Rumor lasts 75 days? ~Introducing Japanese Proverbs, Kotowaza vol.8

Japanese kotowaza

Minasan Ohayō gozaimasu!
Can you guess what does “Rumor lasts 75 days” mean?

Let’s find it now!
I’ll show you 5 Japanese proverbs in this blog. Let’s get started!

Introducing 5 Japanese proverbs, vol.8 Video

 

早起きは三文の徳
(はやおきは さんもんの とく)

Romaji: hayaoki wa sanmon no toku

Word: hayaoki (早起き)= waking up early,   sanmon (三文)=”small amount of money”  toku(徳)=virtue, goodness

Direct translation: An early riser gets a small virtue

Equivalent English expressions: The early bird catches the worm.

Example: けさ早起きして散歩してたら、ご近所さんにお菓子をもらったよ。早起きは三文の徳だね。
Kesa hayaoki shite sanpo shitetara, gokinjo-san ni okashi o moratta yo. “hayaoki wa sanmon no toku” dane.
I woke up early this morning and took a walk, then my neighbor gave me sweets. The early bird catches the worm.

 

千里の道も一歩から
(せんりの みちも いっぽから)

Romaji: senri no michi mo ippo kara

Word: senri (千里)= long distance (“ri” is a distance unit used long time ago 1 ri =2.44 miles),  michi (道) =road,  ippo (一歩)= one step

Direct translation: Even for a long distance journey, it starts with one step

Equivalent English expressions:A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.  Slow and steady wins the race.

Example: A: あー、大学受験かあ。もうやること多すぎて、やる気失せるんですけど。B: 千里の道も一歩から。毎日コツコツやることが大切だよ。
A: Ahh.. daigaku juken kaa. Mou yarukoto oosugite, yaruki useru n desu kedo…   B: senri no michi mo ippo kara. Mainichi kotsu-kotsu yaru koto ga taisetsu dayo. 
A: Ahh.. University entrance examination…To many things to do and I lost my motivation..  B: Slow and steady wins the race. It’s important that you work little by little every day.

 

百聞は一見にしかず
(ひゃくぶんは いっけんに しかず)

source: note.com/yoppy5965/n/nd7bc06e05093

Romaji: hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu

Word: hyakubun (百聞)= listening 100 times,   ikken (一見)=glance

Direct translation: A picture is worth a thousand words.

Equivalent English expressions: Seeing is believing.

Example: たくさんの人がいろいろ説明してくれるけど、百聞は一見にしかずなんだよなあ。現場に連れてってくれれば すぐに納得できると思うんだけど。
Takusan no hito ga iroiro setsumeishite kureru kedo, “hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu” nanda yo naa. Genba ni tsuretette kurereba sugu ni nattoku dekiru to omou n dakedo.. 
Many people explained me a lot, but I feel it’s “hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu”(Seeing is believing). I think I’ll understand immediately if you could bring me to the site.

 

人のうわさも七十五日
(ひとの うわさも ななじゅうごにち)

Romaji: hitono uwasa mo nanajū-go nichi

Word: uwasa (うわさ)= rumor, gossip,   nanajū-go nichi (七十五日)= 75 days

Direct translation: Rumor lasts just 75 days

Equivalent English expressions: A wonder lasts but nine days

Example: A: ひどい、みんなが私のうわさ話をしてる。根拠のないうわさだよ。はずかしくて外を歩けないよ!
B: だいじょうぶ、人のうわさも75日って言うから。そのうち忘れられるよ。

A: hidoi, minna ga watashi no uwasa-banashi o shiteru. konkyo no nai uwasa dayo. Hazukashikute, soto o arukenai yo.
B: Daiijoobu, “hitono uwasa mo nanajū-go nichi” tte iu kara. Sonouchi wasurerareru yo.

A: Oh my god, they’re all talking about me. It’s a wild rumor. It’s so embarrassing and I can’t walk outside. !
B: Don’t worry! They say “Gossip lasts just 75 days”. Sooner it will be forgotten.

 

備えあれば憂いなし
(そなえあればうれいなし)

Romaji: sonae areba urei nashi

Word: sonae (備え)=preparation,    urei (憂い) = sorrow, grief

Direct translation: If prepared , no sorrow.

Equivalent English expressions: Preparation is the first step to success. Perfect Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

Example: A:明日のプレゼン、心配だなあ。B: 準備すれば大丈夫だよ。備えあれば憂いなしだよ。

A: Ashita no purezen, shinpaida naa.  B: Junbi sureba daijoobu dayo. “Sonae areba urei nashi” dayo.

A: I’m worry about tomorrow’s presentation.  B: It should be ok if you prepare it. Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

 

How was it? Dō deshita ka?
Do you have your favorite Kotowaza?
Hope you enjoyed the 5 Japanese proverbs introduced this time!

 

Find out the 10 most famous Japanese proverbs!

* If you wonder what are “dane”, “dayo”, desu yo” – ending particles, you way want to watch these two videos 🙂

casual ending particles

all about particles

 

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