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Proverbs: ことわざ and the values behind them

猿も木から落ちるsaru mo ki kara ochiru“Even monkeys fall from trees.” Even experts make mistakes.The English equivalent: “Even Homer nods.”
も (even) is what makes this a proverb: not “monkeys fall”, but “even monkeys fall”.

Short answer: ことわざ (proverbs) are short, fixed sayings that every Japanese speaker knows, and they appear in conversation, advertising and school essays. Many have English equivalents; others reveal particular values, such as perseverance (七転び八起き, “fall seven times, get up eight”) or fitting in (出る杭は打たれる, “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down”).

Twelve proverbs to know

Each with its literal reading and its meaning. Press to hear it.

ProverbMeaningLiterally
saru mo ki kara ochirueven experts make mistakeseven monkeys fall from trees
nanakorobi yaokinever give upfall seven times, get up eight
hana yori dangopractical over prettydumplings rather than flowers
ishi no ue ni mo sannenpatience pays offthree years even on a stone
deru kui wa utarerustanding out invites criticismthe nail that sticks out is hammered
isogaba mawaremore haste, less speedif in a hurry, go around
ame futte ji katamaruconflict can make bonds strongerafter rain, the ground hardens
chiri mo tsumoreba yama to narusmall things add uppiled-up dust becomes a mountain
neko ni kobanpearls before swinegold coins to a cat
i no naka no kawazunarrow-mindeda frog in a well
shiranu ga hotokeignorance is blissnot knowing is Buddha
jūnin toiroto each their ownten people, ten colours

What the proverbs say about Japan

Four themes run through many Japanese proverbs.

Perseverance
Harmony
Modesty
Practicality

Proverbs with English twins

Many proverbs have a close English equivalent.

ProverbLiterallyEnglish
hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazua hundred hearings < one lookseeing is believing
toki wa kane naritime is moneytime is money
kuchi wa wazawai no motothe mouth is the source of troubleloose lips sink ships
nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezuchase two hares, catch neitherjack of all trades
sannin yoreba Monju no chiethree people = the wisdom of Monjutwo heads are better than one
anzuru yori umu ga yasushigiving birth is easier than worryingit’s easier than you think

Proverbs people actually use

These come up in ordinary conversation.

百聞は一見に如かずひゃくぶんはいっけんにしかずhyakubun wa ikken ni shikazuseeing is believingだよda yoyou know
Hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu da yo.“You have to see it for yourself.”Why: Encouraging someone to visit.
案ずるより産むが易しあんずるよりうむがやすしanzuru yori umu ga yasushieasier than you thinkでしたねdeshita neit was, wasn’t it
Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi deshita ne.“It was easier than we feared.”Why: After a successful exam or presentation.
三人寄れば文殊の知恵さんにんよればもんじゅのちえsannin yoreba Monju no chietwo heads are betterみんなでminna detogether考えようかんがえようkangaeyōlet’s think
Sannin yoreba Monju no chie. Minna de kangaeyō.“Two heads are better than one. Let’s think it through together.”Why:

Check yourself

Try each one, then open the answer to check and hear it.

  1. Even experts make mistakes.
    Show answer
    saru mo ki kara ochiru
  2. Never give up.
    Show answer
    nanakorobi yaoki
  3. Substance over show.
    Show answer
    hana yori dango
  4. More haste, less speed.
    Show answer
    isogaba maware
  5. Seeing is believing.
    Show answer
    hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu

Using a proverb

Proverbs are often introduced with 〜と言いますね, “as they say”, or quoted in part.

先生せんせいsenseithe teacherもmoeven間違えたまちがえたmachigaetamade a mistake猿さるsarumonkeysもmoeven木から落ちるきからおちるki kara ochirufall from treesですねdesu neisn’t it
Sensei mo machigaeta. Saru mo ki kara ochiru desu ne.“Even the teacher got it wrong. Even experts slip up.”Why: Proverb + ですね: “as they say”.
花見はなみhanamicherry-blossom viewingはwa(topic)花より団子はなよりだんごhana yori dangodumplings over flowersですdesuis
Hanami wa hana yori dango desu.“At hanami, it’s more about the food than the flowers.”Why: A joke about cherry-blossom picnics, where the proverb started.
急がば回れいそがばまわれisogaba mawaremore haste less speedとto(quote)言いますいいますiimasuthey sayからkaraso
Isogaba maware to iimasu kara.“They do say more haste, less speed.”Why: と言いますから: quoting a proverb as a reason.

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