Hope Phrases in Japanese – With English Translation

Voice sample: AI

雨垂れ石を穿つ

あまだれいしをうがつ (Amadare ishi wo ugatsu)

Constant dripping wears away the stone / Perseverance prevails

Basic Example

毎日の基礎練習は小さな一歩でも、雨垂れ石を穿つのだ。

Even small steps in daily drills can have a big impact — constant dripping wears away the stone.

Applied Example

「見ろよ、この成果。雨垂れ石を穿つって本当だな。」

Look at this progress. Constant dripping wears away the stone — it’s true.

Voice sample: AI

あめふってじかたまる (Ame futte ji katamaru)

After a storm comes a calm / Adversity builds character

Basic Example

衝突の多い新チームだったが、合宿後は「雨降って地固まる」で結束が強くなった。

They clashed at first, but after camp their bond was stronger—after a storm comes a calm

Applied Example

激しい口論のあと、二人は同じ傘に入った。雨降って地固まる、距離はむしろ縮まった。

After a fierce argument, they shared one umbrella; adversity builds character, and they grew closer.

Voice sample: AI

ななころびやおき (Nana korobi ya oki)

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again / Fall down seven times, get up eight

Basic Example

何度失敗しても、七転び八起きでまた立ち上がる。

No matter how many times you fail, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Applied Example

投げられても立ち上がり、また向かっていく。七転び八起き、その執念が試合を変えた。

Thrown to the mat, she stood up again and faced her opponent. Fall down seven times, get up eight — that persistence changed the match.