Third time honesty? ~Introducing Japanese Proverbs, Kotowaza vol.3

Minasan Ohayō gozaimasu!

konkaimo itsutsu Kotowaza o goshōkai shimasu 🙂
I show you 5 Japanese proverbs this time too. Let’s get started!

Introducing 5 Japanese proverbs, vol.3 Video

Contents hide

1 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥きくはいっときのはじ、きかぬはいっしょうのはじ

2 急がば回れいそがばまわれ

3 捨てる神あれば拾う神ありすてるかみあればひろうかみあり

4 三度目の正直さんどめのしょうじき

5 二度あることは三度あるにどあることはさんどある

聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥
きくはいっときのはじ、きかぬはいっしょうのはじ

Romaji: Kiku wa ittoki no haji, kikanu wa isshō no haji

Direct translation: Asking is a temporary shame, not asking is a lifetime shame

Equivalent English Proverb: We have nothing to lose by asking. Better to ask the way than to go astray.

Example: You might be feel a bit shameful when you ask. But if you don’t ask now, you’ll miss the chance to ask again and you will be ignorant about it for life. Kiku wa ittoki no haji, kikanu wa isshō no haji desu yo.

急がば回れ
いそがばまわれ

Romaji: isogaba maware

Direct translation: When hustle, make a detour.

Equivalent English Proverb: Slow and steady wins the race. More haste, less speed.

Example: When hurry, people tend to go shortcut and make mistakes or encounter happenings. So when hurry, you need to be more careful and take a steady route. isogaba maware.

捨てる神あれば拾う神あり
すてるかみあればひろうかみあり

credit: buhitter.com

Romaji: Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari

Direct translation: If there is a god to throw away, there is a god to pick up.

Equivalent English Proverb: When one door shuts another opens. Every cloud has a silver lining. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Example: hmm… Japan is polytheism, you might be feel strange to state two different “God” one who throw and another to pick up 🙂
Even if you’re fired, there must be someone who need you. So don’t worry! “Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari” dayo.