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Japanese Proverbs — Daily Kotowaza Card
Kotowaza pack centuries of wisdom into a few syllables. Meet one a day — with its reading, its literal image and what it really means — and save it as an ukiyo-e style art card.
All 31 proverbs in this collection
Tap any proverb to put it on the card.
- 七転び八起きななころびやおきFall down seven times, get up eight. — Keep getting back up no matter how many times life knocks you down — resilience beats failure.
- 猿も木から落ちるさるもきからおちるEven monkeys fall from trees. — Even experts make mistakes — so don't be too hard on yourself (or them).
- 石の上にも三年いしのうえにもさんねんThree years sitting on a stone. — Persevere — sit on a cold stone long enough and it warms up. Sticking with something pays off.
- 花より団子はなよりだんごDumplings over cherry blossoms. — Substance over style — practical things beat pretty things. Said of people who skip the view and head for the food.
- 井の中の蛙大海を知らずいのなかのかわずたいかいをしらずA frog in a well knows nothing of the great ocean. — A narrow world makes a narrow mind — there's always a bigger world than the one you know.
- 出る杭は打たれるでるくいはうたれるThe stake that sticks out gets hammered down. — Standing out invites criticism — often quoted when talking about conformity and Japanese society.
- 十人十色じゅうにんといろTen people, ten colors. — Everyone is different — to each their own.
- 一期一会いちごいちえOne lifetime, one meeting. — Treasure every encounter — it will never happen the same way twice.
- 継続は力なりけいぞくはちからなりContinuing is power. — Consistency compounds — small daily effort beats bursts of motivation. A favorite of language learners.
- 塵も積もれば山となるちりもつもればやまとなるEven dust, piled up, becomes a mountain. — Tiny things add up — savings, vocabulary words, minutes of practice.
- 急がば回れいそがばまわれIf you're in a hurry, go around. — The safe, steady route beats the risky shortcut — haste makes waste.
- 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ずにとをおうものはいっとをもえずChase two rabbits, catch neither. — Split your focus and you'll fail at both — pick one goal at a time.
- 案ずるより産むが易しあんずるよりうむがやすしGiving birth is easier than worrying about it. — Things are rarely as hard as the dread beforehand — just start.
- 郷に入っては郷に従えごうにいってはごうにしたがえWhen you enter a village, follow the village. — When in Rome, do as the Romans do — adapt to local ways.
- 覆水盆に返らずふくすいぼんにかえらずSpilled water does not return to the tray. — What's done is done — no use crying over spilled milk.
- 猫に小判ねこにこばんGold coins to a cat. — A treasure is wasted on someone who can't appreciate it.
- 豚に真珠ぶたにしんじゅPearls before swine. — Same idea as 'gold coins to a cat' — fine things mean nothing to those who can't see their value.
- 雨降って地固まるあめふってじかたまるAfter the rain, the ground hardens. — Storms — arguments, setbacks — can leave things stronger than before.
- 蛙の子は蛙かえるのこはかえるThe child of a frog is a frog. — Children take after their parents — like father, like son.
- 論より証拠ろんよりしょうこEvidence over argument. — Don't debate it — show the proof. Actions and results speak louder than words.
- 百聞は一見に如かずひゃくぶんはいっけんにしかずHearing it a hundred times doesn't match seeing it once. — Seeing is believing — go and look for yourself.
- 早起きは三文の徳はやおきはさんもんのとくEarly rising earns you three mon. — The early bird gets the worm — even if the reward is small, it adds up.
- 良薬は口に苦しりょうやくはくちににがしGood medicine tastes bitter. — Honest advice can sting — the useful feedback is rarely the pleasant kind.
- 能ある鷹は爪を隠すのうあるたかはつめをかくすThe skilled hawk hides its talons. — Truly capable people don't show off — quiet competence over loud claims.
- 灯台下暗しとうだいもとくらしIt's darkest right under the lamp stand. — The answer you're searching for is often right under your nose.
- 弘法にも筆の誤りこうぼうにもふでのあやまりEven Kōbō made slips of the brush. — Even the greatest masters make mistakes — the calligraphy version of 'even monkeys fall from trees.'
- 石橋を叩いて渡るいしばしをたたいてわたるTap a stone bridge before crossing it. — Be extra careful even when things look safe — said of very cautious people, sometimes teasingly.
- 類は友を呼ぶるいはともをよぶLike calls to like. — Birds of a feather flock together.
- 笑う門には福来るわらうかどにはふくきたるFortune comes to the gate that laughs. — Good luck finds cheerful homes — laughter invites happiness in.
- 千里の道も一歩からせんりのみちもいっぽからEven a thousand-ri road starts with a single step. — Every huge goal — like learning Japanese — begins with one small step today.
- 明日は明日の風が吹くあしたはあしたのかぜがふくTomorrow, tomorrow's wind will blow. — Don't carry today's worries into tomorrow — things will work out.
Imagine reading these without the furigana.
Every kotowaza here is built from kanji and grammar you can actually learn — our course starts from zero and gets you reading them for real.
FAQ
What is a kotowaza?
Kotowaza (ことわざ) are Japanese proverbs — short fixed sayings that condense life lessons into a few words. They appear in everyday conversation, newspapers, speeches and school lessons.
Are these proverbs still used today?
Yes — all 31 here are living classics. 七転び八起き (“fall seven times, get up eight”) shows up in pep talks and company slogans; 猿も木から落ちる (“even monkeys fall from trees”) is everyday consolation.
Why show a literal translation and a meaning?
The literal image is what makes proverbs memorable — dumplings over blossoms, a frog in a well. We show the word-for-word picture first, then what the proverb actually means in use, so nothing gets lost in translation.
Can I save and share the cards?
Yes — every proverb renders as a hanging-scroll or shikishi art card you can save as a high-res PNG or share directly. Free for personal use.