Wikipedia / Japanese proverbs
Wikipedia / Japanese proverbs
A may take the form of:
a ,
an , or
a .
Although "proverb" and "saying" are practically synonymous, the same cannot be said about "idiomatic phrase" and "four-character idiom". Not all kan'yōku and yojijukugo are proverbial. For instance, the kan'yōku and the yojijukugo are not proverbs. To be considered a proverb, a word or phrase must express a common truth or wisdom; it cannot be a mere noun.
Origin
Numerous Asian proverbs, including Japanese, appear to be derived from older Chinese proverbs, although it often is impossible to be completely sure about the direction of cultural influences (and hence, the origins of a particular proverb or idiomatic phrase).
Because traditional Japanese culture was tied to agriculture, many Japanese proverbs are derived from agricultural customs and practices. Some are from the board game Go (e.g., ), the tea ceremony (e.g., ), and Buddhism. Many four-character idioms are from Chinese philosophy written in Classical Chinese, in particular "The Analects" by Confucius. ( is Classical Chinese, from the Zhuangzi.)
Usage
Japanese commonly use proverbs, often citing just the first part of common phrases for brevity. For example, one might say to refer to the proverb . Whereas proverbs in English are typically multi-worded phrases (e.g. "kill two birds with one stone"), Japanese yojijukugo borrow from Chinese and compactly convey the concept in one compound word (e.g., ).
Examples
=== Sayings ===
出る杭は打たれる。
Deru kui wa utareru
Literally: The stake that sticks up gets hammered down.
Meaning: If you stand out, you will be subject to criticism.
知らぬが仏。
Shiranu ga hotoke
Literally: Not knowing is Buddha.
Meaning: Ignorance is bliss. / What you don't know can't hurt you.
見ぬが花。
Minu ga hana
Literally: Not seeing is a flower.
Meaning: Reality can't compete with imagination.
花は桜木人は武士
Hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi
Literally: Of flowers, the cherry blossom; of men, the warrior.
Meaning: As the cherry blossom is considered foremost among flowers, so the warrior is foremost among men.
井の中の蛙大海を知らず
I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu
Literally: The frog in the well knows nothing of the ocean.
Meaning: People who experience very little have a narrow world view. / He that stays in the valley shall never get over the hill.
かわいい子には旅をさせよ
Kawaii ko ni wa tabi wo saseyo
Literally: Let your darling child travel.
Meaning: If you don't discipline your child, they will not learn obedience. / Spare the rod and spoil the child.
案ずるより産むが易しい。
Anzuru yori umu ga yasashii
Literally: Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it.
Meaning: Fear is greater than the danger. / An attempt is sometimes easier than expected.
船頭多くして船山に登る
Sendou ooku shite fune yama ni noboru
Literally: Too many captains will steer the ship up a mountain.
Meaning: Something may not be successful if too many people work on it at the same time. / Too many cooks spoil the broth.
蛙の子は蛙
Kaeru no ko wa kaeru
Literally: The child of a frog is frog.
Meaning: A child grows up similar to their parents. / Like father, like son. / The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.
馬鹿は風邪を引かない
Literally: Idiots don't catch colds.
Meaning: Carefree people are less likely to notice they are sick or to worry about being sick.
Idiomatic phrases
Neko ni koban
Literally: Gold coins to a cat.
Meaning: Casting pearls before swine / Giving something of value to a recipient that does not value it.
七転び八起き
Nanakorobi yaoki
Literally: Fall seven times and stand up eight
Meaning: When life knocks you down, stand back up; What matters is not the bad that happened, but what one does after.
猿も木から落ちる
花より団子
Hana yori dango
Literally: Dumplings rather than flowers
Meaning: To prefer substance over form, as in to prefer to be given functional, useful items (such as dumplings) instead of merely decorative items (such as flowers).
馬の耳に念仏
Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu
Literally: Chanting nenbutsu to a horse.
Meaning: Attempting to make an argument to a party that will not listen. / Preaching to the deaf.
水と油
Mizu to abura
Literally: Water and oil.
Meaning: Totally incompatible. / [Go together like] oil and water.
Four-character idioms
十人十色
jūnin toiro
Literally: ten persons, ten colors
Meaning: To each his own. / Different strokes for different folks.
因果応報
inga ōhō
Literally: Cause brings result / bad causes bring bad results
Meaning: what goes around comes around
Note: this is a Buddhist sentiment that emphasizes the idea of karmic retribution.
弱肉強食
jaku niku kyō shoku
Literally: The weak are meat; the strong eat.
Meaning: Survival of the fittest.
See also
List of proverbial phrases (used in English)
References
Further reading
De Lange, William. (2013). A Dictionary of Japanese Proverbs. TOYO Press.
External links
故事ことわざ辞典 (in Japanese)
ことわざ辞典 (in Japanese)
Japanese Kotowaza (in Japanese and English)
Golden Proverbs A nice collection of Japanese proverbs.