Japanese Sayings ⛩️🍣🍡 in 2025

Mon zen no kozō narawanu kyō wo yomu
”An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught.”

Mimi o oute, suzu o nusumu.
”Cover the ears and steal the bell.”

Hito no kokoro ga omoiegaki shinjirareru koto wa, subete jitsugen kanō de aru.
”Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

Ayamachitewa aratamuruni habakaru koto nakare.
”If you make a mistake, don’t hesitate to correct it.”

Sugitaru wa nao oyobazaru ga gotoshi.
”Let what is past flow away downstream.”

Kanemochi de kyōryokuna hito o damashimasuga, bujoku shinaide kudasai.
”Deceive the rich and powerful if you will, but don’t insult them.”

Gaden insui.
”To draw water into one’s own rice field”

Baka mo ichi-gei.
”Even a fool has one talent (Even a fool may be good at something).”

kaden rika
”Melon field, under a plum tree”

Shiranu ga hotoke
”Not knowing is Buddha.”

Migi no mimi kara hidari no mimi.
”To go in the right ear and out the left.”

Shiawase wa mō sude ni dekiagatte iru mono ja nai. Jibun no kōdō ga hikitsukeru mono da.
”Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.”

Aho ni toriau baka.
”It is foolish to deal with a fool.”

Tazei ni buzei.
”Few against many.”

Asa no eikō ya gibo no egao ni tayoranaide kudasai.
”Never rely on the glory of the morning or the smiles of your mother-in-law.”

Inu o mikka kaeba san-nen on o wasurenu, neko wa san-nen katte mikka de on o wasureru.
”Feed a dog for three days and it is gratefull for three years. Feed a cat for three years and it forgets after three days.”

Yabu wo tsutsuite hebi wo dasu.
”Poke a bush, a snake comes out.”

Seiten no heki-reki
”Thunderclap from a clear sky.”