Daily Japanese Quotes and Proverbs
One line of Japanese worth keeping, every day: a proverb people actually say, or a memorable line from a public-domain classic. Each has furigana, tap-any-word lookup, an English meaning, and audio. Quotes are checked word for word against the work they came from, so nothing here is misquoted.
Today's proverbローマは一日にして成らずローマはいちにちにしてならずRome was not built in a dayOct. 25th 2026為せば成るなせばなるif you have a mind to do something, you can do itOct. 24th 2026失敗は成功のもとしっぱいはせいこうのもとfailure teaches successOct. 23rd 2026人の噂も七十五日ひとのうわさもしちじゅうごにちa wonder lasts but nine daysOct. 22nd 2026立つ鳥跡を濁さずたつとりあとをにごさずit is simply common courtesy to clean up after yourselfOct. 21st 2026噂をすれば影うわさをすればかげspeak of the devilOct. 20th 2026壁に耳あり障子に目ありかべにみみありしょうじにめありwalls have earsOct. 19th 2026目は口ほどに物を言うめはくちほどにものをいうone can say more with a look than with ten thousand wordsOct. 18th 2026言わぬが花いわぬがはなsome things are better left unsaidOct. 17th 2026聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥きくはいっときのはじ、きかぬはいっしょうのはじbetter to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never knowOct. 16th 2026良薬は口に苦しりょうやくはくちににがしthe most helpful advice may be difficult to listen toOct. 15th 2026馬子にも衣装まごにもいしょうanybody can look good with the right clothesOct. 14th 2026人は見かけによらぬものひとはみかけによらぬものappearances can be deceivingOct. 13th 2026朱に交われば赤くなるしゅにまじわればあかくなるpeople will take on the characteristics of those who surround themOct. 12th 2026血は水よりも濃いちはみずよりもこいblood is thicker than waterOct. 11th 2026親の心子知らずおやのこころこしらずchildren do not know how dear they are to their parents (and therefore act selfishly)Oct. 10th 2026三つ子の魂百までみつごのたましいひゃくまでa leopard cannot change its spotsOct. 9th 2026渡る世間に鬼はないわたるせけんにおにはないall people aren't evilOct. 8th 2026明日は明日の風が吹くあしたはあしたのかぜがふくtomorrow will take care of itselfOct. 7th 2026捨てる神あれば拾う神ありすてるかみあればひろうかみありwhen one door is shut, another is openOct. 6th 2026病は気からやまいはきからsickness and health start with the mindOct. 5th 2026過ぎたるは猶及ばざるが如しすぎたるはなおおよばざるがごとしthe last drop makes the cup run overOct. 4th 2026能ある鷹は爪を隠すのうあるたかはつめをかくすa wise man keeps some of his talents in reserveOct. 3rd 2026人間万事塞翁が馬にんげんばんじさいおうがうまinscrutable are the ways of heavenOct. 2nd 2026安物買いの銭失いやすものがいのぜにうしないyou get what you pay forOct. 1st 2026餅は餅屋もちはもちやevery man knows his own business bestSep. 30th 2026溺れる者は藁をも掴むおぼれるものはわらをもつかむa drowning man will clutch at a strawSep. 29th 2026虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ずこけつにいらずんばこじをえずnothing ventured, nothing gainedSep. 28th 2026一寸の虫にも五分の魂いっすんのむしにもごぶのたましいtread on a worm and it will turnSep. 27th 2026雀百まで踊り忘れずすずめひゃくまでおどりわすれずwhat is learned in the cradle is carried to the tombSep. 26th 2026蓼食う虫も好き好きたでくうむしもすきずきsome prefer nettlesSep. 25th 2026灯台下暗しとうだいもとくらしit is darkest under the lamp postSep. 24th 2026河童の川流れかっぱのかわながれanyone can make a mistakeSep. 23rd 2026温故知新おんこちしんdeveloping new ideas based on study of the pastSep. 22nd 2026一期一会いちごいちえonce-in-a-lifetime encounterSep. 21st 2026因果応報いんがおうほうretributionSep. 20th 2026自業自得じごうじとくpaying for one's mistakesSep. 19th 2026一石二鳥いっせきにちょうkilling two birds with one stoneSep. 18th 2026十人十色じゅうにんといろseveral men, several mindsSep. 17th 2026鶴の一声つるのひとこえfinal wordSep. 16th 2026鬼に金棒おににかなぼうmaking something strong even strongerSep. 15th 2026棚からぼた餅たなからぼたもちsudden windfallSep. 14th 2026身から出た錆みからでたさびpaying for one's mistakesSep. 13th 2026石橋を叩いて渡るいしばしをたたいてわたるbeing excessively cautiousSep. 12th 2026泣き面に蜂なきつらにはちmaking matters worseSep. 11th 2026豚に真珠ぶたにしんじゅcasting pearls before swineSep. 10th 2026猫に小判ねこにこばんcasting pearls before swineSep. 9th 2026馬の耳に念仏うまのみみにねんぶつpreaching to the deafSep. 8th 2026頭隠して尻隠さずあたまかくしてしりかくさずburying one's head in the sand (while leaving other parts of one's body exposed)Sep. 7th 2026花より団子はなよりだんごfunction over aestheticsSep. 6th 2026七転び八起きななころびやおきnot giving upSep. 5th 2026終わりよければすべてよしおわりよければすべてよしall's well that ends wellSep. 4th 2026光陰矢のごとしこういんやのごとしtime flies like an arrowSep. 3rd 2026百聞は一見にしかずひゃくぶんはいっけんにしかずseeing is believingSep. 2nd 2026早起きは三文の徳はやおきはさんもんのとくthe early bird gets the wormSep. 1st 2026鉄は熱いうちに打ててつはあついうちにうてstrike while the iron is hotAug. 31st 2026初心忘るべからずしょしんわするべからずwe were all beginners onceAug. 30th 2026口は災いの元くちはわざわいのもとwords can lead to disasterAug. 29th 2026類は友を呼ぶるいはともをよぶbirds of a feather flock togetherAug. 28th 2026笑う門には福来るわらうかどにはふくきたるlaugh and grow fatAug. 27th 2026捕らぬ狸の皮算用とらぬたぬきのかわざんようcounting one's chickens before they're hatchedAug. 26th 2026無い袖は振れぬないそではふれぬyou can't give (use) what you don't haveAug. 25th 2026後悔先に立たずこうかいさきにたたずit is no use crying over spilt milkAug. 24th 2026急いては事を仕損じるせいてはことをしそんじるhaste makes wasteAug. 23rd 2026情けは人のためならずなさけはひとのためならずthe good you do for others is good you do yourselfAug. 22nd 2026楽あれば苦ありらくあればくありafter pleasure comes painAug. 21st 2026住めば都すめばみやこyou can get used to living anywhereAug. 20th 2026三度目の正直さんどめのしょうじきthird time luckyAug. 19th 2026二度あることは三度あるにどあることはさんどあるwhat happens twice will happen thriceAug. 18th 2026犬も歩けば棒に当たるいぬもあるけばぼうにあたるbad things happen to those who attempt thingsAug. 17th 2026備えあれば憂いなしそなえあればうれいなしif you are prepared you don't have to worryAug. 16th 2026転ばぬ先の杖ころばぬさきのつえprevention is better than cureAug. 15th 2026三人寄れば文殊の知恵さんにんよればもんじゅのちえthree heads are better than twoAug. 14th 2026習うより慣れろならうよりなれろexperience is the best teacherAug. 13th 2026論より証拠ろんよりしょうこthe proof of the pudding is in the eatingAug. 12th 2026時は金なりときはかねなりtime is moneyAug. 11th 2026千里の道も一歩からせんりのみちもいっぽからa journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stepAug. 10th 2026善は急げぜんはいそげmove with haste (when you have no doubts)Aug. 9th 2026好きこそものの上手なれすきこそもののじょうずなれwhat one likes, one will do wellAug. 8th 2026知らぬが仏しらぬがほとけignorance is blissAug. 7th 2026出る杭は打たれるでるくいはうたれるthe nail that sticks out gets hammered downAug. 6th 2026案ずるより産むが易しあんずるよりうむがやすしit is easier to do something than worry about itAug. 5th 2026二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if you run after two hares you will catch neitherAug. 4th 2026弘法にも筆の誤りこうぼうにもふでのあやまりanyone can make a mistakeAug. 3rd 2026覆水盆に返らずふくすいぼんにかえらずwhat's done is doneAug. 2nd 2026ちりも積もれば山となるちりもつもればやまとなるmany a little makes a mickleAug. 1st 2026継続は力なりけいぞくはちからなりperseverance makes one strongerJul. 31st 2026石の上にも三年いしのうえにもさんねんperseverance prevailsJul. 30th 2026果報は寝て待てかほうはねてまてgood things come to those who waitJul. 29th 2026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 in Rome, do as the Romans doJul. 28th 2026隣の芝生は青いとなりのしばふはあおいthe grass is always greener on the other side of the fenceJul. 27th 2026雨降って地固まるあめふってじかたまるadversity strengthens the foundationsJul. 26th 2026蛙の子は蛙かえるのこはかえるlike father, like sonJul. 25th 2026急がば回れいそがばまわれmore haste, less speedJul. 24th 2026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the frog in the well knows nothing of the great oceanJul. 23rd 2026猿も木から落ちるさるもきからおちるeven monkeys fall from treesJul. 22nd 2026けれどもほんとうのさいわいは一体何だろう。銀河鉄道の夜宮沢賢治Jul. 21st 2026ある日の暮方の事である。一人の下人が、羅生門の下で雨やみを待っていた。羅生門芥川竜之介Jul. 20th 2026猿の笑顔だ。人間失格太宰治Jul. 19th 2026自分には、人間の生活というものが、見当つかないのです。人間失格太宰治Jul. 18th 2026恥の多い生涯を送って来ました。人間失格太宰治Jul. 17th 2026メロスは、村の牧人である。笛を吹き、羊と遊んで暮して来た。走れメロス太宰治Jul. 16th 2026メロスには政治がわからぬ。走れメロス太宰治Jul. 15th 2026メロスは激怒した。走れメロス太宰治Jul. 14th 2026私はその人を常に先生と呼んでいた。こころ夏目漱石Jul. 13th 2026住みにくさが高じると、安い所へ引き越したくなる。草枕夏目漱石Jul. 12th 2026智に働けば角が立つ。情に棹させば流される。意地を通せば窮屈だ。とかくに人の世は住みにくい。草枕夏目漱石Jul. 11th 2026山路を登りながら、こう考えた。草枕夏目漱石Jul. 10th 2026吾輩はここで始めて人間というものを見た。吾輩は猫である夏目漱石Jul. 9th 2026どこで生れたかとんと見当がつかぬ。吾輩は猫である夏目漱石Jul. 8th 2026吾輩は猫である。名前はまだ無い。吾輩は猫である夏目漱石