In this article, we will share a complete list of Japanese proverbs known in Japan as Kotowaza. The famous Ninja phrases, known for speaking little but speaking the truth.
The word referring to proverbs in Japanese is written as kotowaza [谚] which, besides proverb, can mean saying, aphorism, and quotation. Japanese proverbs often do not make much sense because Japanese grammar is very simple.
To understand a Kotowaza, it is necessary to delve into the meaning of the ideograms presented in the phrase. I will try to explain each Japanese proverb in detail and also mention a similar saying in Portuguese.
We also recommend reading:
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List of Japanese Proverbs – Kotowaza
毒を食らわば皿まで
Doku wo kurawaba sara made
- Literally: If you eat poison, eat the plate;
- Note: It does not mean you should literally eat the plate, just lick it. 食らわ is a strong and violent expression for feeding;
- Meaning: It means that if you are going to do something dangerous, take the risk completely;
見ぬが花
Minu ga hana
- Literally: Not seeing is a flower;
- Meaning: Reality cannot compete with imagination. Sometimes you imagine things without seeing their reality;
案ずるより産むが易し.
Anzuru yori umu ga yasashi
- Literally: Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it;
- Meaning: Fear is greater than danger. Sometimes an attempt is easier than we expect. Many are afraid for no reason, that is the greatest Enemy;
バカは 死ななきゃ 治らない
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai
- Literally: Only death cures an idiot;
- Meaning: There is no cure for stupidity;
出る杭は打たれる
Deru kui wa utareru
- Literally: The nail that sticks up is hammered down;
- Meaning: If you stand out, you will be subject to criticism;
秋茄子は嫁に食わすな
Akinasu wa yome ni kuwasuna
- Literally: Do not let your daughter-in-law eat your eggplants;
- Meaning: Do not let yourself be taken advantage of;
残り物には福がある
Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru
- Literally: Fortune exists in leftovers. / There is a fortune for leftovers;
- Meaning: Saving the best for last. Just because it is behind does not mean it is bad. It is often used to comfort people and help them strive;
虎穴に入らずんば 虎子 を 得ず
Koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu
- Literally: If you do not enter the tiger’s den, you cannot catch its cub;
- Meaning: Take a risk to be successful. Nothing is achieved without effort;
さるも木から落ちる
Saru mo ki kara ochiru
- Literally: The monkey also falls from the tree
- Meaning: Even an expert can make mistakes;
泣いて暮らすも一生、笑って暮らすも一生
Naite kurasu mo issho, waratte kurasu mo issho
- Literally: Living a life crying, living a life laughing;
- Meaning: Life is the same, whether you are happy or sad;
蓼食う虫も好き好き
Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki
- Literally: Insects that eat tade (a weed) also do so out of preference;
- Meaning: Taste is subjective;
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
I no naka no kawazu taikai o shirazu
- Literally: The frog in the well does not know the ocean;
- Meaning: You only know something by experiencing it. Perfect for those who criticize other countries without knowing them;
鳶が鷹を生む
Tonbi ga taka o umu
- Literally: From a kite, a hawk is born
- Meaning: Common parents can have extraordinary children.
郷に入りては郷に従え
Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae
- Literally: Upon entering the village, obey those who live there;
- Meaning: In Japan, be Japanese;
- Equivalent: Dance to the music;
頭隠して尻隠さず
Atama kakushite, shiri kakusazu
- Literally: Hides the head but does not cover the tail;
- Meaning: You solve problems partially. There is no way to escape in a lie;
花よりだんご
Hana yori dango
- Literally: Before flowers, food;
- Meaning: Practicality;
- It makes sense, the person goes to a Hanami festival, and instead of looking at the flowers, they go to eat sweets at the stalls;
悪妻は百年の不作
Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku
- Literally: A bad wife harms the harvest for a hundred years;
- Meaning: A man’s success depends on his wife;
かえるの子はかえる
Kaeru no ko wa kaeru.
- Literally: The offspring of the frog is a frog;
- Equivalent: Like father, like son;
覆水盆に帰らず
Fukusui bon ni kaerazu
- Literally: Spilled water does not return to the bowl.
Meaning: Nothing will be as before. It is no use crying over spilled milk;
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
Ni usagi wo ou mono wa ichi usagi wo mo ezu
- Literally: If you chase two hares, you end up with none;
- Equivalent: You can’t have it all;
継続は力なり
Keizoku wa chikara nari.
- Literally: Perseverance brings power;
猫に小判
Neko ni koban
- Literally: A coin to a cat;
- Equivalent: Pearls before swine;
雨降って地固まる
Ame futte chi katamaru
- Literally: The rain hardens the earth;
- Meaning: Adversity makes us stronger. Equivalent: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger;
馬鹿があって力行が引き立つ
Baka ga atte rikkō ga hikitatsu
- Literally: Power stands out when among fools;
- Meaning: The presence of fools highlights that of the wise;
馬鹿も一芸
Baka mo ichi gei
- Literally: Fools also have talent;
- Meaning: Do not underestimate even the foolish;
悪に強ければ善にも強
Aku ni tsuyokereba zen ni mo tsuyoshi
- Literally: The effort put into doing evil is the same as that which can be used for good;
- Meaning: The same perseverance in doing harm can be used to do good. A strong enemy can become a friend with the same intensity;
金は火で試み人は酒で試む
Kane wa hi de kokoromi, hito wa sake de kokoromu
- Literally: Gold is tested by fire, people by alcohol;
- Meaning: It speaks about the superstition that drunkenness reveals people’s true nature;
相手のない喧嘩はできぬ
Aite no nai kenka wa dekinu
- Literally: You cannot fight alone;
- Meaning: When one does not want to, two do not fight;
悪事千里をはしる
Akuji senri o hashiru
- Literally: Evil travels fast;
- Equivalent: Bad news travels quickly. Gossip does too;
朝起きは七つの得あり
Asaoki wa nanatsu no toku ari
- Literally: Waking up early has seven advantages;
- Equivalent: The early bird catches the worm;
明日は明日、今日は今日
Ashita wa ashita, kyo wa kyou
- Literally: Tomorrow is tomorrow, today is today
- Meaning: One day at a time. Do not overthink tomorrow;
痘痕も笑窪
Abata mo ekubo
- Literally: Warts become dimples
- Equivalent: Love is blind
一を聞いて十を知る
Ichi o kiite, juu o shiru
- Literally: Hear one, understand ten
- Equivalent: A word to the wise is enough;
家ほどいい所ない
Uchi hodo ii tokoro nai
- Literally: There is no better place than our home
- Equivalent: Home sweet home
海のことは漁夫に問え
Umi no koto wa gyofu ni to e
- Literally: Ask the fisherman about the sea
- Meaning: Ask people about something they are knowledgeable about;
男心と秋の空
Otokogokoro to aki no sora
- Literally: A man’s heart changes like the autumn sky;
- Meaning: Men are fickle;
男は知恵、女は情け
Otoko wa chie, onna wa nasake
- Literally: The man has wisdom, the woman has compassion;
Videos about Japanese Proverbs
If you enjoyed the proverbs, you can check out the great videos below, which teach pronunciation and explain more about the meaning of some Japanese proverbs.
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