Japanese Proverb – English Translation & Meaning

Voice sample: AI

時は金なり

ときはかねなり (Toki wa kane nari)

Time is money

Other Advice

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Basic Example

移動時間に資料を読み切ると決めた。「時は金なり」を実践すれば、仕事は前に進む。

Time is money; he vowed to finish the deck during the commute.

Applied Example

「あと三分。時は金なり、タイムアウトまでに決めるぞ。」

“Three minutes left. Time is money. Let’s score before the buzzer.”

Voice sample: AI

腹八分目

はらはちぶんめ (Hara hachibunme)

Moderation in all things

Calm Advice

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Basic Example

忙しい日は昼食を「腹八分目」に抑えると、午後の集中力が保てる。

Keeping lunch to moderation in all things helped him focus all afternoon.

Applied Example

彼女はケーキを一口残した。腹八分目、明日の練習のために甘さは控えめ。

She left one bite of cake; moderation in all things for tomorrow’s practice.

Voice sample: AI

猫に小判

ねこにこばん (Neko ni koban)

Casting pearls before swine

Disappointment Humor Advice

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Basic Example

最新ワインを勧めても、彼には味の違いが分からず「猫に小判」だった。

Offering a premium wine to him was casting pearls before swine.

Applied Example

「高級ヘッドホン？俺の耳じゃ猫に小判だな。」

“High‑end headphones? With my ears, that’s pearls before swine.”

Voice sample: AI

転ばぬ先の杖

ころばぬさきのつえ (Korobanu saki no tsue)

Better safe than sorry / Look before you leap

Seriousness Advice Caution

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Basic Example

資料は二部印刷、データはクラウドに保存。「転ばぬ先の杖」で会議は無事に終わった。

Two printed copies and a cloud backup—better safe than sorry, and the meeting went smoothly.

Applied Example

「替えのラケット、持ってきた？」転ばぬ先の杖、その一振りで流れが変わった。

“Did you bring a spare racket?” Better safe than sorry; that swing changed the momentum.

Voice sample: AI

鬼に金棒

おににかなぼう (Oni ni kanabou)

Adding fuel to the fire / To make a strong person even stronger

Excitement Pride Encouragement Praise

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Basic Example

エースが復帰した途端、守備も攻撃も噛み合って「鬼に金棒」になった。

With the ace back, the team became even stronger—adding fuel to the fire.

Applied Example

「新装備、解禁。」彼女がグラブをはめ直すと、チームは鬼に金棒の強さを手に入れた。

“New gear, unlocked.” She tightened her glove and the team looked stronger than ever, like giving an ogre a metal club.

Voice sample: AI

泣きっ面に蜂

なきっつらにはち (Nakittsura ni hachi)

When it rains, it pours / Misfortunes never come singly

Disappointment Sadness Other

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Basic Example

終電を逃したうえにスマホまで電池切れ、「泣きっ面に蜂」とはこのことだ。

Missing the last train and a dead phone—when it rains, it pours.

Applied Example

雨に濡れた彼のスニーカーが水たまりに沈む。泣きっ面に蜂、けれど拾った傘が恋の始まりになった。

His soaked sneakers sank into a puddle; misfortunes never come singly, yet the umbrella he found started a romance.

Voice sample: AI

鶴の一声

つるのひとこえ (Tsuru no hitokoe)

The final word / A word from the top settles everything

Other Other

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Basic Example

紛糾する会議も、部長の「鶴の一声」で一気に方向が決まった。

The heated meeting ended when the boss gave the final word.

Applied Example

「作戦はB案でいく。」鶴の一声に、ベンチの空気が一気に締まった。

“We’ll go with Plan B.” A word from the top snapped the dugout to attention.

Voice sample: AI

井の中の蛙大海を知らず

いのなかのかわずたいかいをしらず (I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu)

A frog in a well knows nothing of the sea / Narrow-minded

Confusion Seriousness Advice

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Basic Example

地域優勝で浮かれていたが、全国の壁を見て「井の中の蛙大海を知らず」と痛感した。

After a regional win, the national stage made him realize he’d been a frog in a well.

Applied Example

遠征で世界の強豪を見た瞬間、彼の視界が変わった。井の中の蛙大海を知らず、だからこそ海へ出る。

Seeing world‑class teams on tour changed his view; a frog in a well knows nothing of the sea—so he set sail.

Voice sample: AI

犬猿の仲

けんえんのなか (Ken'en no naka)

Fight like cats and dogs / Be at loggerheads

Anger Contempt Other

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Basic Example

幼なじみの二人は「犬猿の仲」だが、試合になると息が合う不思議なコンビだ。

They’re like cats and dogs, yet on the court their teamwork clicks.

Applied Example

「今日だけは停戦。犬猿の仲でも、勝利は分け合おう。」

“Truce for today. We may be at loggerheads, but let’s share the win.”

Voice sample: AI

馬の耳に念仏

うまのみみにねんぶつ (Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu)

Casting pearls before swine / Preaching to deaf ears

Disappointment Advice

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Basic Example

丁寧に説明しても無視される会議は「馬の耳に念仏」で消耗するだけだ。

Explaining carefully at that meeting was like preaching to deaf ears.

Applied Example

「何回言っても聞かないな。馬の耳に念仏ってこのことだよ。」

“No matter how many times I say it, he won’t listen. This is preaching to deaf ears.”