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Japan, with its rich traditions and unique cultural heritage, is home to many profound and meaningful quotes about life. Explore the best Japanese quotes compiled by Mytour.
I. Best Japanese Proverbs and Sayings
A bad wife is a ruin of a hundred years. (Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku) – A bad wife is a ruin of a hundred years.
The remnants hold fortune. (Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru) – If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't catch its cub.
Summer hearth, winter fan. (Karo tōsen) – A fireplace in summer, a fan in winter => Signifying something useless or improperly used.
Flowers, birds, wind, moon. (Kachou Fuugetsu) – Experience the beauty of nature.
Revival from death. (Kishi kaisei) – To awaken from death and return to life => Escape from despair and bounce back.
As you sow, so shall you reap. (Jigou Jitoku) – One action, one benefit => What you get is what you deserve for the effort you put in.
Lightning in clear skies. (Seiten no heki-reki) – A bolt of lightning in a clear sky => Something incredibly surprising.
Even monkeys fall from trees. (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) – Even monkeys fall from trees => Everyone makes mistakes, nobody is perfect.
The frog in the well knows not the great ocean. (I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu) - The frog in the well knows not the great ocean => Describes someone who judges everything based on their narrow experience, unable to comprehend the vast world.
Like father, like son. (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru) – The child of a frog is a frog => Like father, like son.
A kite gives birth to a hawk. (Tonbi (or Tobi) ga taka wo umu) – A kite gives birth to a hawk => Great children come from their parents.
Spilt water does not return to the tray. (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu) – Once water is spilled, it cannot return to the tray => A separated couple is hard to reconcile.
The one who chases two rabbits catches neither. (Ni usagi wo ou mono wa ichi usagi wo mo ezu) – The one who chases two rabbits catches neither => Trying to do two things at once will make you fail at both.
Continuity breeds strength. (Keizoku wa chikara nari) - Persistence is also power => Don't give up, keep going on the path you've chosen.
A child near the temple learns the scriptures. (Mon zen no kozō narawanu kyō wo yomu) – Someone living near a temple can also recite scriptures => Environment also contributes to shaping character.
Not knowing is bliss. (Shiranu ga hotoke) - Not knowing is Buddha => Ignorance is preferable to knowing the truth.
Unseen, yet a flower. (Minu ga hana) - Unseen, yet a flower => Reality never matches your imagination, so it's better not to see.
Gold coins for cats. (Neko ni koban) - Giving gifts to someone who doesn't appreciate them is futile.
Fall seven times, rise eight. (Nanakorobi yaoki) - Stumble seven times, recover eight times => Reinforce perseverance.
Three-day monk. (Mikka bōzu) - Becoming a monk for only three days => Giving up at the first sign of difficulty.
It's easier to give birth than to worry. (Anzuru yori umu ga yasashi) - Fear is more dangerous than danger itself.
A fool can't be cured unless he dies. (Baka wa shinanakya naoranai) - Only death can cure a fool.
Don't let your daughter-in-law eat the eggplant. (Akinasu wa yome ni kuwasuna) - Don't let yourself be taken advantage of.
Dumplings over flowers. (Hana yori dango) - Practicality over aesthetics => Practicality is more preferable than aesthetics.
Let it flow with the water. (Mizu ni nagasu) – Forgive and forget.
After the rain, the ground hardens. (Ame futte chi katamaru) – Adversity builds character. / After the storm, everything stands firmer than before.
Selling oil. (Abura o uru) - Selling oil => wasting time chatting or idling.
Dragon head, snake tail. (Ryuutou dabi) - Impressive at first, disappointing later.
Sunshine farming, rainy reading. (Seiko udoku) - Work in the fields when it's sunny, read books when it's raining.
Surrounded on all sides by enemies. (Shimen soka) - Being surrounded from all sides => Success or failure is clear; A situation of desperation beyond hope.
Ten people, ten colors. (Jūnin toiro) – Ten people, ten colors => Everyone has their own personality, their own value.
Great similarity, minor differences. (Daidō shōi) - Major similarities, minor differences => Careful consideration is needed to find the differences.
Kill two birds with one stone. (Isseki nichō) – Do one thing and gain two benefits.
Scattered clouds, dissipating mist. (Unsan dirtyō) – Disappearing without a trace.
Bringing water to my own field. (Gaden insui) - Doing/saying something beneficial for oneself.
II. Japanese famous quotes and sayings
1. Love is like a shadow, the more you chase it, the more it flees. If you run away, it follows; if you pursue, it runs away.
2. Immature love says, 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says, 'I need you because I love you.'
3. Quarrels between lovers are the renewal of love.
4. Short absence enlivens love, but long absence destroys it.
5. Instead of creating perfect love, we waste time seeking the perfect lover.
6. Embrace change. Before change forces you to.
7. Head towards your own goal.
8. Difficulty is an opportunity to do your best.
If you can dream it, you can achieve it.
It's not strength that people lack. It's willpower.
Today, I have a dream.
A monk preached against stealing while hiding a butterfly up his sleeve.
Peace begins with a smile.
You can't find a rainbow if you're always looking down.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
III. Best Japanese Anime Quotes
1. If you don't know what's worth holding onto, life becomes a journey without a destination.
- Hisano Kuroda, Personal 4 The Animation
2. Yes, the desire to help someone was beautiful, so I admired it. Therefore, there's no feeling of loss from me. What do you call this if not hypocrisy!?
- Archer, Fate/stay night
3. Playing around with terms like 'new humanity' or 'evolution' won't get you here. The strength of humans lies in their ability to change themselves!
- Saitama, One Punch Man
4. Fear isn't evil. It lets you know your weaknesses. And once you know your weaknesses, you can become stronger and kinder.
- Gildarts, Fairy Tail
5. Don't give up on giving up!
- Naruto, Naruto
6. Fight!! Fight!! If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. If you don't fight, you can't win!
- Eren Jaeger, Shingeki no Kyojin
7. You can't move forward if you're only regretting the past, little brother!
- Eren Jaeger, Shingeki no Kyojin
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If you're learning Japanese and exploring the culture of Japan, hopefully this article has helped you expand your language skills. Stay tuned to Mytour for more insightful quotes!
