Determination Phrases in Japanese – with English Translation

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

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

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

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.

Voice sample: AI

いしのうえにもさんねん (Ishi no ue nimo sannen)

Persistence prevails / Perseverance conquers all

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.