Japanese proverbs are compact little gems – centuries-old wisdom packed into just a few words. They pop up in conversations, dramas, and even your favourite manga, but if you’re not familiar, you’ll just blink and miss the meaning.
This list hands you around 20 of the most common Japanese proverbs you’re likely to meet. We’ve skipped the dusty textbook relics and kept only the ones that still show up in real life. Every proverb comes with a straightforward meaning and a natural example sentence, so you can see exactly how it behaves in the wild – not just a translation you’d forget by tomorrow.
Ready for a little wisdom with a wink? Scroll to the bottom of the article to find the free printable Japanese Proverbs vocabulary list PDF and the free downloadable printable Japanese Proverbs flashcards. Your future proverb-savvy self will thank you.
Want more than one list? Browse our Japanese section for more Yak Yacker study pages, printable lists, and quiz-friendly review material.
Quick Quiz
Think you can match a Japanese proverb to its meaning without peeking? The quick quiz below will give you a friendly nudge toward the ones that need a second look.
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| Expression | Reading | Meaning | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 腹を割る | Hara o waru | Speak frankly; open up honestly | Speak frankly; open up honestly |
| 自業自得 | jigō jitoku | You reap what you sow | One's own doing, one's own result. |
| 舌を巻く | Shita o maku | Be astonished by skill | Be astonished by skill |
| 花より団子 | はなよりだんご | Practical things over aesthetics. | Enjoying food more than scenery on a trip is like preferring dumplings over flowers. |
| 花鳥風月 | kachō fūgetsu | Beauty of nature | Flowers, birds, wind, moon. |
| 英語は話せますか | Eigo wa hanasemasu ka | Do you speak English? | Do you speak English? |
| 蛙の子は蛙 | かえるのこはかえる | Like father, like son; children resemble their parents. | The son became a doctor, like father, like son. The father is also a doctor. |
| 行ってきました | went | went | |
| 覆水盆に返らず | ふくすいぼんにかえらず | What's done cannot be undone. | Even if you regret breaking up with your girlfriend, spilled water doesn't return to the tray. |
| 足が出る | Ashi ga deru | Go over budget | Go over budget |
| 足が遠のく | Ashi ga tōnoku | Stop going somewhere | Stop going somewhere |
| 足を引っ張る | Ashi o hipparu | Hold someone back | Hold someone back |
| 郷に入っては郷に従え | ごうにいってはごうにしたがえ | When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | When you come to Japan, you should follow the custom of bowing. When in the village, follow the village. |
| 頭がいい | Atama ga ii | Smart; intelligent | Smart; intelligent |
| 頭が上がらない | Atama ga agaranai | Unable to stand up to someone; indebted to someone | Unable to stand up to someone; indebted to someone |
| 頭が切れる | Atama ga kireru | Sharp-minded; quick-thinking | Sharp-minded; quick-thinking |
| 顔が広い | Kao ga hiroi | Well-connected; knows many people | Well-connected; knows many people |
| 顔が立つ | Kao ga tatsu | To save face; maintain honor | To save face; maintain honor |
| 顔に出る | Kao ni deru | To show on one’s face | To show on one’s face |
| 首になる | Kubi ni naru | To get fired | To get fired |
| 首を長くする | Kubi o nagaku suru | Wait eagerly | Wait eagerly |
| 馬が合う | Uma ga au | Click naturally with someone | Click naturally with someone |
| 骨が折れる | Hone ga oreru | Takes a lot of effort | Takes a lot of effort |
| 鼻が高い | Hana ga takai | Proud | Proud |
| 鼻につく | Hana ni tsuku | Annoying; get on one’s nerves | Annoying; get on one’s nerves |
Free Japanese Proverbs Vocabulary List and Flashcard PDFs to Download
Tap the purple Japanese Proverbs vocabulary-list button for the 100% free Japanese Proverbs vocabulary list, no signup needed. Then grab the teal Japanese Proverbs flashcards button for the matching Japanese Proverbs flashcards, also 100% free and ready to print.
