Japanese proverbs

A Japanese proverb(諺, ことわざ, kotowaza) may take the form of:

a short saying(言い習わし, iinarawashi),
an idiomatic phrase(慣用句, kan'yōku), or
a four-character idiom(四字熟語, yojijukugo).

Although "proverb" and "saying" are practically synonymous, the same cannot be said about "idiomatic phrase" and "four-character idiom". Not all kan'yōku and yojijukugo are proverbial. For instance, the kan'yōku kitsune no yomeiri(狐の嫁入り, literally 'a fox's wedding', meaning "a sunshower") and the yojijukugo koharubiyori(小春日和, literally 'small spring weather', meaning "Indian summer" – warm spring-like weather in early winter) are not proverbs. To be considered a proverb, a word or phrase must express a common truth or wisdom; it cannot be a mere noun.[citation needed]

Origin

Numerous Asian proverbs, including Japanese, appear to be derived from older Chinese proverbs, although it often is impossible to be completely sure about the direction of cultural influences (and hence, the origins of a particular proverb or idiomatic phrase).

Because traditional Japanese culture was tied to agriculture, many Japanese proverbs are derived from agricultural customs and practices. Some are from the board game Go (e.g., fuseki o utsu(布石を打つ)), the tea ceremony (e.g., ichi go ichi e(一期一会)), and Buddhism. Many four-character idioms are from Chinese philosophy written in Classical Chinese, in particular "The Analects" by Confucius. (I no naka no kawazu(井の中の蛙, 'a frog in a well') is Classical Chinese, from the Zhuangzi.)

Usage

Japanese commonly use proverbs, often citing just the first part of common phrases for brevity. For example, one might say i no naka no kawazu(井の中の蛙, 'a frog in a well') to refer to the proverb i no naka no kawazu, taikai o shirazu(井の中の蛙、大海を知らず, 'a frog in a well cannot conceive of the ocean'). Whereas proverbs in English are typically multi-worded phrases (e.g. "kill two birds with one stone"), Japanese yojijukugo borrow from Chinese and compactly convey the concept in one compound word (e.g., isseki nichō(一石二鳥, 'one stone two birds')).

Examples

Sayings

出る杭は打たれる。 Deru kui wa utareru Literally: The stake that sticks up gets hammered down. Meaning: If you stand out, you will be subject to criticism.
知らぬが仏。 Shiranu ga hotoke Literally: Not knowing is Buddha. Meaning: Ignorance is bliss. / What you don't know can't hurt you.
見ぬが花。 Minu ga hana Literally: Not seeing is a flower. Meaning: Reality can't compete with imagination.
花は桜木人は武士 Hana wa sakuragi, hito wa bushi Literally: Of flowers, the cherry blossom; of men, the warrior. Meaning: As the cherry blossom is considered foremost among flowers, so the warrior is foremost among men.

井の中の蛙大海を知らず I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu Literally: The frog in the well knows nothing of the ocean. Meaning: People who experience very little have a narrow world view. / He that stays in the valley shall never get over the hill.

かわいい子には旅をさせよ Kawaii ko ni wa tabi wo saseyo Literally: Let your darling child travel. Meaning: If you don't discipline your child, they will not learn obedience. / Spare the rod and spoil the child.

案ずるより産むが易しい。 Anzuru yori umu ga yasashii Literally: Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it. Meaning: Fear is greater than the danger. / An attempt is sometimes easier than expected.

船頭多くして船山に登る Sendou ooku shite fune yama ni noboru Literally: Too many captains will steer the ship up a mountain. Meaning: Something may not be successful if too many people work on it at the same time. / Too many cooks spoil the broth.

蛙の子は蛙 Kaeru no ko wa kaeru Literally: The child of a frog is frog. Meaning: A child grows up similar to their parents. / Like father, like son. / The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

馬鹿は風邪を引かない Baka wa kaze o hikanai Literally: Idiots don't catch colds. Meaning: Carefree people are less likely to notice they are sick or to worry about being sick.

Idiomatic phrases

猫に小判 Neko ni koban Literally: Gold coins to a cat. Meaning: Casting pearls before swine / Giving something of value to a recipient that does not value it.
七転び八起き Nanakorobi yaoki Literally: Fall seven times and stand up eight Meaning: When life knocks you down, stand back up; What matters is not the bad that happened, but what one does after.
猿も木から落ちる Saru mo ki kara ochiru Literally: Even monkeys fall from trees Meaning: Anyone can make a mistake.
花より団子 Hana yori dango Literally: Dumplings rather than flowers Meaning: To prefer substance over form, as in to prefer to be given functional, useful items (such as dumplings) instead of merely decorative items (such as flowers).
馬の耳に念仏 Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu Literally: Chanting nenbutsu to a horse. Meaning: Attempting to make an argument to a party that will not listen. / Preaching to the deaf.

水と油 Mizu to abura Literally: Water and oil. Meaning: Totally incompatible. / [Go together like] oil and water.

Four-character idioms

十人十色 jūnin toiro Literally: ten persons, ten colors Meaning: To each his own. / Different strokes for different folks.
因果応報 inga ōhō Literally: Cause brings result / bad causes bring bad results Meaning: what goes around comes around Note: this is a Buddhist sentiment that emphasizes the idea of karmic retribution.
弱肉強食 jaku niku kyō shoku Literally: The weak are meat; the strong eat. Meaning: Survival of the fittest.

External links

(in Japanese)
(in Japanese)
(in Japanese and English)
A nice collection of Japanese proverbs.