Proverbs and Maxims

Sayings Japanese people still use, from saru mo ki kara ochiru, even monkeys fall from trees, to the four-character wishes hung for a household or a great vow. Each study follows the saying to its oldest printed record and to the book that first put it into English.

七転八起 · nana korobi ya oki Fall Down Seven, Get Up Eight

Five sayings attributed to Japan, but not Japanese

一期一会 · ichigo ichie Each Moment Only Once

瑞気集門 · zuiki shūmon Gathering of Good Omens

塵も積もれば山となる · chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru Even dust if piled can become a mountain

猿も木から落ちる · saru mo ki kara ochiru Even Monkeys Fall Out Of Trees

急がば回れ · isogaba maware In a Hurry, Go the Long Way Round

継続は力なり · keizoku wa chikara nari Persistence Is Strength

礼に始まり礼に終わる · rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru Begins and Ends with Courtesy

因果応報 · inga ōhō Karma

蛇の道は蛇 · ja no michi wa hebi Snakes Follow The Way Of Serpents

大願成就 · taigan jōju A Great Wish Fulfilled

努力に勝る天才なし · doryoku ni masaru tensai nashi Hard work trumps natural ability

初志貫徹 · shoshi kantetsu Carry Your First Aim Through to the End

笑門来福 · shōmon raifuku Fortune Comes to a Home Full of Laughter

商売繁盛 · shōbai hanjō Thriving Business

晴耕雨読 · seikō udoku Plow in the Sun, Read in the Rain

笑う門には福来る · warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru Fortune Comes To Those Who Smile

一粒万倍 · ichiryū manbai One Grain, Ten Thousandfold

石の上にも三年 · ishi no ue ni mo sannen On a stone for three years

心機一転 · shinki itten Complete Change of Mind

一石二鳥 · isseki nichō Kill two birds with one stone

鬼は外福は内 · oni wa soto fuku wa uchi Devils Go Out Fortune Come In

三人寄れば文殊の知恵 · sannin yoreba monju no chie If three people gather, the wisdom of Monju

多芸は無芸 · tagei wa mugei Too Many Accomplishments Make No Accomplishments

見猿聞か猿言わ猿 · mizaru kikazaru iwazaru See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

苦は楽の種 · ku wa raku no tane No Pain, No Gain

仕方が無い · 仕様が無い · 仕方無い · shikata ga nai · shiyō ga nai · shikatanai It Cannot Be Helped · It Can't Be Helped · It Can't Be Helped

人生は短い · jinsei wa mijikai Life is Short

為せば成る · naseba naru Try and You Will Succeed

知らぬが仏 · shiranu ga hotoke Not Knowing is Buddha

善は急げ · zen wa isoge If It's Worth Doing, It's Worth Doing Promptly

言わぬが花 · iwanu ga hana Not Saying Is A Flower

勇者は幸運に恵まれる · yūsha wa kōun ni megumareru Fortune Favors The Brave

能ある鷹は爪を隠す · nō aru taka wa tsume o kakusu The Hawk with Talent Hides its Talons

十人十色 · jūnin toiro Ten People, Ten Colors

自業自得 · jigō jitoku You Reap What You Sow

人間万事塞翁が馬 · ningen banji saiō ga uma All is Saiou's Horse

逢うは別れの始め · au wa wakare no hajime Meeting is only the beginning of separation

地震雷火事親父 · jishin kaminari kaji oyaji Earthquakes, Thunderbolts, Fires, Fathers

水に流す · mizu ni nagasu Forgive and Forget

雨降って地固まる · ame futte ji katamaru The Ground Becomes Firm After Rain

住めば都 · sumeba miyako Home Is Where You Live

運命を制す · unmei o seisu I Control My Destiny

油断大敵 · yudan taiteki Carelessness is one's greatest enemy

明日は明日の風が吹く · ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku Tomorrow Is Another Day