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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. Then 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, because 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, so 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, so 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, so 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, like dumplings over blossoms or 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.