Motivation Phrases in Japanese – With English Translation

Voice sample: AI

継続は力なり

けいぞくはちからなり (Keizoku wa chikara nari)

Practice makes perfect / Perseverance is power

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Basic Example

毎日5分の読書でも、継続は力なりだと実感する。

Even five minutes of reading daily can make a big difference — perseverance is power.

Applied Example

小さな筋トレを欠かさなかった彼は、夏の大会で体格が別人のようになっていた。継続は力なり。

The one who never skipped small workouts looked like a different person at the summer tournament — perseverance is power.

Voice sample: AI

努力は裏切らない

どりょくはうらぎらない (Doryoku wa uragiranai)

Hard work pays off

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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Basic Example

長時間の練習を重ね、努力は裏切らないことを証明した。

After long hours of training, he proved that hard work pays off.

Applied Example

何度も負けた選手が、最後の一戦で笑顔を見せた。努力は裏切らない。

The player who lost countless times finally smiled after the last match — hard work pays off.

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

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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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

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず

こけつにいらずんばこじをえず (Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu)

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Motivation Advice Encouragement

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Basic Example

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず　彼女は迷わず難関資格に挑んだ。まさに「虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず」だ。

She went for the toughest certification without hesitation—nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Applied Example

全国大会の出場枠は一つだけ。「虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず」と言い切って、彼は最難関の技に挑んだ。

In a tournament with only one national slot, he chose the hardest move, saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Voice sample: AI

七転び八起き

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

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement

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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.

Voice sample: AI

塵も積もれば山となる

ちりもつもればやまとなる (Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru)

Many a little makes a mickle / Little by little, a little becomes a lot

Motivation

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Basic Example

少しずつでも貯金すれば、塵も積もれば山となる。

If you save a little at a time, many a little makes a mickle.

Applied Example

「また100円貯金か？」「塵も積もれば山となるって言うだろ。」

Another hundred yen in the jar? "Many a little makes a mickle, right?"

Voice sample: AI

石の上にも三年

いしのうえにもさんねん (Ishi no ue nimo sannen)

Persistence prevails / Perseverance conquers all

Motivation

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Basic Example

どんなに成果が出なくても、石の上にも三年だと思って続けるべきだ。

Even if results don't come quickly, you should keep going — persistence prevails.

Applied Example

3年間、誰より早く道場に来ては素振りを続けた。石の上にも三年、今日こそその成果を見せる時だ。

For three years, he came to the dojo earlier than anyone and kept swinging. Persistence prevails — today was the time to show it.