Encouragement Phrases in Japanese – with English Translation

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

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

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

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

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.