Nihon-no-kotowaza
Japanese Proverbs and Idioms

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On Being Wise:
spkr Literal: Not-speaking is the flower.
Iwanu ga hana Meaning: some things are better left unsaid;
Silence is golden

spkr Literal: Poke around in a bush and a snake will come out.
yabu hebi da -- that'll teach you to keep quiet, or
yabu hebi ni naru -- you will make work for yourself.
Yabu wo tsutsuite hebi wo dasu Meaning: Let sleeping dogs lie.

spkr Literal: a fool is only cured by dying.
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai Meaning: Once a fool, always a fool.

spkr Literal: parent fool.
Oya-baka Meaning: a parent who believes everything their child does is wonderful.

spkr Literal: even a fool has one talent.
Baka mo ichi-gei Meaning: even a fool is good at something.

spkr Literal: a gold coin to a cat.
Neko ni koban Meaning: don't offer things to a person incapable of appreciating them.

spkr Literal: a pearl to a pig.
Buta ni shinji Meaning: don't offer things to a person incapable of appreciating them.

spkr Literal: a sutra (Buddhist prayer) in a horse's ear.
Uma no mimi ni nembutsu Meaning: a wasted effort

spkr Literal: if three women visit, noisy (kashimashii is made up of three small kanji for woman).
Onna sannin yoreba kashimashii Meaning: wherever three women gather it is noisy.

spkr Literal: Buddha's face too three times.
Hotoke no kao mo san do Meaning: To try the patience of a saint, even a Buddha's face will loose it's composure if asked something too many times.

spkr Literal: Fart and fire, from the origin, make a fuss.
He to kaji wa moto kara sawagu Meaning: It is often the originator who complains loudest.

spkr Literal: Good medicine tastes bitter in the mouth.
Ryooyaku kuchi ni nigashi Meaning: Good advice is often unpleasant and difficult to accept. Sometimes the bitter truth is the best medicine.

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On the Quality of Life:
spkr Literal: a frog in a well doesn't know the ocean.
I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu Meaning: a country person, or encourage someone to get a wider perspective.

spkr Literal: If residing, capital/metropolis.
Sumeba miyako Meaning: Wherever you live, you come to love it.

spkr Literal: like a cat's forehead.
Neko no hitai no you na Meaning: when referring to a very small room.

spkr Literal: ten people, ten colours.
Juu-nin to-iro Meaning: Everyone has their own tastes;
Different strokes for different folks'.

spkr Literal: the nail which sticks out will get hammered.
Deru kugi wa utareru Meaning: encourage conformity,
OK to be different but not too different.

spkr Literal: the neighbour's lawn is green.
Tonari no shibafu wa aoi Meaning: the grass is always greener on the other side.

spkr Literal: Entering the village, obey the village.
Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae Meaning: When in Rome, do as the Romans.

spkr Literal: knotweed eating insect also various tastes.
Tade kuu mushi mo suki-zuki Meaning: There is even an insect which likes to eat knotweed, there's no accounting for tastes.
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Take Advantage of Opportunities:
spkr Literal: to read the mackerel.
Saba wo yomu Meaning: to manipulate figures to one's advantage.

spkr Literal: count the skins of racoons which haven't been caught.
Toranu tanuki no kawa zan'you Meaning: don't count your chickens before they've hatched.

spkr Literal: one stone, two birds.
Isseki ni chou Meaning: Kill two birds with one stone.

spkr Literal: the hawk with talent hides its talons.
Nou aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu Meaning: a wise person keeps some talents in reserve; the person who knows most often says least.

spkr Literal: cover/hide your head, and not cover your bottom.
Atama kakushite, shiri kakusazu Meaning: Be careful not to expose your weak point while attempting to protect yourself.

spkr Literal: time, like an arrow.
Kouin ya no gotoshi Meaning: Time flies; time and tide wait for no man; life is short.

spkr Literal: Earthquakes, Thunder, Fires, Fathers.
Jishin, Kaminari, Kaji, Oyaji Meaning: compares the traditional Japanese father with other things to be feared.

spkr Literal: if three people gather, Monju'sa (buddhist god of wisdom) wisdom.
San nin yoreba Monju no chie Meaning: Two heads are better than one.
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Encouragement and Support:
spkr Literal: seven falls, eight getting up.
Nana korobi, ya oki Meaning: an encouragement to keep going no matter how tough it is.

spkr Literal: even monkees fall from trees.
Saru mo ki kara ochiru Meaning: even an expert can make mistakes; or a warning that "pride comes before a fall.

spkr Literal: even a excellent swimmer can get carried away by the river.
Kappa mo kawa nagare Meaning: anyone can make mistakes.

spkr Literal: even Koubou (Buddhist priest famous for his calligraphy) made mistakes with his brush.
Koubou mo fude no ayamari Meaning: even experts can make mistakes; or (pride leads to a fall).

spkr Literal: If hurried, go around.
Isogaba maware Meaning: In a hurry it is often faster to take a roundabout route.

spkr Literal: rained on ground hardens.
Ame futte ji katamaru Meaning: adversity builds character.

spkr Literal: dumplings rather than flowers.
Hana yori dango Meaning: To have more interest in the food than the flowers (ie: the practical over the aesthetic).

spkr Literal: piled-up specks of dust become a mountain
Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru Meaning: Many small efforts combined bring great success. Little things add up.

spkr Literal: Sitting on a stone for three years.
Ishi no ue nimo sannen Meaning: One who endures wins in the end from perseverence is a virtue. If you sit on your cold rock for 3 years it eventually warm-up and you are more secure in your position.
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Good Luck and Bad Luck:
spkr Literal: a bee to a crying face.
Nakitsura ni hachi Meaning: misfortunes seldom come alone; when it rains, it pours.

spkr Literal: breaking wind, closing buttocks.
He wo hitte shiri tsubome Meaning: no use shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

spkr Literal: overturned water doesn't return to the tray.
Fuku sui bon ni kaerazu Meaning: What's done is done; no use crying over spilt milk.

spkr Literal: fallen blossom doesn't return to the branch.
Rakka eda ni kaerazu Meaning: what's done is done; do not cry over spilled milk.

spkr Literal: a broken mirror can not be made to shine.
Hakyou futatabi terasazu Meaning: what's done is done; do not cry over spilled milk.

spkr Literal: humans everything Saiou horse.
Ningen banji saiou ga uma Meaning: All human affairs are like Saiou's horse; what at first appears to be good luck turns out to be bad luck and vise versa.
From a Chinese folk tale about an old man called Sai. One day his horse ran away. His neighbours commiserated with him over his misfortune, but Sai said "How do you know this is not really good luck?". A few days later the horse returned, bringing another horse with it. His neighbours congratulated him on his good luck, the old man said "How do you know this is really good luck?" Some while later Sai's son while riding the horse falls and breaks his leg. This was good fortune when all the men of the village are ordered to join the Emperor's army. Sai's son doesn't have to go since he has a broken leg.
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