Japanese proverb for the day

[Art_from_Ark]

Dareka karasu no shiyuu wo shiran. Literally, "No one knows whether a crow is male or female". I think this corresponds to the English proverb "You can't judge a book by its cover"

[ellisonz]

1. Interesting. n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Here's another one

Inu wa mikka kaeba, sannen on wo wasurenu-- "If you care for a dog for 3 days, it won't forget your kindness in 3 years"

Apparently, Japanese proverb-makers weren't as partial to cats, though: Neko wa sannen no on wo mikka de wasureru-- "A cat forgets 3 years of kindness in 3 days."

[ellisonz]

3. You should post that in the Pets Group!

Great Flame Bait: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1161

[AsahinaKimi]

4. My favorite: Sarumo ki kara Ochiru

Sarumo ki kara Ochiru~ Even the occasional monkey falls out of the tree. Meaning basically, that "No one is perfect."

[Art_from_Ark]

5. And then there's the standard proverb that we gaijin in Japan quickly learn:

Deru kugi wa utareru-- "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down"

[AsahinaKimi]

6. love the Kotowaza

I have heard that one as well. Another favorite:

Nana korobi ya oki~ if you fall seven times, get up the eighth.


This one I never understood:
Ame futte ji katamru ~ Rain falls, the ground hardens.

[Art_from_Ark]

7. I think it means that even if the rain makes the ground soft (and squishy)

the ground will become firm again. According to this site, it means that "even if bad things like disputes happen, the situation will change and become better than before."

http://www.sanabo.com/kotowaza/arc/2005/09/post_1070.html

[freshwest]

8. Here's one that struck me as very true, and thought provoking:

Vision without action is a daydream.

Action without vision is a nightmare.

Something to think about as we go through our days.

I found the quote in something I was reading that used it as part of the story. I looked up the quote for this post and found it on this webpage:

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/vision_without_action_is_a_daydream-action/13772.html

There are a number of links to Japanese quotes there.

[AsahinaKimi]

9. Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru

This one is outstanding:
Baka ni tsukeru kusuri nashi ~There is no medicine to cure Stupidity.

[Art_from_Ark]

10. I will update that last proverb just a bit

Baka na unten ni tsukeru kusuri nashi-- "There is no medicine to cure stupid driving". My area is rife with drivers who act like they've got their driving manual in one hand, and a cell phone in the other

[Art_from_Ark]

11. Here's another proverb

Kane no waraji de sagasu-- Literally, "Search for something while wearing metal sandals". Apparently, the typical Japanese sandals back in the olden days were made of straw, so they quickly fell apart. "Wearing metal sandals" apparently meant that someone would be prepared for the task, so they would persevere and not give up.

[AsahinaKimi]

12. Toranu tanuki no kawa zan yo

Don't estimate the value of a badger skin before catching the badger.


Iwana ga hana~ Some things are better left unsaid

[Art_from_Ark]

13. Isseki, nichou

一石、二鳥
Perhaps you can figure this one out from the Kanji? 今日のチャレンジ！

[AsahinaKimi]

14. would love to however

My computer needs the Asian fonts installed. Had a virus a few months ago, and needed to get my computer repaired. The technicians forgot to re install my Asian fonts so to me, its just boxes with numbers and letters inside.

[Art_from_Ark]

15. What kind of operating system do you have?

You might be able to activate the Japanese fonts yourself, depending on your system.

[AsahinaKimi]

16. Windows 7

I think.. not sure.

[Art_from_Ark]

17. If you have Windows 7, the Japanese fonts are pre-installed

It's just a matter of activating them:

http://www.coscom.co.jp/japanesefont/index.html

[AsahinaKimi]

18. Thanks for this..

Just checked and I have Windows XP .. and I checked that info you had. I need to have them physically installed with a disk, as I thought. Maybe I can do that next month when I get paid.

[AsahinaKimi]

19. wazawai wa kuchi yori kitaru

wazawai wa kuchi yori kitaru~misfortune comes from the mouth (i.e.: the words we speak, which cannot be taken back once spoken, cause great harm)

waratte sonshita mono nashi~

there is no loss to be had by laughing (i.e. better to laugh since complaining might cause offense)

[AsahinaKimi]

20. Dokusho hyappen ii onozu kara tsuza

Dokusho hyappen ii onozu kara tsuza ~Repeated reading clarifies the meaning

Mochi wa mochi ya ni makasei ~Leave mochi making to the mochi makers

Ten ni mukatte tsuba o haku ~Spit aimed at the sky comes back to one.

[Art_from_Ark]

21. Tomi wa isshou no takara, Chi wa mandai no takara

"Wealth is the treasure of a lifetime, but knowledge is the treasure of generations."

[Art_from_Ark]

50. Kodomo wo sugitaru takara wa nai

"There is no treasure more precious than a child"

[AsahinaKimi]

22. i learned this one today

nakunatta ushi ha kono mama de houga ii. a dead cow is problably better off that way

[AsahinaKimi]

23. Amari muri o suru to karada o kowashimasu yo

Amari muri o suru to karada o kowashimasu yo If you overwork yourself, you will ruin your health.

[Art_from_Ark]

24. Amari taberu to o-naka kowasu yo

If you eat too much, you'll break your stomach!

[Art_from_Ark]

25. Ryuu no hige wo nade,

tora no o wo fumu

"Stroking the dragon's whiskers, stepping on the tiger's tail"-- It means doing something very reckless and dangerous.

[AsahinaKimi]

26. ichi nichi, ichi zen

Every day do one good deed.

[AsahinaKimi]

27. Me wa Kokoro no Mado

Eyes are the Window of the Soul.

[Art_from_Ark]

28. Hara hachibunme ni, isha irazu

Kind of like "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", I guess, although in the Japanese version it's eating only until your stomach is 80% full that keeps the doctor away.

[AsahinaKimi]

29. Fukusui bon ni kaerazu

Spilt water never comes back to the tray again

[AsahinaKimi]

30. Hitsuyo wa Hatsume no haha

Necessity is the Mother of Invention.

[Art_from_Ark]

31. Mizaru, iwazaru, kikizaru

"See no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil"

[AsahinaKimi]

32. Kachou Fuugetsu

Literally: Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon
Meaning: Experience the beauties of nature, and in doing so learn about yourself.

[AsahinaKimi]

33. hada no iro yori, anatano kokoro no houga motto daiji desu.

hada no iro yori, anatano kokoro no houga motto daiji desu.
Your heart matters more then the color of your skin.

[Art_from_Ark]

34. Ki wo mite, mori wo minai

I think this is proverb is almost a direct translation of its English equivalent. Can you figure out what the English equivalent is?

[AsahinaKimi]

36. Can't see the forest through the trees.

hehe.

[Art_from_Ark]

37. Oh-atari!

[AsahinaKimi]

35. Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru

(Literal: piled-up specks of dust become a mountain
Meaning: Many small efforts combined bring great success. Little things add up.)

[AsahinaKimi]

38. Ame ga fureba kanarazu doshaburi!

When it rains, it pours.

[Art_from_Ark]

39. That's certainly applicable to Kyushu right now

[AsahinaKimi]

40. Fukushu wa saiko hiyashi sara desu.

Revenge is a dish best chilled.

[Art_from_Ark]

41. Hataraki-bachi ga, isshou ni hataraitemo,

tsui ni su kara oidasareru.

The worker bee, even though it works its entire life, will ultimately be kicked out of the hive.

(I must admit, I made that one up myself )

[AsahinaKimi]

42. Odorokubeki mono wa, kore made koko de okorimasen

Nothing amazing ever happens here.

[AsahinaKimi]

43. Baka wa shinanakya naoranai

Literally: Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured.
Meaning: Only death will cure a fool. / You can't fix stupid.

[Bonobo]

44. Boro ha kiredomo kokoro ha nishiki.

ボロは着れども心は錦。

It means literally &quot You) wear ratty clothes but your heart/soul/spirit is richly dressed"

So it means that no matter how you appear, you have a great heart.

[AsahinaKimi]

45. your thoughts reminded me of this.

[AsahinaKimi]

46. Watashi wa Tororu ga orokada to omoimasu

Last edited Wed Nov 28, 2012, 01:16 AM - Edit history (1)

"I think the troll is stupid" .. maybe this is something more modern? Heh.

[Art_from_Ark]

47. Tashika ni, gendaikko no hyougen ya de

Chotto toshi no ue no Nihonjin wa, "tororu" no gendai no imi wo shiranai kamoshirenai

[ellisonz]

48. If the trolls are stupid, why do they keep coming back?

[AsahinaKimi]

49. Perhaps they really enjoy

living under a bridge?

[Kablooie]

51. Uraniwa ni wa niwa, niwa ni wa niwa niwatori ga iru.

Which means:

There are two chickens in the yard, and two in the back yard.

[Art_from_Ark]

52. Naku neko wa nezumi toranu

"A loud cat doesn't catch mice."

[AsahinaKimi]

53. Kiku wa ittoki no haji kikaraza wa matsudai no haji

Last edited Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:14 PM - Edit history (1)

To ask is a moments shame, but not to ask is a lifetime shame.

Another way to say this is:

Kiku wa ichido no haji, kikanu wa isshou no haji.
To ask may bring momentary shame, but not to ask and remain ignorant
brings everlasting shame.

[AsahinaKimi]

54. Otoko wa kare ni wa ocha o motte inai baai, kare wa shinjitsu to utsukushi-sa o rikai suru koto ga

“If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.”

[Art_from_Ark]

55. And then there's the "sarariman" version

Biiru wo ippai nomanai to, shachou ni honne tsutaenai

"If you don't have a bellyful of beer, you can't tell the boss what you really think."

[AsahinaKimi]

56. Go ni itte wa go ni shitage

Obey the customs of the village you enter.

[AsahinaKimi]

57. Mizu ni nagasu

let it flow in the water. (Like: All water under the bridge. Let the past be the past)

neko ni katsuobushi o azukeru yo!
Like having a cat guard dried bonito; like letting the fox guard the hen house!

[Art_from_Ark]

58. Yup, you don't want your cat guarding your dried bonito

[AsahinaKimi]

59. I hope this is correct..

" Kare jishin no bengoshidearu kare wa, kuraianto no tame no baka o motte imasu" ~~“He who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client”

[Art_from_Ark]

60. Nice try :)

I think the actual proverb is "Jibun de bengo suru soshou no honnin wa bakamono dearu"
自分で弁護する訴訟の本人は馬鹿者である。

[AsahinaKimi]

61. Arigatou!

eom.

[AsahinaKimi]

62. Ikite iru ijoo wa nani ka shinakereba naranai.

So long as we live we have to do something.

[Art_from_Ark]

64. Ne ga nakutemo, hana wa saku

Literally, it means "Flowers will bloom, even if they don't have roots". What it actually means is that rumors will spread even if there is no basis for them.

[grantcart]

63. not a proverb but an interesting observation

When people around the world burn a finger they instinctively blow on it to cool it down.

Japanese will touch their earlobes. Apparently it has the highest concentration of capillaries and is even better than blowing.

The only Japanese saying I can remember is

Japanese are born as Shinto, get Married as Christians and die as Buddhists


referring to the kind of ceremonies that Japanese prefer at different times in their lives.