One Dozen Authentic Japanese Proverbs
Who doesn’t like a good proverb that gives a general truth in a concise, interesting manner? The following twelve authentic Japanese proverbs are still popular in Japan even after the passage of centuries. I’ve included only one application for each proverb out of all its possibilities. Perhaps you’ll think of others.
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Unless you enter the tiger’s den, you cannot catch its cub.
To obtain a dangerous prize, you have to take a risk.
Too many captains run the ship up a mountain.
Having too many leaders can destroy a project.
Like putting a gold coin in front of a cat.
Expressing a good idea before an ignorant person is useless.
Life is like bubbles on a stream. (Voiced by the medieval monk Chōmei)
People’s lives are fleeting, carried along without leaving anything permanent.
Chase two rabbits and catch none.
To be successful, concentrate fully on one goal.
Wisdom is a treasure for ten thousand generations.
Wisdom remains valuable from generation to generation without being lessened.
If in a hurry, take a lengthy route.
By forcing yourself to slow down, you avoid mistakes and arrive more quickly.
A frog in a well knows nothing of the huge ocean.
A person’s knowledge is lacking if he has had limited experience.
Dumplings over flowers.
That which is useful is more satisfying than what merely looks pretty.
Even monkeys fall from trees.
Experts can make mistakes.
A nail that stands up will be pounded down.
A person who tries to stand out is pressured to conform. (A group generally values unity above individualism.)
Sit on a stone for three years.
Patient endurance of discomfort lays a foundation for improvements.
Do you find this taste of Japanese culture inviting? If you do, then you have this in common with my six novels’ American heroes as they meet heroines and the Japanese people in very different environments.
You are invited to join their adventures.
