nikumarekko yo ni habakaru)

憎まれっ子世に憚る (canonical)
nikumarekko yo ni habakaru (romanization)

ill weeds grow apace
ill weeds grow apace


下手の長談義

下手(へた)の長(なが)談(だん)義(ぎ) • (heta no nagadangi)

下手の長談義 (canonical)
heta no nagadangi (romanization)

brevity is the soul of wit
brevity is the soul of wit


安物買いの銭失い

やすもの-がい の ぜに-うしない

安物買(やすものが)いの銭失(ぜにうしな)い • (yasumono-gai no zeni-ushinai)

安物買いの銭失い (canonical)
yasumono-gai no zeni-ushinai (romanization)

Literally "disappearance of money [as a result] of buying of cheap things".

penny wise and pound foolish
penny wise and pound foolish

you get what you pay for
you get what you pay for

penny wise and pound foolish; you get what you pay for


論より証拠

論より証拠 (canonical)
ron yori shōko (romanization)

[ɾo̞ɰ̃ jo̞ɾʲi ɕo̞ːko̞]

the proof is in the pudding
the proof is in the pudding

the proof of the pudding is in the eating, the proof is in the pudding


老いては子に従え

おいて は こ に したがえ

老(お)いては子(こ)に従(したが)え • (oite wa ko ni shitagae)

老いては子に従え (canonical)
oite wa ko ni shitagae (romanization)

parents should be guided by their children when they grow old


類は友を呼ぶ

るい は とも を よぶ

類(るい)は友(とも)を呼(よ)ぶ • (rui wa tomo o yobu)

類は友を呼ぶ (canonical)
rui wa tomo o yobu (romanization)

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together


弱り目に祟り目

よわり め に たたり め

弱(よわ)り目(め)に祟(たた)り目(め) • (yowari me ni tatari me)

弱り目に祟り目 (canonical)
yowari me ni tatari me (romanization)

misfortunes never come singly
misfortunes never come singly


待てば海路の日和あり

まてば かいろ の ひより あり

待(ま)てば海(かい)路(ろ)の日(ひ)和(より)あり • (mateba kairo no hiyori ari)

待てば海路の日和あり (canonical)
mateba kairo no hiyori ari (romanization)

Literally "if you wait, there will be fair weather on a sea route".

good things come to those who wait
good things come to those who wait

(idiomatic) good things come to those who wait


馬子にも衣装

馬(ま)子(ご)にも衣(い)装(しょう) • (mago ni mo ishō)

馬子にも衣装 (canonical)
mago ni mo ishō (romanization)

clothes don't make the man
clothes don't make the man

clothes don't make the man, anybody can look good if well dressed


負うた子に教えられて浅瀬を渡る

おうた こ に おしえられて あさせ を わたる

負(お)うた子(こ)に教(おし)えられて浅(あさ)瀬(せ)を渡(わた)る • (ōta ko ni oshierarete asase o wataru)

負うた子に教えられて浅瀬を渡る (canonical)
ōta ko ni oshierarete asase o wataru (romanization)

a fool may give a wise man council, one may learn something from someone inferior or less knowledgeable


子は鎹

子は鎹 (canonical)
ko wa kasugai (romanization)


三人寄れば文殊の知恵

さんにん よれば もんじゅ の ちえ

三(さん)人(にん)寄(よ)れば文(もん)殊(じゅ)の知(ち)恵(え) • (sannin yoreba monju no chie)

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 (canonical)
sannin yoreba monju no chie (romanization)

さんにん・よれば・もんじゅの・ちえ

[sã̠ɲ̟ːiɰ̃ jo̞ɾe̞ba̠ mõ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑɨ no̞ t͡ɕie̞]

two heads are better than one
two heads are better than one


時は金なり

時は金なり (canonical)
toki wa kane nari (romanization)


残り物には福がある

のこりもの に は ふく が ある

残(のこ)り物(もの)には福(ふく)がある • (nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru)

残り物には福がある (canonical)
nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru (romanization)

there is unexpected good in what is left behind by others


百聞は一見に如かず

ひゃくぶん は いっけん に しかず

百(ひゃく)聞(ぶん)は一(いっ)見(けん)に如(し)かず • (hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu)

百聞は一見に如かず (canonical)
hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu (romanization)

[ça̠kɯ̟bɯ̟ɰ̃ β̞a̠ ik̚ke̞ɲ̟ ɲ̟i ɕika̠zɨ]

Calque of Literary Chinese 百聞不如一見 (bǎi wén bùrú yī jiàn, literally “Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once”). From the Book of Han.

cal

you understand better by seeing for yourself than hearing about it, seeing is believing


好きこそものの上手なれ

ja-pos

すき こそ もの の じょうず なれ

好(す)きこそものの上(じょう)手(ず)なれ • (suki koso mono no jōzu nare)

好きこそものの上手なれ (canonical)
suki koso mono no jōzu nare (romanization)

[sɨkʲi ko̞so̞ mo̞no̞ no̞ d͡ʑo̞ːzɨ na̠ɾe̞]

What you like to do, you will do well. To improve your skills in something, you must enjoy doing it.


弘法にも筆の誤り

^こうぼう に も ふで の あやまり

弘(こう)法(ぼう)にも筆(ふで)の誤(あやま)り • (Kōbō ni mo fude no ayamari)

弘法にも筆の誤り (canonical)
Kōbō ni mo fude no ayamari (romanization)

[ko̞ːbo̞ː ɲ̟i mo̞ ɸɯ̟de̞ no̞ a̠ja̠ma̠ɾʲi]

Phrase consisting of 弘法 (Kōbō), the first part of the posthumous name of Kūkai, an important Buddhist monk and one of three famous Heian period calligraphers + に (ni, “in”, locative particle) も (mo, “even”, inclusive particle) + 筆 (fude, “writing brush; writing with a brush”) + の (no, genitive or possessive particle) + 誤り (ayamari, “mistake”, the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 誤る ayamaru, “to make a mistake”). Literally “even Kōbō Daishi makes mistakes in his brush writing (i.e. calligraphy)”.

even Homer nods: even the experts make mistakes

猿も木から落ちる

even monkey fall from tree: even the experts make mistakes


悪銭身に付かず

あくせん み に つかず

悪(あく)銭(せん)身(み)に付(つ)かず • (akusen mi ni tsukazu)

悪銭身に付かず (canonical)
akusen mi ni tsukazu (romanization)


医者の不養生

いしゃ の ふようじょう

医(い)者(しゃ)の不(ふ)養(よう)生(じょう) • (isha no fuyōjō)

医者の不養生 (canonical)
isha no fuyōjō (romanization)

physician, heal thyself
physician, heal thyself

physician, heal thyself, not practicing what you preach


噂をすれば影がさす

うわさ を すれば かげ が さす

噂(うわさ)をすれば影(かげ)がさす • (uwasa o sureba kage ga sasu)

噂をすれば影がさす (canonical)
uwasa o sureba kage ga sasu (romanization)

speak of the devil and he shall appear
speak of the devil and he shall appear


鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ

けいこう と なる も ぎゅうご と なる なかれ

鶏(けい)口(こう)となるも牛(ぎゅう)後(ご)となるなかれ • (keikō to naru mo gyūgo to naru nakare)

鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ (canonical)
keikō to naru mo gyūgo to naru nakare (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 寧為雞口，無為牛後／宁为鸡口，无为牛后 (literally “Better be the head of a chicken than the tail of an ox”). Originally read as 寧ろ鶏口となるも牛後となる勿れ. The initial 寧ろ is redundant in Japanese and therefore omitted.

cal

寧為雞口，無為牛後／宁为鸡口，无为牛后

けいこうとなるもぎゅうごとなるなかれ

lang

寧ろ鶏口となるも牛後となる勿れ

寧ろ鶏口となるも牛後となる勿れ

big fish in a small pond
big fish in a small pond

It is better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond.

鶏口牛後

鶏口牛後 けいこうぎゅうご


捕らぬ狸の皮算用

ja-pos

とらぬ たぬき の かわざんよう

捕(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮(かわ)算(ざん)用(よう) • (toranu tanuki no kawazan'yō)

捕らぬ狸の皮算用 (canonical)
toranu tanuki no kawazan'yō (romanization)

Literally, “counting the skins of uncaught raccoon dogs”.

lit

don't count your chickens before they're hatched


捨てる神あれば拾う神あり

ja-pos

すてる かみ あれば ひろ.う かみ あり

捨(す)てる神(かみ)あれば拾(ひろ)う神(かみ)あり • (suteru kami areba hirou kami ari)

捨てる神あれば拾う神あり (canonical)
suteru kami areba hirou kami ari (romanization)

Literally, "if there is a god that throws you away, there is a god that picks you up."

when one door shuts, another opens
when one door shuts, another opens


火のないところに煙は立たない

ひ の ない ところ に けむり は たたない

火(ひ)のないところに煙(けむり)は立(た)たない • (hi no nai tokoro ni kemuri wa tatanai)

火のないところに煙は立たない (canonical)
hi no nai tokoro ni kemuri wa tatanai (romanization)

[çi no̞ na̠i to̞ko̞ɾo̞ ɲ̟i ke̞mɯ̟ɾʲi β̞a̠ ta̠ta̠na̠i]

Can be broken down as 火 (hi, “fire”) + の (no, genitive particle; in subordinate clauses, can mark the subject of the clause) + ない (nai, “not, not any”) + ところ (tokoro, “place, location”) + に (ni, “at, in”, locative particle) + 煙 (kemuri, “smoke”) + は (wa, topic and contrastive particle) + 立たない (tatanai, “doesn't stand, doesn't rise”, the plain negative conjugation of verb 立つ (tatsu, “to stand, to rise”)).
Literally, "smoke doesn't rise in places with no fire".

com

the plain negative conjugation of verb <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">立つ</i> (tatsu, “to stand, to rise”)

where there's smoke, there's fire
where there's smoke, there's fire


知識は力なり

ja-pos

ちしき は ちから なり

知(ち)識(しき)は力(ちから)なり • (chishiki wa chikara nari)

知識は力なり (canonical)
chishiki wa chikara nari (romanization)


一樹の蔭一河の流れも他生の縁

いちじゅ の かげ いちが の ながれ も たしょう の えん

一(いち)樹(じゅ)の蔭(かげ)一(いち)河(が)の流(なが)れも他(た)生(しょう)の縁(えん) • (ichiju no kage ichiga no nagare mo tashō no en)

一樹の蔭一河の流れも他生の縁 (canonical)

[it͡ɕiʑɨ no̞ ka̠ɡe̞ it͡ɕiɡa̠ no̞ na̠ɡa̠ɾe̞ mo̞ ta̠ɕo̞ː no̞ ẽ̞ɴ]

Literally, “the shade of one tree and the course of one river are all the fate of previous existence”.

lit

the events of today are destined by the past


一刻千金

一刻千金 (canonical)
ikkokusenkin (romanization)

each moment is precious because time passes quickly


住めば都

住めば都 (canonical)
sumeba miyako (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 住めば (sumeba, “if you live [there]”, the hypothetical conjugation of verb 住む (sumu, “to settle in a place, to live in a place”)) + 都 (miyako, “capital city”). Literally, “if you live there, it's [as good as] the capital”.

there's no place like home
there's no place like home

home is where you hang your hat
home is where you hang your hat

there's no place like home, home is where you hang your hat

Daijirin
Daijisen
Kyōsuke Kindaichi
ja:松村明


大器晩成

大器晩成 (canonical)
taikibansei (romanization)

great talents mature late, people of great ability develop slowly (often applied euphemistically to late bloomers)


悪貨は良貨を駆逐する

ja-pos

あっか は りょうか を くちく する

悪(あっ)貨(か)は良(りょう)貨(か)を駆(く)逐(ちく)する • (akka wa ryōka o kuchiku suru)

悪貨は良貨を駆逐する (canonical)
akka wa ryōka o kuchiku suru (romanization)

bad money drives out good
bad money drives out good

bad money drives out good (debased coinage replaces purer coinage)


美人薄命

美人薄命 (canonical)
bijin hakumei (romanization)


灯台下暗し

灯(とう)台(だい)下(もと)暗(くら)し • (tōdai moto kurashi)

灯台下暗し (canonical)
tōdai moto kurashi (romanization)

the darkest place is under the candlestick; can't see the wood for the trees; people often known little of what happens under their noses; lit. "dark under a candlestick"


百日の説法屁一つ

ひゃく にち の せっぽう .へ ひとつ

百(ひゃく)日(にち)の説(せっ)法(ぽう)屁(へ)一(ひと)つ • (hyaku nichi no seppō he hitotsu)

百日の説法屁一つ (canonical)
hyaku nichi no seppō he hitotsu (romanization)

“a hundred days of sermonizing, one fart” → a metaphor for how something that one has put great effort into can come to nothing after even a slight mistake, much as a hundred days of serious spiritual study can be lost to the winds


隗より始めよ

隗より始めよ (canonical)
kai yori hajimeyo (romanization)

the person who proposes something should be the first one to take practical steps to implement it


明日の百より今日の五十

あす の ひゃく より きょう の ごじゅう

明日(あす)の百(ひゃく)より今日(きょう)の五(ご)十(じゅう) • (asu no hyaku yori kyō no gojū)

明日の百より今日の五十 (canonical)
asu no hyaku yori kyō no gojū (romanization)

[a̠sɨ no̞ ça̠kɯ̟ jo̞ɾʲi kʲo̞ː no̞ ɡo̞ʑɨː]

Literally, “today's 50 over tomorrow's 100”.

lit

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


転ばぬ先の杖

ja-pos

ころばぬ さき の つえ

転(ころ)ばぬ先(さき)の杖(つえ) • (korobanu saki no tsue)

転ばぬ先の杖 (canonical)
korobanu saki no tsue (romanization)

better safe than sorry
better safe than sorry

better safe than sorry, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure


治に居て乱を忘れず

ち に いて らん を わすれず

治(ち)に居(い)て乱(らん)を忘(わす)れず • (chi ni ite ran o wasurezu)

治に居て乱を忘れず (canonical)
chi ni ite ran o wasurezu (romanization)

Partial calque of Literary Chinese 治而不忘亂. From I Ching 易經·繫辭下. Originally read as 治(おさ)まりて乱(みだ)るるを忘(わす)れず (osamarite midaruru o wasurezu) in kanbun kundoku. Back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 居治而不忘亂.

ja-r

おさまりて みだるる を わすれず

In times of prosperity, prepare for adversity.


六十の手習い

ja-pos

ろくじゅう の てならい

六(ろく)十(じゅう)の手(て)習(なら)い • (rokujū no tenarai)

六十の手習い (canonical)
rokujū no tenarai (romanization)

you're never too old to learn
you're never too old to learn


教うるは学ぶの半ば

おしうる は まなぶ の なかば

をしふる は まなぶ の なかば

教(おし)うるは学(まな)ぶの半(なか)ば • (oshiuru wa manabu no nakaba) ^(←をしふるはまなぶのなかば (wosifuru fa manabu no nakaba)?)

教うるは学ぶの半ば (canonical)
oshiuru wa manabu no nakaba (romanization)
wosifuru fa manabu no nakaba (romanization)
をしふるはまなぶのなかば (hiragana historical)

By teaching, we learn. Docendo discimus.


後悔先に立たず

こうかい さき に たたず

後(こう)悔(かい)先(さき)に立(た)たず • (kōkai saki ni tatazu)

後悔先に立たず (canonical)
kōkai saki ni tatazu (romanization)

don't cry over spilt milk
don't cry over spilt milk


千里の道も一歩より始まる

千里の道も一歩より始まる

せんり の みち も いっぽ より はじまる

千(せん)里(り)の道(みち)も一(いっ)歩(ぽ)より始(はじ)まる • (senri no michi mo ippo yori hajimaru)

千里の道も一歩より始まる (canonical)
senri no michi mo ippo yori hajimaru (romanization)

Partial calque of Literary Chinese 千里之行，始於足下 (qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xià, literally “a road of a thousand li begins with a step”).
The back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 千里之道，自一步始.

partial calque

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step


終わり良ければすべて良し

ja-pos

おわり よければ すべて よし

終(お)わり良(よ)ければすべて良(よ)し • (owari yokereba subete yoshi)

終わり良ければすべて良し (canonical)
owari yokereba subete yoshi (romanization)

all's well that ends well
all's well that ends well


思う念力岩をも通す

おも.う ねんりき いわ を も とおす

思(おも)う念(ねん)力(りき)岩(いわ)をも通(とお)す • (omou nenriki iwa o mo tōsu)

思う念力岩をも通す (canonical)
omou nenriki iwa o mo tōsu (romanization)

where there is a will
where there is a will


為せば成る

為せば成る (canonical)
naseba naru (romanization)


沈黙は金雄弁は銀

ちんもく は きん ゆうべん は ぎん

沈(ちん)黙(もく)は金(きん)雄(ゆう)弁(べん)は銀(ぎん) • (chinmoku wa kin yūben wa gin)

沈黙は金雄弁は銀 (canonical)
chinmoku wa kin yūben wa gin (romanization)

speech is silver, silence is golden
speech is silver, silence is golden


遠くの親類より近くの他人

とおく の しんるい より ちかく の たにん

遠(とお)くの親(しん)類(るい)より近(ちか)くの他(た)人(にん) • (tōku no shinrui yori chikaku no tanin)

遠くの親類より近くの他人 (canonical)
tōku no shinrui yori chikaku no tanin (romanization)

[to̞ːkɯ̟ no̞ ɕĩn̺ɾɯ̟i jo̞ɾʲi t͡ɕika̠kɯ̟ no̞ ta̠ɲ̟ĩɴ]

strangers nearby over family far away; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off


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

勝てば 官軍 負ければ 賊軍

勝(か)てば官(かん)軍(ぐん)負(ま)ければ賊(ぞく)軍(ぐん) • (kateba kangun makereba zokugun)

勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍 (canonical)
kateba kangun makereba zokugun (romanization)

Literally "In victory you are the government army, in defeat you are the rebels".


浮雲

[ɯ̟kʲiɡɯ̟mo̞]

Shift from older ukikumo, itself a compound of 浮(う)き (uki, “floating”) + 雲(くも) (kumo, “cloud”). The kumo changes to gumo as an instance of rendaku (連濁).


浮雲

[ɯ̟kʲiɡɯ̟mo̞]

a novel by Futabatei Shimei (see The Drifting Cloud on Wikipedia.Wikipedia)


浮雲

From Middle Chinese compound 浮雲 (MC bjuw hjun).


燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや

ja-pos

燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや

えんじゃく いずくんぞ こうこく の こころざし を しらんや

燕(えん)雀(じゃく)安(いずく)んぞ鴻(こう)鵠(こく)の志(こころざし)を知(し)らんや • (enjaku izukunzo kōkoku no kokorozashi o shiran'ya)

燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや (canonical)

From the 史記 (Shiki, “Records of the Grand Historian”).
Calque of Literary Chinese 燕雀安知鴻鵠志 (yànquè ān zhī hónghú zhì, literally “[[[small]] birds such as] swallows and sparrows cannot understand the aspirations of [[[large]] birds such as] swans”).

calque

[[􂀿small]] birds such as􂁀 swallows and sparrows cannot understand the aspirations of [[􂀿large]] birds such as􂁀 swans

an ordinary person cannot understand the ambitions of a great man

Daijirin
Daijisen
Records of the Grand Historian
ja:松村明


千金の裘は一狐の腋に非ず

ja-pos

せんきん の きゅう は いっこ の えき に あらず

千(せん)金(きん)の裘(きゅう)は一(いっ)狐(こ)の腋(えき)に非(あら)ず • (senkin no kyū wa ikko no eki ni arazu)

千金の裘は一狐の腋に非ず (canonical)
senkin no kyū wa ikko no eki ni arazu (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 千金之裘，非一狐之腋 (literally “an expensive fur garment is not done with the armpit of one fox”), from the Records of the Grand Historian.

calque

せんきんのきゅうはいっこのえきにあらず

To accomplish the governing of a country requires multiple great men.


沐猴にして冠す

ja-pos

もっこう に して かんす

沐(もっ)猴(こう)にして冠(かん)す • (mokkō ni shite kansu)

沐猴にして冠す (canonical)
mokkō ni shite kansu (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 沐猴而冠 (mùhóu'érguàn). Literally "monkey wear crown", as outwardly fine but inwardly lacking. From 史記.

calque

Being a person who is not suitable for the status.


呉牛月に喘ぐ

ja-pos

ごぎゅう つき に あえぐ

呉(ご)牛(ぎゅう)月(つき)に喘(あえ)ぐ • (gogyū tsuki ni aegu)

呉牛月に喘ぐ (canonical)
gogyū tsuki ni aegu (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 吳牛喘月 (Wú niú chuǎnyuè). Literally "water buffalo from Wu (East China) pants at the moon", as if the moon were a hot sun.
From 《世說新語·言語》 /《世说新语·言语》:
:
Also, this idiom is believed to be taken from a lost volume of a much earlier work 《風俗通義》 /《风俗通义》 (cited by 《太平御覽》)

calque

The minister is a like a water buffalo from Wu seeing the moon and breathing heavily.

Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5ᵗʰ century CE

臣猶吳牛，見月而喘。

臣犹吴牛，见月而喘。

A buffalo from Wu pants at the moon. It has been worked harshly under the sun, and it becomes frightened when seeing the moon, thereby pants.

Wú niú wàng yuè zé chuǎn; shǐ zhī kǔyú rì, jiàn yuè bù, chuǎn yǐ!

吳牛望月則喘；使之苦於日，見月怖，喘矣！

吴牛望月则喘；使之苦于日，见月怖，喘矣！


呉牛喘月

呉牛喘月 (canonical)
gogyūzengetsu (romanization)

Yojijukugo (四字熟語), borrowed from Literary Chinese 吳牛喘月 (Wú niú chuǎnyuè).

呉牛月に喘ぐ 呉牛月に喘ぐ#Japanese


お客様は神様です

ja-pos

お-きゃく-さま は かみさま です

お客(きゃく)様(さま)は神(かみ)様(さま)です • (o-kyaku-sama wa kamisama desu)

お客様は神様です (canonical)
o-kyaku-sama wa kamisama desu (romanization)

[o̞kʲa̠kɯ̟̊sa̠ma̠ β̞a̠ ka̠mʲisa̠ma̠ de̞sɨ]

the customer is always right
the customer is always right


千里の道も一歩から

せんり の みち も いっぽ から

千(せん)里(り)の道(みち)も一(いっ)歩(ぽ)から • (senri no michi mo ippo kara)

千里の道も一歩から (canonical)
senri no michi mo ippo kara (romanization)

Partial calque of Literary Chinese 千里之行，始於足下 (qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xià, literally “a road of a thousand li [comes] from one step”).

pclq

a road of a thousand li 􂀿comes􂁀 from one step


甘井先ず竭く

ja-pos

甘(かん)井(せい)先(ま)ず竭(つ)く • (kansei mazu tsuku)

甘井先ず竭く (canonical)
kansei mazu tsuku (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 甘井先竭 (gānjǐngxiānjié), from 莊子/山木. Literally "a sweet well is the first to be exhausted", because the sweet well has many users.

calque

highly-skilled men are the first to be exhausted


能無し犬の高吠え

ja-pos

のうなし いぬ の たかぼえ

能(のう)無(な)し犬(いぬ)の高(たか)吠(ぼ)え • (nōnashi inu no takaboe)

能無し犬の高吠え (canonical)
nōnashi inu no takaboe (romanization)

Literally “dim-witted dogs are those that bark loudly”.

barking dogs seldom bite
barking dogs seldom bite

barking dogs never bite
barking dogs never bite

barking dogs seldom bite, barking dogs never bite

能鷹隠爪

能鷹隠爪 のうよういんそう


目は心の窓

め は こころ の まど

目(め)は心(こころ)の窓(まど) • (me wa kokoro no mado)

目は心の窓 (canonical)
me wa kokoro no mado (romanization)

the eyes are the window to the soul
the eyes are the window to the soul


目は心の鏡

め は こころ の かがみ

目(め)は心(こころ)の鏡(かがみ) • (me wa kokoro no kagami)

目は心の鏡 (canonical)
me wa kokoro no kagami (romanization)


噂をすれば

噂をすれば (canonical)
uwasa o sureba (romanization)

From 噂 (uwasa, “gossip”) + を (o, particle) + すれば (sureba, hypothetical conditional of する suru). Literally meaning "if you make gossip...".

compound

hypothetical conditional of <i class="Jpan mention" lang="ja">する</i> suru

噂をすれば影がさす 噂をすれば影がさす#Japanese

ellipsis of 噂をすれば影がさす: speak of the devil


ナポリを見て死ね

ja-pos

^ナポリ を みて しね

see Naples and die (nothing compares to the beauty of Naples, so you can die after you've seen it)


趁火打劫

趁火打劫 (canonical)
chin ka da kō (romanization)

to take advantage of chaos for one's own profit


光陰矢の如し

こういん や の ごとし

光(こう)陰(いん)矢(や)の如(ごと)し • (kōin ya no gotoshi)

光陰矢の如し (canonical)
kōin ya no gotoshi (romanization)

From 但見時光流似箭 ("surely time and tide flow like an arrow"), as versed by Wei Zhuang (Tang Dynasty, c. 836-910) in his poem 《關河道中》:
Compare Chinese 光陰似箭／光阴似箭 (guāng yīn sì jiàn).

zh-l

光陰似箭／光阴似箭 (guāng yīn sì jiàn)

Huái mò chán shēng liǔshì fēng, yìlóu gāo yǐ xīyáng dōng.
Wǎnglái qiānlǐ lù cháng zài, jùsàn shí nián rén bùtóng.
Dàn jiàn shíguāng liú sì jiàn, qǐ zhī tiāndào qū rú gōng.
Píngshēng zhìyè kuāng Yáo Shùn, yòu nǐ cānglàng xué diàowēng.

槐陌蟬聲柳市風，驛樓高倚夕陽東。
往來千里路長在，聚散十年人不同。
但見時光流似箭，豈知天道曲如弓。
平生志業匡堯舜，又擬滄浪學釣翁。

槐陌蝉声柳市风，驿楼高倚夕阳东。
往来千里路长在，聚散十年人不同。
但见时光流似箭，岂知天道曲如弓。
平生志业匡尧舜，又拟沧浪学钓翁。

time flies like an arrow; time and tide wait for no man; life is short


女賢しゅうして牛売り損なう

ja-pos

おんな さかしゅうして うし うりそこなう

おんなさかしうしてうしうりそこなう

女(おんな)賢(さか)しゅうして牛(うし)売(う)り損(そこ)なう • (onna sakashūshite ushi urisokonau) ^(←おんなさかしうしてうしうりそこなう (onnasakasiusiteusiurisokonau)?)

女賢しゅうして牛売り損なう (canonical)
onna sakashūshite ushi urisokonau (romanization)
onnasakasiusiteusiurisokonau (romanization)
おんなさかしうしてうしうりそこなう (hiragana historical)

Literally, "a clever woman fails to sell a cow."


死人に口無し

死(し)人(にん)に口(くち)無(な)し • (shinin ni kuchi nashi)

死人に口無し (canonical)
shinin ni kuchi nashi (romanization)

[ɕiɲ̟iɲ̟ ɲ̟i kɯ̟t͡ɕi na̠ɕi]

dead men tell no tales
dead men tell no tales

It is easy to pass the buck to the dead because they can not defend themselves.


安物は高物

安(やす)物(もの)は高(たか)物(もの) • (yasumono wa takamono)

安物は高物 (canonical)
yasumono wa takamono (romanization)

Literally, “cheap things are expensive things”.

lit

penny wise and pound foolish
penny wise and pound foolish

you get what you pay for
you get what you pay for

penny wise and pound foolish; you get what you pay for


男は閾を跨げば七人の敵あり

ja-pos

おとこ は しきい を またげば しちにん の てき あり

男は閾を跨げば七人の敵あり

男(おとこ)は閾(しきい)を跨(また)げば七(しち)人(にん)の敵(てき)あり • (otoko wa shikī o matageba shichinin no teki ari)

男は閾を跨げば七人の敵あり (canonical)

Literally, “When a man steps out of his door, there are already seven enemies (waiting for him)”.


二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず

ja-pos

にと を お.う もの は いっと を も えず

にと を おふ もの は いつと を も えず

二(に)兎(と)を追(お)う者(もの)は一(いっ)兎(と)をも得(え)ず • (nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu) ^(←にとをおふものはいつとをもえず (nito wo ofu mono fa ituto wo mo ezu)?)

二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (canonical)
nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu (romanization)
nito wo ofu mono fa ituto wo mo ezu (romanization)
にとをおふものはいつとをもえず (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟ito̞ o̞ o̞ɯ̟ mo̞no̞ β̞a̠ it̚to̞ o̞ mo̞ e̞zɨ]

Literally, “he who runs after two hares does not catch even one”.

lit

grasp all, lose all (if you try to do two things at the same time, you will succeed in neither)


風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる

ja-pos

かぜ が ふけば おけや が もうかる

風(かぜ)が吹(ふ)けば桶(おけ)屋(や)が儲(もう)かる • (kaze ga fukeba okeya ga mōkaru)

風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる (canonical)
kaze ga fukeba okeya ga mōkaru (romanization)

[ka̠ze̞ ɡa̠ ɸɯ̟ke̞ba̠ o̞ke̞ja̠ ɡa̠ mo̞ːka̠ɾɯ̟]

Literally "The wind blows and coopers get richer." The story goes: the wind causes dust, which gets into people's eyes, turning them blind; blind people make a living by playing the shamisen, whose body is made of cat skin, so more cats will be killed; with fewer cats, rodents will multiply; rodents nibble on tubs, so coopers will get richer.

Used to point out a far-fetched or circuitous chain of events. For want of a nail the kingdom was lost.


鱧も一期、海老も一期

はも も いちご、えび も いちご

鱧(はも)も一(いち)期(ご)、海老(えび)も一(いち)期(ご) • (hamo mo ichigo, ebi mo ichigo)

鱧も一期、海老も一期 (canonical)
hamo mo ichigo, ebi mo ichigo (romanization)

Literally, “a pike conger has its lifetime, a shrimp has its lifetime”.

lit

each person has one life, regardless of social class or circumstances


青は藍より出でて藍より青し

ja-pos

青は藍より出でて藍より青し

あお は あい より いでて あい より あおし

あを は あゐ より いでて あゐ より あをし

青(あお)は藍(あい)より出(い)でて藍(あい)より青(あお)し • (ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi) ^(←あをはあゐよりいでてあゐよりあをし (awo fa awi yori idete awi yori awosi)?)

青は藍より出でて藍より青し (canonical)
ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi (romanization)
awo fa awi yori idete awi yori awosi (romanization)
あをはあゐよりいでてあゐよりあをし (hiragana historical)

From the 荀子 (Junji, “Xunzi”), a calque of Literary Chinese 青出於藍，而青於藍 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán, “blue comes from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself”).

cal

the student has surpassed his or her teacher

氷は水より出でて水よりも寒し

kōri wa mizu yori idete mizu yori mo samushi


夫婦喧嘩は犬も食べない

ja-pos

ふうふげんか は いぬ も たべない

夫(ふう)婦(ふ)喧(げん)嘩(か)は犬(いぬ)も食(た)べない • (fūfugenka wa inu mo tabenai)

夫婦喧嘩は犬も食べない (canonical)
fūfugenka wa inu mo tabenai (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟ːɸɯ̟ɡẽ̞ŋka̠ β̞a̠ inɯ̟ mo̞ ta̠be̞na̠i]

Comprised of 夫婦喧嘩 (fūfu-genka, “marital dispute”) + は (wa, topic particle) + 犬 (inu, “dog”) + も (mo, “even, also”, inclusive particle) + 食べない (tabenai, “not eat”, negative of verb 食べる (taberu, “to eat”)).
Alternative and uncommon form of 夫(ふう)婦(ふ)喧(げん)嘩(か)は犬(いぬ)も食(く)わない (fūfu-genka wa inu mo kuwanai, literally “even dogs wouldn't eat a marital dispute”), replacing verb 食う (kuu, “to eat”, informal) with 食べる (taberu, “to eat”, neutral).

ja-r

夫%婦%喧%嘩は犬も食わない

ふう%ふ%-げん%か は いぬ も くわない

you should not interfere in a marital dispute


天は自ら助くる者を助く

ja-pos

てん は みずから たすくる もの を たすく

てんはみづからたすくるものをたすく

天(てん)は自(みずか)ら助(たす)くる者(もの)を助(たす)く • (ten wa mizukara tasukuru mono o tasuku) ^(←てんはみづからたすくるものをたすく (tenfamidukaratasukurumonowotasuku)?)

天は自ら助くる者を助く (canonical)
ten wa mizukara tasukuru mono o tasuku (romanization)
tenfamidukaratasukurumonowotasuku (romanization)
てんはみづからたすくるものをたすく (hiragana historical)

[te̞ɰ̃ β̞a̠ mʲizɨka̠ɾa̠ ta̠sɨkɯ̟ɾɯ̟ mo̞no̞ o̞ ta̠sɨkɯ̟]

heaven helps those who help themselves
heaven helps those who help themselves


急いては事を仕損じる

せいて は こと を しそんじる

急(せ)いては事(こと)を仕(し)損(そん)じる • (seite wa koto o shisonjiru)

急いては事を仕損じる (canonical)
seite wa koto o shisonjiru (romanization)

[se̞ːte̞ β̞a̠ ko̞to̞ o̞ ɕisõ̞ɲ̟d͡ʑiɾɯ̟]

Phrase consisting of 急い (sei, イ音便 (i-onbin, euphonic change) of 急き (seki), the 連用形 (continuative form) of 急く (seku, “make haste”)) + ては (te wa, undesirable assumption) + 事 (koto, “thing”) + を (o, accusative case particle) + 仕損じる (shisonjiru, “miscarry, fail”).


急がば回れ

急がば回れ (canonical)
isogaba maware (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 急が (isoga, 未然形 (imperfective form) of 急ぐ (isogu, “husten, rush”)) + ば (ba, “if, when”) + 回れ (maware, 命令形 (imperative form) of 回る (mawaru, “go round”)).

more haste, less speed
more haste, less speed

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

more haste, less speed; slow and steady wins the race


慌てる乞食は貰いが少ない

あわてる こじき は もらい が すくない

慌(あわ)てる乞(こ)食(じき)は貰(もら)いが少(すく)ない • (awateru kojiki wa morai ga sukunai)

慌てる乞食は貰いが少ない (canonical)
awateru kojiki wa morai ga sukunai (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 慌(あわ)てる (awateru, “be in a hurry”) + 乞(こ)食(じき) (kojiki, “beggar”) + は (wa, topic marker) + 貰(もら)い (morai, “alms”) + が (ga, subject marker) + 少(すく)ない (sukunai, “few”), "the impatient beggar receives little".


鶏を割くにいずくんぞ牛刀を用いん

鶏を割くにいずくんぞ牛刀を用いん

にわとり を さく に いずくんぞ ぎゅうとう を もち.いん

鶏(にわとり)を割(さ)くにいずくんぞ牛(ぎゅう)刀(とう)を用(もち)いん • (niwatori o saku ni izukunzo gyūtō o mochiin)

鶏を割くにいずくんぞ牛刀を用いん (canonical)

From the Analects of Confucius, a calque of Literary Chinese 割雞焉用牛刀 (gējī yān yòng niúdāo, literally “why use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?”).

calque

something big is not necessary to handle small problems

鶏を割くになんぞ牛刀を用いん

niwatori o saku ni nanzo gyūtō o mochiin


出る釘は打たれる

ja-pos

でる くぎ は うたれる

出(で)る釘(くぎ)は打(う)たれる • (deru kugi wa utareru)

出る釘は打たれる (canonical)
deru kugi wa utareru (romanization)

[de̞ɾɯ̟ kɯ̟ɡʲi β̞a̠ ɯ̟ta̠ɾe̞ɾɯ̟]

(idiomatic) the nail that sticks out gets hammered down


鶏を割くになんぞ牛刀を用いん

鶏を割くになんぞ牛刀を用いん

にわとり を さく に なんぞ ぎゅうとう を もち.いん

鶏(にわとり)を割(さ)くになんぞ牛(ぎゅう)刀(とう)を用(もち)いん • (niwatori o saku ni nanzo gyūtō o mochiin)

鶏を割くになんぞ牛刀を用いん (canonical)


地獄への道は善意で舗装されている

じごく へ の みち は ぜんい で ほそう されて いる

地獄(じごく)への道(みち)は善意(ぜんい)で舗装(ほそう)されている • (jigoku e no michi wa zen'i de hosō sarete iru)

地獄への道は善意で舗装されている (canonical)

[d͡ʑiɡo̞kɯ̟ e̞ no̞ mʲit͡ɕi β̞a̠ d͡zẽ̞ɰ̃i de̞ ho̞so̞ː sa̠ɾe̞te̞ iɾɯ̟]

the road to hell is paved with good intentions

ja:地獄への道は善意で舗装されている


桃栗三年柿八年

もも くり さんねん かき はちねん

桃(もも)栗(くり)三(さん)年(ねん)柿(かき)八(はち)年(ねん) • (momo kuri sannen kaki hachinen)

桃栗三年柿八年 (canonical)
momo kuri sannen kaki hachinen (romanization)

sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

(idiomatic) sow the wind, reap the whirlwind


将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ

将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ

しょう を いん と ほっすれば まず うま を いよ

将(しょう)を射(い)んと欲(ほっ)すればまず馬(うま)を射(い)よ • (shō o in to hossureba mazu uma o iyo)

将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ (canonical)
shō o in to hossureba mazu uma o iyo (romanization)

Based on a poem by Du Fu.
Literally “to shoot the general, first shoot his horse”.

begin with the lesser things to obtain the greater; he who would the daughter win, must with the mother first begin


人を射んとせばまず馬を射よ

人を射んとせばまず馬を射よ

ひと を いん と せば まず うま を いよ

人(ひと)を射(い)んとせばまず馬(うま)を射(い)よ • (hito o in to seba mazu uma o iyo)

人を射んとせばまず馬を射よ (canonical)
hito o in to seba mazu uma o iyo (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 射人先射馬，擒賊先擒王 (shè rén xiān shè mǎ, qín zéi xiān qín wáng, literally “to shoot the rider, first shoot his horse; to capture the thief, first capture the king”).


出る杭は打たれる

ja-pos

でる くい は うたれる

出(で)る杭(くい)は打(う)たれる • (deru kui wa utareru)

出る杭は打たれる (canonical)
deru kui wa utareru (romanization)

出る釘は打たれる 出る釘は打たれる#Japanese

(idiomatic) alternative form of 出る釘は打たれる (deru kugi wa utareru, “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down”)


桜伐る馬鹿梅伐らぬ馬鹿

さくら きる ばか うめ きらぬ ばか

桜(さくら)伐(き)る馬(ば)鹿(か)梅(うめ)伐(き)らぬ馬(ば)鹿(か) • (sakura kiru baka ume kiranu baka)

桜伐る馬鹿梅伐らぬ馬鹿 (canonical)
sakura kiru baka ume kiranu baka (romanization)

Literally, “it is stupid to prune a cherry blossom tree and stupid not to prune a plum blossom tree”.

lit

Cherry trees should not be pruned, but plum trees should. Although they may look similar upon first glance, each type of tree requires its own care procedures.


鶴は千年亀は万年

ja-pos

つる は せんねん かめ は まんねん

鶴(つる)は千(せん)年(ねん)亀(かめ)は万(まん)年(ねん) • (tsuru wa sennen kame wa mannen)

鶴は千年亀は万年 (canonical)
tsuru wa sennen kame wa mannen (romanization)

Literally, “a crane lives for a thousand years, a tortoise ten thousand years”.
The first part of the proverb, tsuru wa sennen, is an allusion to a passage in the Huainanzi, a calque of Literary Chinese 鶴壽千歲.


早起きは三文の徳

ja-pos

はやおき は さんもん の とく

早(はや)起(お)きは三(さん)文(もん)の徳(とく) • (hayaoki wa sanmon no toku)

早起きは三文の徳 (canonical)
hayaoki wa sanmon no toku (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 早起き (hayaoki, “getting up early”) + は (wa, “topic marker particle”) + 三 (san, “three”) + 文 (mon, “mon, Japanese old currency”) + の (no, “genitive case marker”) + 徳 (toku, “benefit”). Literally "it is benefit of three mon to get up early."

compound

the early bird gets the worm
the early bird gets the worm


魚は頭から腐る

ja-pos

さかな は あたま から くさる

魚(さかな)は頭(あたま)から腐(くさ)る • (sakana wa atama kara kusaru)

魚は頭から腐る (canonical)
sakana wa atama kara kusaru (romanization)

the fish rots from the head
the fish rots from the head


一筋縄では行かない

ひとすじなわ で は いかない

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)では行(い)かない • (hitosujinawa de wa ikanai)

一筋縄では行かない (canonical)
hitosujinawa de wa ikanai (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 一筋縄 (hito suji nawa, “a piece of rope”) + では (de wa, “indicates means of action”) + 行かない (ikanai, “can't proceed”). Literally "can't proceed with a piece of rope".

not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means


一筋縄で行かない

ひとすじなわ で いかない

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)で行(い)かない • (hitosujinawa de ikanai)

一筋縄で行かない (canonical)
hitosujinawa de ikanai (romanization)

一筋縄では行かない 一筋縄では行かない#Japanese

alternative form of 一筋縄では行かない (hitosujinawa de wa ikanai)


一筋縄で行かぬ

ひとすじなわ で いかぬ

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)で行(い)かぬ • (hitosujinawa de ikanu)

一筋縄で行かぬ (canonical)
hitosujinawa de ikanu (romanization)

一筋縄では行かない 一筋縄では行かない#Japanese


石の上にも三年

いし の うえ に も さんねん

石(いし)の上(うえ)にも三(さん)年(ねん) • (ishi no ue ni mo sannen)

石の上にも三年 (canonical)
ishi no ue ni mo sannen (romanization)

[iɕino̞ːe̞ɲ̟imo̞sã̠nːẽ̞ɴ]

Great works are performed by perseverance.


一日の計は朝にあり、一年の計は元旦にあり

一%日の計は朝にあり、一%年の計は元%旦にあり

いち%にち の けい は あした に あり、いち%ねん の けい は がん%たん に あり

一(いち)日(にち)の計(けい)は朝(あした)にあり、一(いち)年(ねん)の計(けい)は元(がん)旦(たん)にあり • (ichinichi no kei wa ashita ni ari, ichinen no kei wa gantan ni ari)

一日の計は朝にあり、一年の計は元旦にあり (canonical)

Literally “plan your day during the morning, plan your year during New Year's”. Compare Chinese 一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨／一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨 (yī nián zhī jì zàiyú chūn, yī rì zhī jì zàiyú chén).

zh-l

一年之計在於春，一日之計在於晨

(literally) plan your day during the morning, plan your year during New Year's

en-一日の計は朝にあり、一年の計は元旦にあり-ja-proverb-z~bZPQZk


名のない星は宵から出る

ja-pos

な の ない ほし は よい から でる

名(な)のない星(ほし)は宵(よい)から出(で)る • (na no nai hoshi wa yoi kara deru)

名のない星は宵から出る (canonical)
na no nai hoshi wa yoi kara deru (romanization)

Literally “a nameless star appears in the evening”.


朝題目に宵念仏

あさ だいもく に よい ねんぶつ

朝(あさ)題(だい)目(もく)に宵(よい)念(ねん)仏(ぶつ) • (asa daimoku ni yoi nenbutsu)

朝題目に宵念仏 (canonical)
asa daimoku ni yoi nenbutsu (romanization)

Literally “chanting the daimoku (title) in the morning, and Buddhist prayers in the evening.”
Chanting the daimoku is a specialty of the Nichiren school of Buddhism, while the evening prayers is a specialty of other Buddhist sects, such as 浄土宗 (Jōdo-shū, literally “Pure Land school”).

changing sides frequently; lacking loyalty or principles; opportunistic


恋に上下の隔てなし

こい に じょう%げ の へだて なし

恋(こい)に上(じょう)下(げ)の隔(へだ)てなし • (koi ni jōge no hedate nashi)

恋に上下の隔てなし (canonical)
koi ni jōge no hedate nashi (romanization)

Literally “no upper or lower distinction in love”.


氷は水より出でて水よりも寒し

氷は水より出でて水よりも寒し

こおり は みず より いでて みず より も さむし

氷(こおり)は水(みず)より出(い)でて水(みず)よりも寒(さむ)し • (kōri wa mizu yori idete mizu yori mo samushi)

氷は水より出でて水よりも寒し (canonical)

From the 荀子 (Junji, “Xunzi”):
:
Literally “ice coming from water is colder than water”.
This proverb is not the exact kanbun kundoku form of the above Chinese text; the back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 冰出於水，而寒於水 (compare 青出於藍，而青於藍).

The gentleman said: Learning must never cease. Blue is obtained from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself; ice is made from water but is colder than water itself.

Jūnzǐ yuē: xué bùkě yǐ yǐ. Qīng, qǔ zhī yú lán, ér qīng yú lán; bīng, shuǐ wèi zhī, ér hán yú shuǐ.

君子曰：學不可以已。青、取之於藍，而青於藍；冰、水為之，而寒於水。

君子曰：学不可以已。青、取之于蓝，而青于蓝；冰、水为之，而寒于水。


夕立は馬の背を分ける

ゆうだち は うま の せ を わける

夕(ゆう)立(だち)は馬(うま)の背(せ)を分(わ)ける • (yūdachi wa uma no se o wakeru)

夕立は馬の背を分ける (canonical)
yūdachi wa uma no se o wakeru (romanization)

Idiom consisting of 夕立 (“evening shower”) + は (“topic marker”) + 馬の背 (“horseback”) + を (“direct object marker”) + 分ける (“to divide”) Literally: the evening shower divided the horseback into two parts, one side that receives the rain but not the other side.

com

summer evening shower drenches one side of the street, leaving the other side dry.


疑心暗鬼

疑心暗鬼 (canonical)
gishin'anki (romanization)

[ɡʲiɕĩɰ̃ã̠ŋʲkʲi]

Literally, “suspicion begets monsters”. From Shiyou zazhi (師友雑志), a book by Song dynasty poet Lü Benzhong.

once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious


逃げるが勝ち

逃げるが勝ち (canonical)
nigeru ga kachi (romanization)

From 逃げる (“to escape”) + が + 勝ち (“victory”).

The one that fights and runs away may live to fight another day; fleeing is winning


一瞬先は闇

ja-pos

いっしゅん さき は やみ

一(いっ)瞬(しゅん)先(さき)は闇(やみ) • (isshun saki wa yami)

一瞬先は闇 (canonical)
isshun saki wa yami (romanization)

[iɕːɨɰ̃ sa̠kʲi β̞a̠ ja̠mʲi]

一(いっ)瞬(しゅん) (isshun, “moment”) + 先(さき) (saki, “ahead”) + は (ha, topic marker) + 闇(やみ) (yami, “dark”).

com-ja

一寸先は闇 一寸先は闇#Japanese

eggcorn of 一寸先は闇 (issun saki wa yami, “unpredictable”)


君子の交わりは淡きこと水の如し

ja-pos

くんし の まじわり は あわき こと みず の ごとし

君(くん)子(し)の交(まじ)わりは淡(あわ)きこと水(みず)の如(ごと)し • (kunshi no majiwari wa awaki koto mizu no gotoshi)

君子の交わりは淡きこと水の如し (canonical)

Calque of Literary Chinese 君子之交淡如水 (jūnzǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ) from Zhuangzi:
Can be analyzed as follow: 君子 (“man of virtue”) + の + 交わり (“friendship”) + は + 淡き (“flavorless”) + こと + 水 (“water”) + の + 如し (“like”).

calque

くんしのまじわりはあわきことみずのごとし

com

The friendship between men of virtue is clear like water (of no flavor, but free of harmful substances -- i.e. self-interest). The friendship between lesser men is sweet like wine (lacking true substance).

君子之交淡如水，小人之交甘若醴。

true friendship between two people of accomplishment needs not be overly demonstrative


うかうか三十きょろきょろ四十

ja-pos

うかうか さんじゅう きょろきょろ しじゅう

うかうか三(さん)十(じゅう)きょろきょろ四(し)十(じゅう) • (ukauka sanjū kyorokyoro shijū)

うかうか三十きょろきょろ四十 (canonical)
ukauka sanjū kyorokyoro shijū (romanization)

Consisting of うかうか + 三十 + きょろきょろ + 四十. Literally "muddle along at age of thirty, (then) restless at forty."

com

うかうか + 三十 + きょろきょろ + 四十

(idiomatic) living a life without achieving anything great


馬の背を分ける

ja-pos

うま の せ を わける

馬(うま)の背(せ)を分(わ)ける • (uma no se o wakeru)

馬の背を分ける (canonical)
uma no se o wakeru (romanization)

夕立は馬の背を分ける 夕立は馬の背を分ける#Japanese


夫婦喧嘩は犬も食わない

ふうふ-げんか は いぬ も くわない

夫(ふう)婦(ふ)喧(げん)嘩(か)は犬(いぬ)も食(く)わない • (fūfu-genka wa inu mo kuwanai)

夫婦喧嘩は犬も食わない (canonical)
fūfu-genka wa inu mo kuwanai (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟ːɸɯ̟ɡẽ̞ŋka̠ β̞a̠ inɯ̟ mo̞ kɯ̟β̞a̠na̠i]

Composed of 夫婦喧嘩 (fūfu-genka, “married couple fight, argument, row”) + は (wa, topic particle) + 犬 (inu, “dog”) + も (mo, “even, also”, inclusive particle) + 食わない (kuwanai, “not eat; not take on”, informal; negative form of 食う (kuu)). Literally, "even dogs wouldn't eat a marital dispute", referring to the fact that dogs are thought to eat virtually anything.

“even dogs wouldn't eat a marital dispute” → you should not interfere in a marital dispute


実るほど頭の下がる稲穂かな

みのる ほど あたま の さがる いなほ かな

実(みの)るほど頭(あたま)の下(さ)がる稲(いな)穂(ほ)かな • (minoru hodo atama no sagaru inaho kana)

実るほど頭の下がる稲穂かな (canonical)
minoru hodo atama no sagaru inaho kana (romanization)

Consisting of 実る + ほど + 頭 + の + 下がる + 稲穂 + かな, literally "the boughs that bear most hang lowest"

com

実る + ほど + 頭 + の + 下がる + 稲穂 + かな


一筋縄では行かぬ

ja-pos

ひとすじなわ で は いかぬ

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)では行(い)かぬ • (hitosujinawa de wa ikanu)

一筋縄では行かぬ (canonical)
hitosujinawa de wa ikanu (romanization)

一筋縄では行かない 一筋縄では行かない#Japanese


病は気から

病は気から (canonical)
yamai wa ki kara (romanization)

com

病 + は + 気 + から

sickness and health start with the mind; one can become better or worse due to the state of mind


酒は百薬の長

ja-pos

さけ は ひゃくやく の ちょう

酒(さけ)は百(ひゃく)薬(やく)の長(ちょう) • (sake wa hyakuyaku no chō)

酒は百薬の長 (canonical)
sake wa hyakuyaku no chō (romanization)

Compound of 酒 + は + 百薬 + の + 長, literally "sake is the best medicine"

com

酒 + は + 百薬 + の + 長

good wine makes good blood; sake is the best of all medicines; drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is better than medicine


腹八分目に医者要らず

ja-pos

はら はちぶん め に いしゃ いらず

腹(はら)八(はち)分(ぶん)目(め)に医(い)者(しゃ)要(い)らず • (hara hachibun me ni isha irazu)

腹八分目に医者要らず (canonical)
hara hachibun me ni isha irazu (romanization)

Compound of 腹 + 八分 + 目 + に + 医者 + 要らず (“negative continuative form of the verb 要(い)る (iru)”), literally "one need not to see doctor if eating only 80% full"

com

暴飲暴食

暴飲暴食 ぼういんぼうしょく


藪をつついて蛇を出す

ja-pos

やぶ を つついて へび を だす

藪(やぶ)をつついて蛇(へび)を出(だ)す • (yabu o tsutsuite hebi o dasu)

藪をつついて蛇を出す (canonical)
yabu o tsutsuite hebi o dasu (romanization)

[ja̠bɯ̟ o̞ t͡sɨt͡sɨite̞ he̞bʲi o̞ da̠sɨ]

Proverb consisting of 藪(やぶ) (yabu) + を (o) + つついて (tsutsuite, the conjunctive form of the verb 突(つつ)く (tsutsuku)) + 蛇(へび) (hebi) + を (o) + 出(だ)す (dasu), literally, “to poke the bush to let out the snake”.
Compare Chinese 打草驚蛇／打草惊蛇 (dǎcǎojīngshé)

zh-l

打草驚蛇／打草惊蛇 (dǎcǎojīngshé)

(idiomatic) to stir up trouble for oneself, to stir up a hornets' nest


習うより慣れろ

習うより慣れろ (canonical)
narau yori narero (romanization)
習うより慣れよ (alternative)

Proverb consisting of 習う + より + 慣れろ (“the 命令形(めいれいけい) (meireikei) or the imperative form of the verb 慣(な)れる (nareru)”)

com

experience is the best teacher
experience is the best teacher

practice makes perfect
practice makes perfect

(idiomatic) experience is the best teacher, practice makes perfect; literally, "it is better to grow accustomed than be taught"


豚もおだてりゃ木に登る

ja-pos

ぶた も おだてりゃ き に のぼる

豚(ぶた)もおだてりゃ木(き)に登(のぼ)る • (buta mo odaterya ki ni noboru)

豚もおだてりゃ木に登る (canonical)
buta mo odaterya ki ni noboru (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 豚 (buta, “pig”) + も (mo, “also”) + 煽てりゃ (odaterya, “if you flatter”, contraction of 煽てれば (odatereba), conditional or hypothetical form of the verb 煽てる (odateru, “to flatter”)) + 木 (ki, “tree”) + に (ni, “into”, directional particle) + 登る (noboru, “to climb”). Literally "even a pig will climb up a tree if flattered".

compound

flattery will motivate anyone, flattery can do wonders


善は急げ

善は急げ (canonical)
zen wa isoge (romanization)

Compound of 善 + は + 急げ, literally "good things need to be carried out with haste"

make hay while the sun shines
make hay while the sun shines

strike while the iron is hot
strike while the iron is hot

make hay while the sun shines, strike while the iron is hot, act on an opportunity promptly


火の無い所に煙は立たぬ

ja-pos

ひ の ない ところ に けむり は たたぬ

火(ひ)の無(な)い所(ところ)に煙(けむり)は立(た)たぬ • (hi no nai tokoro ni kemuri wa tatanu)

火の無い所に煙は立たぬ (canonical)
hi no nai tokoro ni kemuri wa tatanu (romanization)

火の無い所に煙は立たない 火の無い所に煙は立たない#Japanese


短気は損気

短気は損気 (canonical)
tanki wa sonki (romanization)

[tã̠ŋʲkʲi β̞a̠ sõ̞ŋʲkʲi]


桃李もの言わざれども下自ら蹊を成す

とうり もの いわざれども した おのずから みち を なす

桃(とう)李(り)もの言(い)わざれども下(した)自(おのずか)ら蹊(みち)を成(な)す • (tōri mono iwazaredomo shita onozukara michi o nasu)

桃李もの言わざれども下自ら蹊を成す (canonical)

From Chinese 桃李無言，下自成蹊／桃李无言，下自成蹊.

zh-l

桃李無言，下自成蹊／桃李无言，下自成蹊

a man of virtue will naturally attract admirers, good wine speaks for itself


多勢に無勢

多勢に無勢 (canonical)
tazei ni buzei (romanization)

It is difficult to win when outnumbered.


盛者必衰

ja-pos

盛(じょう)者(しゃ)必(ひっ)衰(すい) or 盛(しょう)者(じゃ)必(ひっ)衰(すい) or 盛(しょう)者(しゃ)必(ひっ)衰(すい) • (jōshahissui or shōjahissui or shōshahissui)

盛者必衰 (canonical)
盛者必衰 (canonical)
盛者必衰 (canonical)
jōshahissui (romanization)
shōjahissui (romanization)
shōshahissui (romanization)

[d͡ʑo̞ːɕa̠çisːɨi]

(Can we date this quote?), “Chapter 1.1”, in Helen Craig McCullough, transl., 平家物語 [The Tale of the Heike]:

The sound of the Gion Shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sāla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust before the wind.

祇園精舎の鐘の声、諸行無常の響き有り。沙羅双樹の花の色、盛者必衰の理を顕す。驕れる者も久しからず、唯春の夜の夢の如し。猛き者も遂には滅びぬ、偏に風の前の塵に同じ。

Gionshōsha no kane no koe, shogyō mujō no hibiki ari. Sarasōju no hana no iro, jōshahissui no kotowari o arawasu. Ogoreru mono mo hisashikarazu, tada haru no yoru no yume no gotoshi. Takeki mono mo tsui ni wa horobinu, hitoeni kaze no mae no chiri ni onaji.

(Buddhism) Everything prosperous will eventually decline.


腹が減っては戦ができぬ

はら が へって は いくさ が できぬ

腹(はら)が減(へ)っては戦(いくさ)ができぬ • (hara ga hette wa ikusa ga dekinu)

腹が減っては戦ができぬ (canonical)
hara ga hette wa ikusa ga dekinu (romanization)

[ha̠ɾa̠ ɡa̠ he̞t̚te̞ β̞a̠ ikɯ̟sa̠ ɡa̠ de̞kʲinɯ̟]

an army marches on its stomach
an army marches on its stomach


隣の芝生は青い

となり の しばふ は あおい

隣(となり)の芝(しば)生(ふ)は青(あお)い • (tonari no shibafu wa aoi)

隣の芝生は青い (canonical)
tonari no shibafu wa aoi (romanization)

隣 + の + 芝生 + は + 青い, literally "the neighbor's grass is greener"

com

隣 + の + 芝生 + は + 青い

the grass is always greener on the other side


隣の花は赤い

ja-pos

となり の はな は あかい

隣(となり)の花(はな)は赤(あか)い • (tonari no hana wa akai)

隣の花は赤い (canonical)
tonari no hana wa akai (romanization)

隣 + の + 花 + は + 赤い, literally "the flowers are always redder on the other side"

com

隣 + の + 花 + は + 赤い


隣の糂汰味噌

ja-pos

となり の じんだ みそ

隣(となり)の糂(じん)汰(だ)味(み)噌(そ) • (tonari no jinda miso)

隣の糂汰味噌 (canonical)
tonari no jinda miso (romanization)

隣 + の + 糂汰 + 味噌, literally "neighbour's rice-bran miso"

com

隣 + の + 糂汰 + 味噌


幽霊の正体見たり枯れ尾花

ja-pos

ゆうれい の しょうたい みたり かれおばな

幽(ゆう)霊(れい)の正(しょう)体(たい)見(み)たり枯(か)れ尾(お)花(ばな) • (yūrei no shōtai mitari kareobana)

幽霊の正体見たり枯れ尾花 (canonical)
yūrei no shōtai mitari kareobana (romanization)

幽霊 + の + 正体 + 見たり + 枯れ尾花, literally "when closely examining the identity of the ghost, it's just withered silvergrass"

com

幽霊 + の + 正体 + 見たり + 枯れ尾花


人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず

ja-pos

人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず

ひと は パン のみ に て いくる もの に あらず

人(ひと)はパンのみにて生(い)くる者(もの)に非(あら)ず • (hito wa pan nomi ni te ikuru mono ni arazu)

人はパンのみにて生くる者に非ず (canonical)

[çito̞ β̞a̠ pa̠n no̞mʲi ɲ̟i te̞ ikɯ̟ɾɯ̟ mo̞no̞ ɲ̟i a̠ɾa̠zɨ]

From a translation of the New Testament, Gospel of Matthew 4:4, "man shall not live on bread alone".
Phrase consisting of 人 (hito, “person; man, mankind, humanity”) + は (wa, topic particle) + パン (pan, “bread”) + のみ (nomi, “only”) + にて (ni te, copular conjunction, "on, by means of") + 生くる (ikuru, “living, that lives”), classical attributive of 生く (iku, “to live, to be alive”) + 者 (mono, “person; being”) + に (ni, copular particle) + あらず (arazu, “is not”, classical copula あり (ari) in the negative conjugation).
The Japanese literally parses out to "man is not a being that lives only on bread".

ja-r

man shall not live by bread alone
man shall not live by bread alone


月に叢雲花に風

ja-pos

つき に むらくも はな に かぜ

月(つき)に叢(むら)雲(くも)花(はな)に風(かぜ) • (tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze)

月に叢雲花に風 (canonical)
tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze (romanization)

Literally "clouds over the moon, winds over flowers" or "the moon covered by clouds, flowers scattered by winds".

Good things don't last forever. Roses have thorns.


好事多魔

好事多魔 (canonical)
kōjitama (romanization)

the road to happiness is strewn with setbacks


好事魔多し

好事魔多し (canonical)
kōji ma ōshi (romanization)

Calque from Literary Chinese 好事多魔 (MC xawX dzriH ta ma).


十人十腹

十人十腹 (canonical)
jūnin tohara (romanization)

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

synonym of 十人十色 (jūnin toiro, “there's no accounting for taste”)


多種多様

多種多様 (canonical)
tashu tayō (romanization)


各人各様

各人各様 (canonical)
kakujin kakuyō (romanization)


長い物には巻かれろ

ながい もの に は まかれろ

長(なが)い物(もの)には巻(ま)かれろ • (nagai mono ni wa makarero)

長い物には巻かれろ (canonical)
nagai mono ni wa makarero (romanization)


世の中金

世の中金 (canonical)
yo no naka kane (romanization)

世の中金が全て 世の中金が全て#Japanese


世の中金が全て

よ の なか かね が すべて

世(よ)の中(なか)金(かね)が全(すべ)て • (yo no naka kane ga subete)

世の中金が全て (canonical)
yo no naka kane ga subete (romanization)

拝金主義

拝金主義 はいきんしゅぎ


秋の鹿は笛に寄る

あき の しか は ふえ に よる

秋(あき)の鹿(しか)は笛(ふえ)に寄(よ)る • (aki no shika wa fue ni yoru)

秋の鹿は笛に寄る (canonical)
aki no shika wa fue ni yoru (romanization)

Literally "The autumn deer comes to the whistle". Since autumn is the mating season for deer, hunters use whistles imitating the sound made by female deer in order to catch the deer.

people may bring about their demise for love (like a deer coming forth when it hears a hunter's whistle in mating season), it is easy to have one's weak points taken advantage of


雄弁は銀、沈黙は金

ゆうべん は ぎん、ちんもく は きん

雄(ゆう)弁(べん)は銀(ぎん)、沈(ちん)黙(もく)は金(きん) • (yūben wa gin, chinmoku wa kin)

雄弁は銀、沈黙は金 (canonical)
yūben wa gin, chinmoku wa kin (romanization)

Calque of English speech is silver, silence is golden, originally attested as "Speech is silvern, Silence is golden" in Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus.

calque

speech is silver, silence is golden
speech is silver, silence is golden

Sartor Resartus
Thomas Carlyle
ja:雄弁は銀、沈黙は金


沈黙は金

沈黙は金 (canonical)
chinmoku wa kin (romanization)


血は争えない

ja-pos

血(ち)は争(あらそ)えない • (chi wa arasoenai) ^(←ちはあらそへない (tifaarasofenai)?)

血は争えない (canonical)
chi wa arasoenai (romanization)
tifaarasofenai (romanization)
ちはあらそへない (hiragana historical)

"[one] cannot fight blood": the apple does not fall far from the tree


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

はたらかざるものくふべからず

働(はたら)かざる者(もの)食(く)うべからず • (hatarakazaru mono kuu bekarazu) ^(←はたらかざるものくふべからず (fatarakazarumonokufubekarazu)?)

働かざる者食うべからず (canonical)
hatarakazaru mono kuu bekarazu (romanization)
fatarakazarumonokufubekarazu (romanization)
はたらかざるものくふべからず (hiragana historical)

[ha̠ta̠ɾa̠ka̠za̠ɾɯ̟ mo̞no̞ kɯ̟ɯ̟ be̞ka̠ɾa̠zɨ]

ja:働かざる者食うべからず


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

千(せん)里(り)の行(こう)も足(そっ)下(か)に始(はじ)まる • (senri no kō mo sokka ni hajimaru)

千里の行も足下に始まる (canonical)
senri no kō mo sokka ni hajimaru (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 千里之行，始於足下 (qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xià, literally “a road of a thousand li begins with a step”).

calque

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


人事を尽くして天命を待つ

ja-pos

人事を尽くして天命を待つ

じんじ を つくして てんめい を まつ

人(じん)事(じ)を尽(つ)くして天(てん)命(めい)を待(ま)つ • (jinji o tsukushite tenmei o matsu)

人事を尽くして天命を待つ (canonical)
jinji o tsukushite tenmei o matsu (romanization)

Partial calque of Literary Chinese 盡人事，聽天命 (jìn rénshì, tīng tiānmìng). Originally read as 人事を尽くして天命に聴す (jinji o tsukushite tenmei ni makasu) in kanbun kundoku.
Literally "exhausting man's deeds, waiting for God's will", in which the back-formation of this form in pseudo-kanbun would be 盡人事，待天命.

partial calque

man proposes, God disposes
man proposes, God disposes

to do one's level best and leave the rest to God's will; man proposes, God disposes


無知は至福である

ja-pos

むち は しふく である

無(む)知(ち)は至(し)福(ふく)である • (muchi wa shifuku dearu)

無知は至福である (canonical)
muchi wa shifuku dearu (romanization)


人生字を識るは憂患の始め

じんせい じ を しる は ゆうかん の はじめ

人(じん)生(せい)字(じ)を識(し)るは憂(ゆう)患(かん)の始(はじ)め • (jinsei ji o shiru wa yūkan no hajime)

人生字を識るは憂患の始め (canonical)
jinsei ji o shiru wa yūkan no hajime (romanization)

Calque of Literary Chinese 人生識字憂患始 (rénshēng shízì yōuhuàn shǐ), which is a line in Su Shi's (蘇軾) poem 石蒼舒醉墨堂.

cal

じんせいじをしるはゆうかんのはじめ

misery of life starts at literacy; ignorance is bliss

識字憂患

識字憂患 しきじゆうかん


河童の川流れ

ja-pos

かっぱ の かわ ながれ

河(か)童(っぱ)の川(かわ)流(なが)れ • (kappa no kawa nagare)

河童の川流れ (canonical)
kappa no kawa nagare (romanization)

Phrase consisting of 河童 (kappa, “water imp”, in traditional Japanese folklore) + の (no, possessive particle) + 川 (kawa, “river”) + 流れ (nagare, “flowing; flushing away”, the 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 流(なが)れる (nagareru, “to flow; to be flushed away”)). Literally "Even the kappa is flushed away by the river". Metaphor for the way that anyone, even experts (as kappa are expert swimmers), might make mistakes.
First cited to a text from 1829.

ja-etym-renyokei

even Homer nods: even the experts make mistakes

Daijirin
Daijisen#Online_search_engines
Kōjien
Nihon Kokugo Daijiten
Shinmura Izuru


十で神童十五で才子二十過ぎればただの人

ja-pos

とお で しんどう じゅうご で さいし はたち すぎれば ただ の ひと

十(とお)で神(しん)童(どう)十(じゅう)五(ご)で才(さい)子(し)二十(はたち)過(す)ぎればただの人(ひと) • (tō de shindō jūgo de saishi hatachi sugireba tada no hito)

十で神童十五で才子二十過ぎればただの人 (canonical)

Literally, a child prodigy by the age of ten, a savant by the age of fifteen, yet just a man by his twenties.

en-十で神童十五で才子二十過ぎればただの人-ja-proverb-47DEQpj8


一筋縄じゃ行かない

ひとすじなわ じゃ いかない

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)じゃ行(い)かない • (hitosujinawa ja ikanai)

一筋縄じゃ行かない (canonical)
hitosujinawa ja ikanai (romanization)

一筋縄では行かない 一筋縄では行かない#Japanese

alternative form of 一筋縄では行かない (hitosujinawa de wa ikanai)


羹に懲りて膾を吹く

あつもの に こり て なます を ふく

羹(あつもの)に懲(こ)りて膾(なます)を吹(ふ)く • (atsumono ni kori te namasu o fuku)

羹に懲りて膾を吹く (canonical)
atsumono ni kori te namasu o fuku (romanization)

Calque of Chinese 懲羹吹齏 /惩羹吹齑 (chénggēngchuījī, literally “Once burnt by hot soup, one would blow at cold food”), from The Verses of Chu.

cal

あつものにこりてなますをふく

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy


蛇に噛まれて朽ち縄に怖じる

ja-pos

へび に かまれて くちなわ に おじる

蛇(へび)に噛(か)まれて朽(く)ち縄(なわ)に怖(お)じる • (hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru)

蛇に噛まれて朽ち縄に怖じる (canonical)
hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru (romanization)


事実は小説より奇なり

じじつ は しょうせつ より き なり

事(じ)実(じつ)は小(しょう)説(せつ)より奇(き)なり • (jijitsu wa shōsetsu yori ki nari)

事実は小説より奇なり (canonical)
jijitsu wa shōsetsu yori ki nari (romanization)

truth is stranger than fiction
truth is stranger than fiction


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

健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る

健(けん)全(ぜん)なる精(せい)神(しん)は健(けん)全(ぜん)なる身(しん)体(たい)に宿(やど)る • (kenzen naru seishin wa kenzen naru shintai ni yadoru)

健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る (canonical)

[kẽ̞nd͡zẽ̞nːa̠ɾɯ̟ se̞ːɕĩɰ̃ha̠ kẽ̞nd͡zẽ̞nːa̠ɾɯ̟ ɕĩnta̠iɲ̟i ja̠do̞ɾɯ̟]

Calque of Latin mēns sāna in corpore sānō from the Roman poet Juvenal's tenth Satire. However, the original Latin phrase does not include the verb 宿(やど)る (yadoru, “dwells”).

calque

mens sana in corpore sano
mens sana in corpore sano

A sound mind dwells in a sound body (mens sana in corpore sano)

Satires_(Juvenal)#Satire X: Wrong Desire is the Source of Suffering


児孫のために美田を買わず

ja-pos

児孫のために美田を買わず

じそん の ために びでん を かわず

児(じ)孫(そん)のために美(び)田(でん)を買(か)わず • (jison no tameni biden o kawazu)

児孫のために美田を買わず (canonical)
jison no tameni biden o kawazu (romanization)

[d͡ʑiso̞n no̞ ta̠me̞ɲ̟i bʲide̞ɰ̃ o̞ ka̠β̞a̠zɨ]

From the following poem:
:
1871 January 20, Saigō Takamori, 偶成 [Impromptu]:
幾歴辛酸志始堅（幾たびか辛酸を歴て志始めて堅し）/丈夫玉碎恥甎全（丈夫は玉碎するも甎全を恥づ）/一家遺事人知否（一家の遺事人知るや否や）/不爲兒孫買美田（児孫の為に美田を買わず）
Ikutabika shinsan o hete kokorozashi hajimete katashi / Jōbu wa gyokusai suru mo senzen o hazu / Ikka no iji hitoshiru ya ina ya / Jison no tame ni biden o kawazu
It is not until one faces several hardships that one's resolve hardens. / Even though a hero dies honourably, he would be ashamed of a meaningless existence. / Whether or not men know my family's words of wisdom from the deceased, / Do not buy and leave fertile, productive rice paddies for one's children and grandchildren.

quote-book

偶成

leave no property for your descendants; I won't leave my property to my kids


習うより慣れよ

習うより慣れよ (canonical)
narau yori nareyo (romanization)

習うより慣れろ 習うより慣れろ#Japanese


木に竹を接ぐ

木に竹を接ぐ (canonical)
ki ni take o tsugu (romanization)

木に竹を接ぐように、水に油を一緒にしたような変更は、「常識では考えられない」と。

2016 March 11, Hirokazu Kore-eda, “「歴史修正主義」に抗するために [To Resist Historical Revisionism]”, in KOREEDA.COM (blog):

[He said] that common sense would not think of changes such as grafting bamboo to a tree, or adding oil to water.

ki ni take o tsugu yō ni, mizu ni abura o isshō ni shita yō na henkō wa, "jōshiki de wa kangaerarenai" to

to graft a bamboo on a tree; to make the situation absurd


見ては極楽住んでは地獄

ja-pos

みて は ごくらく すんで は じごく

見(み)ては極(ごく)楽(らく)住(す)んでは地(じ)獄(ごく) • (mite wa gokuraku sunde wa jigoku)

見ては極楽住んでは地獄 (canonical)
mite wa gokuraku sunde wa jigoku (romanization)
聞いて極楽見て地獄 (alternative)

[mʲite̞ β̞a̠ ɡo̞kɯ̟ɾa̠kɯ̟ sɨ̃nde̞ β̞a̠ d͡ʑiɡo̞kɯ̟]

Literally, “seeing it is paradise, living there is hell”.


阿呆に付ける薬無し

ja-pos

あほう に つける くすり なし

阿(あ)呆(ほう)に付(つ)ける薬(くすり)無(な)し • (ahō ni tsukeru kusuri nashi)

阿呆に付ける薬無し (canonical)
ahō ni tsukeru kusuri nashi (romanization)

[a̠ho̞ː ɲ̟i t͡sɨke̞ɾɯ̟ kɯ̟sɨɾʲi na̠ɕi]


炒り豆の花が咲く

いり まめ に はな が さく

炒(い)り豆の花(まめにはな)が咲(さ)く • (iri mame ni hana ga saku)

炒り豆の花が咲く (canonical)
iri mame ni hana ga saku (romanization)

Literally, “flowers bloom in boiled beans”.


弘法筆を選ばず

ja-pos

こうぼう ふで を えらばず

弘(こう)法(ぼう)筆(ふで)を選(えら)ばず • (kōbō fude o erabazu)

弘法筆を選ばず (canonical)
kōbō fude o erabazu (romanization)

[ko̞ːbo̞ː ɸɯ̟de̞ o̞ e̞ɾa̠ba̠zɨ]

Phrase consisting of 弘法 (Kōbō), the first part of the posthumous name of Kūkai, an important Buddhist monk and one of three famous Heian period calligraphers + 筆 (fude, “writing brush; writing with a brush”) + を (o, accusative case particle) + 選ばず (erabazu, the negative continuative of verb 選ぶ erabu, “to choose”). Literally “Kōbō Daishi never chooses his calligraphy brush”.

A good workman never blames his tools
a bad workman always blames his tools


塞翁が馬

塞翁が馬 (canonical)
saiō ga uma (romanization)

From a tale in the Huainanzi (see Chinese 塞翁失馬，焉知非福 /塞翁失马，焉知非福 (sàiwēng shī mǎ, yānzhī fēi fú) for more). Also compare Korean 새옹지마 (sae'ongjima), from the same Chinese proverb.

life goes through ups and downs and is unpredictable


恋は盲目

恋(こい)は盲(もう)目(もく) • (koi wa mōmoku) ^(←こひはまうもく (kofi fa maumoku)?)

恋は盲目 (canonical)
koi wa mōmoku (romanization)
kofi fa maumoku (romanization)
こひはまうもく (hiragana historical)


人の花は赤い

ひと の はな は あかい

人(ひと)の花(はな)は赤(あか)い • (hito no hana wa akai)

人の花は赤い (canonical)
hito no hana wa akai (romanization)

隣の花は赤い 隣の花は赤い#Japanese

synonym of 隣の花は赤い (tonari no hana wa akai)


無理が通れば道理が引っ込む

むり が とおれば どうり が ひっこむ

無理 が 通れば 道理 が 引っ込む

無理(むり)が通(とお)れば道理(どうり)が引(ひ)っ込(こ)む • (muri ga tōreba dōri ga hikkomu)

無理が通れば道理が引っ込む (canonical)
muri ga tōreba dōri ga hikkomu (romanization)

[mɯ̟ɾʲiɡa̠to̞ːɾe̞ba̠ do̞ːɾʲiɡa̠çik̚ko̞mɯ̟]

A proverb from Edo Iroha karuta (江戸いろはかるた)

(literally) "If unreasonable demands are forced, reason will be withdrawn."

Where might is master, justice is servant:

勝てば官軍

勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍 (kateba kangun makereba zokugun, “might makes right”)