1. 可愛い子には旅をさせよ
Reading: かわいいこにはたびをさせよ (kawaii ko niwa tabi o saseyo)
Translation: Send the cute children on a journey.
Meaning: Instead of spoiling your cute children, you should make sure they experience some of life’s difficulties.
2. ローマは一日にしてならず
Reading: ろーまはいちにちにしてならず (ro-ma wa ichinichi ni shite narazu)
Meaning/Translation: Rome wasn’t built in a day.
3. 勝って兜の緒を締めよ
Reading: かってかぶとのおをしめよ (katte kabuto no o o shimeyo)
Translation: After victory, tighten your helmet strap.
Meaning: Keep your guard up until the very end.
4. 借りてきた猫
Reading: かりてきたねこ (karite kita neko)
Translation: A borrowed cat.
Meaning: This proverb refers to someone who is acting more well behaved than they usually are, from the belief that cats act more tamely when outside their typical home.
5. 手前味噌
Reading: てまえみそ (temae miso)
Translation: The miso in front of you.
Meaning: Singing one’s own praises.
Explanation: This proverb envisions a person who is raving about the greatness of their own home-made miso.
6. 蓼食う虫も好き好き
Reading: たでくうむしもすきずき (tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki)
Translation: Some bugs gladly eat knotweed.
Meaning: To each is own. Everyone’s taste in things is different.
Explanation: Knotweed has an extremely spicy taste, but there are some insects that love to eat it anyway.
7. 鳴く猫はねずみを捕らぬ
Reading: なくねこはねずみをとらぬ (naku neko wa nezumi o toranu)
Translation: A loud cat doesn’t catch mice.
Meaning: People who spend all their time talking accomplish nothing.
8. 一石二鳥
Reading: いっせきにちょう (isseki nichou)
Meaning/Translation: Killing two birds with one stone.
9. 鶴の一声
Reading: つるのひとこえ(tsuru no hitokoe)
Meaning: The crane’s word.
Translation: A decision by someone powerful that settles a difficult debate.
10. とらぬ狸の皮算用
Reading: とらぬたぬきのかわざんよう (toranu tanuki no kawazanyou)
Translation: Calculating profits of uncaught fox skins.
Meaning: Counting your chickens before they’re hatched.
11. 馬の耳に念仏
Reading: うまのみみにねんぶつ (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu)
Translation: A Buddhist recitation into a horse’s ear.
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Classic Japanese Poems & Quotes
PoetryA collection of Japanese quotes, poems, and Japanese expressions romanized and written in both Japanese and English. A very well written and artful writings by inspired Japanese authors and also by our noble ancestors such as legendary writers, rev...
