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 🙂
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