Japanese Proverb – English Translation & Meaning

Voice sample: AI

情けは人の為ならず

なさけはひとのためならず (nasake wa hito no tame narazu)

What goes around comes around

View detail →

Basic Example

困っている新人を助けたら、後で自分も救われた。情けは人の為ならず。

I helped the new hire, and later they helped me—What goes around comes around.

Applied Example

クエストで困っていた初心者を手伝ったら、次回レアドロを譲ってくれた。情けは人の為ならず。

We carried a newbie through the quest, and he shared the rare drop—What goes around comes around.

Voice sample: AI

将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ

しょうをいんとほっすればまずうまをいよ (shō o in to hossureba mazu uma o iyo)

Cut off the head of the snake

View detail →

Basic Example

交渉を進めるなら決裁者の課題を押さえよう。将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ。

To move the deal forward, address the decision-maker’s pain points—Cut off the head of the snake.

Applied Example

ボスを倒すには先に支援モブを落とせ。将を射んと欲すればまず馬を射よ。

To beat the boss, take out the support mobs first—Cut off the head of the snake.

Voice sample: AI

医者の不養生

いしゃのふようじょう (isha no fuyōjō)

Physician, heal thyself

View detail →

Basic Example

健康指導してるのに自分は運動不足だなんて、医者の不養生だ。

Giving health advice while skipping workouts—Physician, heal thyself.

Applied Example

回復魔法の使い手が寝不足でふらふらって、医者の不養生だよ。

A healer running on no sleep? Physician, heal thyself.

Voice sample: AI

青は藍より出でて藍より青し

あおはあいよりいでてあいよりあおし (ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi)

The pupil surpasses the master

View detail →

Basic Example

教え子が大会で優勝した。青は藍より出でて藍より青しだね。

My student won the championship—The pupil surpasses the master.

Applied Example

師匠の剣技を超えるなんて…青は藍より出でて藍より青し！

The apprentice outdid the sword master—The pupil surpasses the master.

Voice sample: AI

知らぬが仏

しらぬがほとけ (shiranu ga hotoke)

Ignorance is bliss

View detail →

Basic Example

その噂は聞かないほうがいいよ。知らぬが仏。

It’s better not to hear that rumor—Ignorance is bliss.

Applied Example

裏ボスの行動パターン、初見なら知らないままのほうがワクワクする。知らぬが仏。

For the secret boss, going in blind makes it thrilling—Ignorance is bliss.

Voice sample: AI

善は急げ

ぜんはいそげ (zen wa isoge)

Good deeds should be done quickly

View detail →

Basic Example

アイデアが浮かんだ今のうちに提案書を書こう。善は急げ。

The idea just came to me—let me draft the proposal now. Good deeds should be done quickly.

Applied Example

レイド募集が始まった！今すぐパーティ組もう、善は急げだ。

The raid sign-ups just opened; let’s form the party now—Good deeds should be done quickly.

Voice sample: AI

鉄は熱いうちに打て

てつはあついうちにうて (Tetsu wa atsui uchi ni ute)

Strike while the iron is hot

View detail →

Basic Example

思いついたアイデアは、鉄は熱いうちに打てで形にした方がいい。

If you have an idea, strike while the iron is hot and put it into action.

Applied Example

「今やらなきゃ後悔するぞ。鉄は熱いうちに打てだ。」

If you don’t do it now, you’ll regret it. Strike while the iron is hot.

Voice sample: AI

石に立つ矢

いしにたつや (Ishi ni tatsu ya)

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Hope Motivation Determination Encouragement Praise

View detail →

Basic Example

努力を重ねれば、不可能も石に立つ矢となる。

If you put in enough effort, the impossible becomes possible — even an arrow can stand on a stone.

Applied Example

最弱と呼ばれた剣士の一撃が、強敵の盾を貫いた。石に立つ矢だ。

The blow of the weakest swordsman pierced the enemy’s shield — an arrow standing on stone.

Voice sample: AI

習うより慣れよ

ならうよりなれよ (Narau yori nare yo)

Practice makes perfect / Experience is the best teacher

Motivation Advice

View detail →

Basic Example

外国語は、習うより慣れよで毎日使うのが上達の近道だ。

When learning a foreign language, practice every day — experience is the best teacher.

Applied Example

「聞くだけじゃなく話せ。習うより慣れよだ。」

Don’t just listen, speak. Experience is the best teacher.

Voice sample: AI

百里の道も九十九里をもって半ばとす

ひゃくりのみちもくじゅうくりをもってなかばとす (Hyakuri no michi mo kujūkyūri wo motte nakaba to su)

The last mile is the hardest

Seriousness Advice

View detail →

Basic Example

最後の仕上げこそ大事。百里の道も九十九里をもって半ばとす。

The last stretch is the most important — the last mile is the hardest.

Applied Example

ゴール目前で油断し、逆転された。百里の道も九十九里をもって半ばとすだ。

He let his guard down just before the finish line and was overtaken — the last mile is the hardest.