Phrases formed by a combination of words to form a single meaning are called 「ことわざ kotowaza: proverbs」or「慣用句 kanyouku; idioms」in Japanese. You may have heard of these expressions as they are commonly used in Japanese conversation. Learning Japanese proverbs and Japanese idioms will broaden your range of expressions in Japanese writing and conversation.
In this article, we start with explaining the difference between proverbs and idioms. We also introduce famous Japanese proverbs and idioms and the best way to learn and remember them. A recommended read for those studying Japanese at an intermediate to advanced level.
Table of Contents
- Difference Between Japanese Proverbs and Idioms
- Japanese Proverbs and Idioms from Chinese History and Literature
- Famous Japanese Proverbs
- Famous Japanese Idioms
- Japanese Proverbs and Idioms are Used Frequently in Conversation
- Summary
Difference between Japanese Proverbs and Idioms
Proverbs and idioms are distinctly different. Proverbs are a set of words that contain satire, lessons or knowledge to give advice, whilst idioms are phrases that have been used for a long time and are difficult to understand their meaning without prior knowledge.
However, Japanese proverbs and idioms contain words that are characteristic of both proverbs and idioms, which makes it difficult to distinguish the two. It is important to remember that although proverbs and idioms have different characteristics, some words used belong to both categories.
Japanese Idioms (慣用句)
A Japanese idiom is formed when 2 or more words are combined to form a special meaning. Idiom in Japanese is called「慣用句 kanyouku」, 「慣用 kanyou」meaning “customary use” or “common use” indicating that it is a phrase that has been used for a long time. In other words, an idiom is a phrase or expression that many people are familiar with.
For example:
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「あごで使う」/ ago de tsuaku / using jaw: giving orders with an arrogant attitude
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「息が合う」/ iki ga au / matching breaths : to be in perfect harmony
As the examples above show, many idioms are characterized by metaphors to compare what you want to say with something else.
Japanese Proverbs (ことわざ)
Japanese proverbs are characterized by the usage of simple words that carry complex meanings. A lesson or advice is summarized in an easy to understand way, such as:
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「鬼に金棒」/ oni ni kanabou / giving an oni a metal rod : a strong person will grow even stronger
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「猿も木から落ちる」/ saru mo ki kara ochiru / even monkeys fall from trees : anyone, even someone skilled, can make a mistake
Many Japanese proverbs are characterised by the couplet form in which pairs of words are arranged, such as:
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「頭隠して尻隠さず」/ atama kakushite shiri kakusazu / hiding one’s head but not one’s bottom : exposing one’s weak point while attempting to protect oneself
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「二度あることは三度ある」/ nido arukoto wa sando aru : what happens twice will happen thrice
Another characteristic of Japanese proverbs is the repetition of sounds and good phrasing. There are other characteristics unique to proverbs, so if you are interested, do look them up.
Another characteristic of proverbs is their repetition of sound and good phrasing. There are many other characteristics to proverbs so if you have an interest we recommend you to search it up.
Writer's Pick
「故事成語」: Japanese Proverbs and Idioms from Chinese History and Literature
Proverbs and idioms that originated from China and were brought to Japan are called “kojiseigo (故事成語)”. Famous ones include:
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「臥薪嘗胆」/ gashin shoutan : enduring hardship to attain one’s objective
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「覆水盆に返らず」/ fukusuibon ni kaerazu / spillled water will not go back in its tray : no use crying over spilled milk, or what’s done is done
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「漁夫の利」/ gyofu no ri / fishermen’s profit : profiting whilst other’s fight
Kojiseigo are used in everyday life, just as much as Japanese proverbs and idioms, so study them if you have the time. When studying kojiseigo, we recommend learning about their origins.
Famous Japanese Proverbs
In this part, we will introduce some famous Japanese proverbs that you can use in daily conversation. We also included example sentences to help you study.
案ずるより産むが易し / anzuru yori umu ga yasushi / easier to bear a child than worry about it
Meaning: Worrying about something before doing it, but when actually done, it goes better than you thought it would.
The word「易し」means “easy”. The proverb is derived from the situation where a pregnant woman worries about giving birth, but when she actually does it, it goes well.
In the word 「易し」"Yasushi" theres the meaning easy to the word.
The etymology of this phrase comes from the situation when a pregnant lady is worried about giving birth, but when she actually gives birth everything goes well.
「発表がうまくいくか不安だったが、実際にやってみたら案ずるより産むが易しだった」
happyo ga umaku ikuka fuan dattaga, jissai ni yattemitara anzuru yori umu ga yasushi datta
- I was worried whether my presentation would go well, but when I actually did it there was nothing to worry about.
「うだうだ悩んでも仕方がない。案ずるより産むが易しだ」
uda uda nayandemo shikataganai. Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi da
- There’s no point worrying about it, so just give it a go.
When starting to do something, it is important to give it some thought. However, overthinking will make you worried and can cause anxiety. The lesson in this proverb is to not to think too much and just do it, so try to incorporate this Japanese proverb into your daily conversations.
犬も歩けば棒に当たる / inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru / a walking dog will hit a stick
Meaning:(1) doing something unnecessary will lead you to mishap (2) unexpected good luck as a result of your actions
This proverb has 2 completely opposite meanings, so pay attention to context to get the right understanding.
「犬も歩けば棒に当たると言うが、まさか宝くじが当たるとは思わなかった」
inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru to iuga, masaka takarakuji ga ataru towa omowanakatta.
- They say good things come unexpectedly, but I never thought I would win the lottery.
「昇給のために新しい仕事に挑戦したら、残業が大変だ。犬も歩けば棒に当たるとはまさにこのことだ」
shoukyuu no tame ni atarashii shigoto ni chousen shitara, zangyou ga taihenda. Inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru towa masani kono kotoda.
- The non-stop overtime at the new job I took up is terrible. This is exactly what is meant by “doing something unnecessary will lead you to mishap”.
When you start something new, sometimes you may end up in disaster, but on the other hand you may get lucky. The proverb 「犬も歩けば棒に当たる」is a useful proverb that can be used in both situations so it is a useful Japanese proverb to learn.
千里の道も一歩から / senri no michi mo ippo kara / a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step
Meaning : A series of small steps is necessary to achieve something big.
This proverb teaches an important lesson in life. To achieve greatness, requires hard work and dedication. It is a proverb that is commonly used.
「千里の道も一歩からとは言うが、コツコツ努力するのは難しい」
senri no michi mo ippo kara to wa iuga, kotsukotsu doryoku suru nowa muzukashii
- They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, but to continuously work hard is not easy.
「平社員から成りあがった社長は、千里の道も一歩からを体現している人だ」
hirashain kara nariagatta shachou wa, senri no michi mo ippo kara wo taigen shiteiru hito da
- The company president, who used to be a regular employee, is a person who embodies the principle that a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.
Daily effort is essential to achieving results in work and studies. This proverb can be used to motivate yourself or encourage others who are working hard. There are other proverbs that carry the same meaning:
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「ローマは一日にして成らず」/ rooma wa ichinichi ni shite narazu / Rome was not built in a day
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「塵も積もれば山となる」/ chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru / even dust becomes a mountain when piled together
情けは人の為ならず / nasake wa hito no tame narazu / compassion is not for others
Meaning : The kindness you do for others will come back to you one day.
Directly translated, this Japanese proverb does not sound very nice, but it actually carries a good meaning. The lesson from this proverb is humility and humbleness, to treat other people kindly is not for their sakes but for oneself.
Some people use this proverb incorrectly, to mean that showing someone kindness or mercy does them no good, but this is the wrong way of using it.
「情けは人の為ならずを信条に、困っている人がいたら助けるようにしている」
nasake wa hito no tame narazu wo shinjyou ni, komatteiru hito ga itara tasukeru you ni shiteiru
- I believe that by being kind to someone, one day it will come back to me, so I try to help others in need.
「情けは人の為ならずというし、積極的にボランティアや募金活動をしてみよう」
nasake wa hito no tame narazu to iushi, sekkyokuteki ni borantia ya bokin katsudou wo shite miyou
- It is said that by being kind to others that kindness would eventually be returned, so let’s proactively join volunteer and fundraising activities.
In Japan, there is a term called “on-okuri (恩送り)” which means relaying the baton of kindness to someone else, rather than returning the favour to someone who has helped you. In English, it is called “pay it forward”. The proverb 「情けは人の為ならず」goes the same way, meaning that by helping someone else, not the person you have helped, but someday someone will show you kindness and help you in return.
仏の顔も三度 / hotoke no kao mo sando / (stroke) the Buddha’s face three times (even he will get angry)
Meaning : No matter how nice and kind a person is, if treated badly or rudely repeatedly, even they will become angry.
This proverb originates from the phrase 「仏の顔も三度撫ずれば腹を立つ hotoke no kao mo sando nadezureba hara wo tatsu」, which means that even the merciful Buddha will get angry if his face is stroked thrice. The English equivalent of this proverb would be, “even the patience of a saint eventually runs out”.
「仏の顔も三度というように、何度も約束を破られると腹が立ってくる」
hotoke no kao mo sando to iu youni, nando mo yakusoku wo yaburareru to hara ga tattekuru
- Just like the saying “even the patience of a saint eventually runs out”, I will get angry when a promise is broken again and again.
「普段は優しい友だちが珍しく怒っていて、仏の顔も三度までだと感じた」
fudan wa yasashii tomodachi ga mezurashiku okotteite, hotokeno kao mo sando madeda to kanjita
- My normally amicable friend was unusually angry. It felt like the saying “even the patience of a saint eventually runs out”.
「仏の顔も三度」is a Japanese proverb often used in daily conversations and business situations. Remembering its meaning and usage will make communication much smoother. There are other proverbs that carry similar meanings like:
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「堪忍袋の緒が切れる」/ kannin bukuro no o ga kireru : out of patience; unable to put up with something anymore
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「我慢の限界」/ gaman no genkai : limit of patience
Famous Japanese Idioms
Japanese idioms are used more in everyday life than proverbs. There are many figurative expressions, so it may take some time to remember them, but they are often used and should be studied.
In this part, we introduce idioms that can be used in daily conversation.
穴があったら入りたい / ana ga attara hairitai / if there is a hole, (I want to) enter it
Meaning: Wanting to sink into the ground in shame; Wanting to hide in a hole.
This idiom is used when something embarrassing or shameful happens, so much so that you just want to bury yourself in a hole. Mostly used in cases when embarrassment and shame is caused by one's own mistake or misunderstanding.
「友だちとの集合場所を勘違いして待ち合わせに遅れてしまった。穴があったら入りたい」
tomodachi to no shuugou basho wo kanchigai shite machiawase ni okureteshimatta. Ana ga attara hairitai.
- I was late to meet a friend because I misunderstood the place to meet up. I’m so embarrassed of my mistake, if there was a hole, I’d like to hide in it.
「穴があったら入りたいと思うほどのミスはしたことがない」
ana ga attara hairitai to omou hodo no misu wa shitakotoganai
- I have never made a mistake so bad that I’d want to hide in a hole if there was one.
「穴があったら入りたい」is not an idiom used when someone is shy, embarassed, or ashamed for no particular reason. There are other idioms that have the same meaning, like:
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「決まりが悪い」/ kimari ga warui
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「身の置き所がない」/ mi no oki dokoro ga nai : not knowing what to do with oneself
すずめの涙 / suzume no namida / sparrow tears
Meaning : Very small quantity.
This Japanese idiom is used to describe quantity, the state of being not entirely absent but only very little. It makes the comparison of the quantity of something to that of tears shed by a small sparrow. It can also be used to express self-depreciation or humility.
「今年は会社の経営状況が悪かったので、すずめの涙程度のボーナスしかない」
kotoshi wa kaisha no keieijyoutai ga warukatta node, suzume no namida teido no boonasu shika nai
- The company’s financial situation was so bad this year that the bonus is nothing more than a sparrow’s tear.
「すずめの涙ほどの幸せでも、あるだけ十分だ」
suzume no namida hodo no shiawase demo, arudake jyuubunda
- Even a sparrow’s tear of happiness is better than nothing.
When wanting to express smallness or littleness, you can covey it more specifically using the Japanese idiom 「すずめの涙」. It can also be used to express emphasis.
手を抜く/ te wo nuku / to let go one’s hand
Meaning : Cut corners, do a shoddy job, skimping.
This Japanese idiom means “skimping” or to “cut corners”, as in skipping the original procedures and processes and to just wing it. It is often used as a negative expression, but can also be used with the nuance that you do not need to do everything perfectly.
「適当に仕事をしたら、上司から手を抜くなと怒られた」
tekitou ni shigoto wo shitara, jyoshi kara te wo nukuna to okorareta
- I did my job sloppily and was scolded by my boss to not cut corners.
「仕事も私生活も忙しくて大変なら、ちゃんと休むために手を抜けるところは抜くべきだろう」
shigoto mo shiseikatsu mo isogashikute taihen nara, chanto yasumu tameni te wo nukeru tokoro wa nukubeki darou
- If you are too busy with work and private life, you should cut some corners to take a break.
「手を抜く」is used in daily conversations as well as in business situations. Many Japanese idioms are metaphors using body parts such as hands and feet, so be careful not to confuse their meaning.
水に流す / mizu ni nagasu / wash away by water
Meaning : Let bygones be bygones; forgive and forget.
「水に流す」is a Japanese idiom meaning to let past trouble go as if they never happened. In Japan, there is a custom to cleanse dirt and misfortune with water, and let it be washed away. That is why forgetting bad things that happened is expressed by 「水に流す」.
「兄弟と喧嘩したが、お互いの行いを水に流して仲直りした」
kyodai to kenkashita ga, otagai no okonai wo mizuni nagashite nakanaori shita
- I had a fight with my sibling, but we let bygones be bygones and made up with each other.
「良い人間関係を築くには、相手の失礼な態度を水に流す寛容さが欠かせない」
ii ningenkankei wo kizuku niwa, aite no shitsurei na taido wo mizuni nagasu kanyosa ga kakasenai
- To build good relationships, it is essential to have the tolerance to let go and forgive the other’s disrespectful behaviours.
There are other phrases like 「目をつむる me wo tsumuru」and 「帳消しにする chokeshi ni suru」which carry the same meaning. On the other hand, there is the idiom 「根に持つ ne ni motsu」which means the total opposite, meaning to not forgive or forget for a long time or to hold a grudge.
路頭に迷う / rotou ni mayou / to lose way at the roadside
Meaning : To be left without means of sustenance; to be adrift.
「路頭に迷う 」is used when someone has lost their home or job and find it hard to make a living. The word「路頭] means “roadside”. It is an idiom used to describe a situation where you have nowhere to go and have no choice but to wander aimlessly, and can be used when you cannot find a job or about to lose your job.
「会社が業績不振でリストラを始めたので、もしかしたら路頭に迷うかもしれない」
kaisha ga gyosekihushin de risutora wo hajimeta node, moshikashitara rotou ni mayou kamoshirenai
- The company has started restructuring due to poor performance, so I might end up on the streets (not literally, maybe literally).
「世界恐慌が起きたときは、多くの人々が職を失い路頭に迷った」
sekai kyoukou ga okita toki wa, ooku no hitobito ga shoku wo ushinai rotou ni mayotta
- When the Great Depression hit, many people lost their jobs and had nowhere to go.
There are similar meaning phrases like:
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「お先真っ暗」/ osaki makkura : the future is bleak
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「生活が立ち行かない」/ seikatsu ga tachiikanai : cannot maintain livelihood
Japanese Proverbs and Idioms are Used Frequently in Conversation
In Japan, proverbs and idioms are frequently used in everyday conversations. Many Japanese proverbs and idioms do not have literal meanings which make them difficult for Japanese learners to learn.
Japanese proverbs and idioms are one of the most difficult parts of learning Japanese. We recommend studying each proverb and idiom’s origin. Learning their origins will reduce the chances of misunderstanding, and will make it easier to remember.
Proverb dictionaries and idiom comic books targeted at elementary and junior high school students make it easy to understand and fun to learn. For those who want to study efficiently, we recommend downloading apps that let you learn Japanese proverbs and idioms through quizzes.
Summary
Proverbs that hold life lessons, and idioms that combine 2 or more words to create a special meaning are common expressions used in Japanese conversation and writing.
Many of them do not have literal meanings and can be difficult to learn, but once you know them, communication in Japanese becomes easier. Find a study method that works for you and learn how to use Japanese proverbs and idioms.
