Japan — quotes, proverbs & wisdom

Real words from the people of Japan, each with a verified source. New quotes are added as each is fact-checked.

“Even monkeys fall from trees.”

猿も木から落ちる

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

七転び八起き

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“Three years on a stone.”

石の上にも三年

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”

出る杭は打たれる

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“Dumplings over flowers.”

花より団子

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“A frog in a well does not know the great ocean.”

井の中の蛙大海を知らず

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), derived from the Chinese classic Zhuangzi; public-domain oral tradition

“Spilt water will not return to the tray.”

覆水盆に返らず

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“Ten people, ten colors.”

十人十色

Source: Traditional Japanese four-character idiom (yojijukugo), public-domain oral tradition

“Continuation is power.”

継続は力なり

Source: Traditional Japanese saying (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition

“Giving birth is easier than worrying about it.”

案ずるより産むが易し

Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition