Many Japanese quotes are similar to proverbs. 悪銭身に付かず – Akusen mi ni tsukazu Translation: Bad money won’t stick with you This Japanese idiom expresses the belief that in order to be successful, you should focus on one thing at a time.
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RELATED: Learn How to Count 1-10 in Japanese 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず – Nito wo ou mono wa itto mo ezu Translation: A man who chases two rabbits, doesn’t deserve one The message is positive, but this expression is also used to describe someone who is too proud to give up. The meaning of this Japanese quote is simple: don’t let others see your pain. 武士は食わねど高楊枝 – Bushi wa kuwanedo takayôji Translation: A Samurai pretends, even when he is starved, by holding a toothpick between his teeth These Japanese sayings can also be used to describe someone who owns or wears things that don’t really suit them. This means, “a koban to a cat.” A koban is a golden coin that was used hundreds of years ago in Japan.īoth Japanese idioms mean that it’s worthless to give a gift or something valuable to someone who doesn’t appreciate the gift. 豚に真珠 – Buta ni Sinjyu Translation: A pearl to a pigĪnother way to say this is “neko ni koban,” 猫に小判. Essentially, nobody is perfect even a virtuoso can make a mistake. Monkeys are great at climbing trees and kappas are skilled swimmers, but monkeys can fall and kappas can drown. This translates to: even a kappa can drown. SEE ALSO: The Best Way to Learn the Japanese Alphabet 猿も木から落ちる – Saru mo ki kara ochiru Translation: Even a monkey can fall from a treeĪnother similar Japanese saying is, “ kappa no kawa nagare,” 河童の川流れ. This is one of the many Japanese quotes that serve as a reminder to stay humble talented people don’t need to show off. Think of the English saying, “silence is golden.” 能ある鷹は爪を隠す – Nô aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu Translation: The skillful hawk hides its talonsĪ hawk who is a skilled hunter, hides his talons from his prey. 口は災いの元 – K uchi wa wazawai no moto Translation: A mouth causes troubleĪ similar Japanese idiom is: “ iwanu ga hana,” 言わぬが花.īoth of these Japanese sayings mean essentially the same thing: sometimes, it’s better to be silent. Like other Japanese idioms, this is a reminder that there are many other things beyond the world you live in, so don’t think you’re the biggest or the best in the world. Eventually, he ended up in the ocean and realized, in the grand scheme of things, he is much smaller than he thought. The frog was very proud of the fact that he was the biggest creature in the well.Īs a result, the frog believed he was invincible, and one day, he made up his mind to leave the well. This famous Japanese quote is based on a short tale about a frog: There was a frog who was born in a well.
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