I often see proverbs and wonder where they come form. Sometimes if a see a new proverb I really have to think about what the underlying meaning is.
I was recently looking at some Japanese proverbs. Their meaning was not immediately clear to me but on reading the explanations I realised we have an equivalent sayings in English that have the same meaning but use different words to express it.
I found that kind of intriguing.
Many of the Japanese proverbs use, animal, nature and seasonal references. This could be seen in some of the equivalent English versions too.
Check out this Japanese proverbs and see if you can guess the meanings and come up with the English equivalent.
Proverb 1
虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず。
Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu
Literal Translation: If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub.
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 2
自業自得。
Jigou Jitoku
Literal Translation: One’s Act, One’s profit/Advantage.
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 3
晴天の霹靂
Seiten no heki-reki
Literal Translation: Thunderclap from a clear sky.
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 4
猿も木から落ちる
Saru mo ki kara ochiru
Literal Translation: Even monkeys fall from trees
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 5
蓼食う虫も好き好き
Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki
Literal Translation: There are even bugs that eat knotweed.
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 6
我田引水
gaden insui
Literal Translation: pulling water to my own rice paddy
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 7
十人十色
jūnin toiro
Literal Translation: Ten men, ten colours
Meaning
English Equivalent
Proverb 8
猫に小判
neko ni koban
Literal Translation: gold coins to a cat
Meaning
English Equivalent
I found these proverbs online and the credit for the literal translations and meanings has to go to http://www.linguanaut.com/japanese_sayings.htm
I hope you enjoyed them. Please feel free to let me know any equivalent proverbs in your country. shinepositivepower.wordpress.com of the the Philippines shared this one as the equivalent of Proverb 6!– “Buhatin ang sariling bangko” – literal translation “Pulling up your own chair.”
So while I don’t want to “pull water to my own rice paddy” ” blow my own horn” or “pull up my own chair” I must say I had fun with this post!
Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu
Leanne
Loved all the quotes, they are so uniquely worded and meaningful. Very inspiring. 🙂
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Thank you so much for taking the time to go through them all! I have just finished reading yours! I enjoyed it very much!
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Thank you so much and I loved your post as well and I forgot to mention, the picture with the monkeys was very adorable. 🙂
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Thank you. I took it in Nagano. There is a place where the monkeys bath in the hotsprings. I did a post about them called Monkey Business
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Aah, all the pictures are yours then! They are very beautiful! 😀
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cheers!
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Very inspiring 🙂
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Thank you! Started off looking for a quote about Japan and spent all day reading Japanese proverbs!
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Hello Lean, I guess you like anything Japanese 🙂
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Yes that and travel!
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It’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Love and light ❤
Anand
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Awesome Post! I love reading Proverbs 🙂 These proverbs have this meaning for me. It shows, be courageous and strong, don’t think that you are just small and can’t do anything since you are important and you can do everything if you set your heart and mind to achieving your passion, desire or dreams. We are unique and each of us have his/her own gift and capabilities. 🙂 I didn’t check the meaning first before I post this comment so I hope I am at least right on the meaning lol 🙂
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Thank you. Am still checking the links etc so please let me know if something is not linking up properly!
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It links properly, I’ve checked them all 🙂
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Thank you I have just added your proverb at the end
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Thank you, but I think the other one, the one with Kapag May tiyaga may nilaga is more right on the Proverb no. 2 I think 🙂
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Thank you. I’ve seen it 🙂
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