二階から目薬
“Eye drops from the second floor.”
Describes an action that is so indirect or roundabout that it fails to have the intended effect.
— Traditional Japan Wisdom, Japan
Source: Traditional Japanese proverb (kotowaza), public-domain oral tradition
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Even monkeys fall from trees.
Even experts and masters of a skill sometimes make mistakes.
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Fall seven times, stand up eight.
No matter how many times you fail, keep getting back up and persevere.
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Three years on a stone.
Perseverance through hardship over time will eventually bring reward, just as sitting long enough warms even a cold stone.
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The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Those who stand out from the group or draw too much attention often face criticism or suppression.
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Dumplings over flowers.
Practical substance is preferable to mere appearance or aesthetics.
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A frog in a well does not know the great ocean.
A person of limited experience judges the world by their narrow perspective, unaware of how vast it truly is.
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