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15 Japanese Proverbs That Will Teach You Valuable Life Lessons

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Even the head of a sardine can become holy with devotion

In a culture full of idol worships and godmen, this is an eye opener. The saying dates
back to 16th century AD when the Japanese used to hang the head of a sardine at the
entrance of the house to ward off evil spirits. It means, with belief, anything can become
holy.

Chanting a prayer of Buddha into a horses ear



Different versions of this quote can be found in numerous cultures across the world.
What this proverb teaches is that it is useless to lecture someone on serious,
consequential concepts and aspects of life if that person is not receptive enough to
understand them. The end result will be your loss of time and energy. So remember this
before you get into an argument over demonetization with a Modi-Bhakt.

Kappa being washed away by the river

Kappa is the name of a Japanese mythical creature that used to live near streams and
was good at swimming. The proverb conveys that even a person who has attained
mastery at something is prone to making mistakes. It is similar to another Japanese
saying - "even monkeys fall from trees". In short, everyone makes mistakes, despite the
level of expertise they attain.

Fishing bream with shrimp as bait

To understand this saying, one must understand the significance of bream and shrimp.
Shrimp is easily available and cheap seafood, while breams are exclusive, expensive,
sought after fish, eaten only during festivals. The saying essentially means one should
try to make great profit with a small amount of investment.

Once-in-a-lifetime meeting


The meaning of this saying is that every encounter in life is temporary and therefore one
must treat people with respect and kindness so that you will not have any regrets later.
This is similar to what Chinese philosopher Confucius once said -every meeting must
end in parting.

Hide your head but fail to hide your butt

Everyone is eager to hide their flaws. Whether it is a character flaw or related to one's
appearance, it is foolish trying hard to hide it. Even if you think you have hidden them,
in reality, you have just hidden parts of your shortcomings and assume everything is
fine. But everyone else can see the problems.

Drunken life, dreamy death

We are often advised to dream big in life. But what is the point if all we do is dreaming
without accomplishing anything significant. This saying reminds that a life living in
daydreams is like being drunk and one will end up accomplish nothing.

3 years sitting on a rock



What happens when you sit on a rock for 3 years? One might say nothing will happen.
However, if you sit on a rock for 3 years it eventually gets warm. This saying means
that even though you may be going through hard times things will get better as time
pass.

A frog in a well does not know the great sea.

It says people who live in their own bubbles or echo chambers will have limited
experiences and no knowledge of the world outside their bubble. So before you get into
an argument with someone who has a narrow point of view and lacks worldly
knowledge, remember that it will be pointless.

One who chases after two hares wont catch even one

One of the key factors behind successful people is how they prioritize things. It is
essential for one to pick what matters and choose it over irrelevant things. So the
meaning of this saying is very simple and straight forward, you must pick which hare
you want to catch and chase it.

An apprentice near a temple will recite the scriptures untaught



This saying means that even an apprentice can become a well versed in scriptures just
by living near a temple. It points out to the fact that people are products of their
environment. One cannot stay sober if living with a group of junkies. One will be more
creative and productive when surrounded by experts and knowledge diggers.

Fall down seven times, stand up eight

If anyone knows the value of perseverance, then it is the Japanese. Living in a country
deprived of natural resources in midst of constant earthquakes and disasters, they
always rise up and do better.

If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub

One of the best ways to live your life to fullest is to break out from your comfort zone,
explore opportunities and win them. The proverb asks a question, 'if your goal is to
catch a cub, then how will you ever accomplish if you are scared enough to even go
inside a cave'. Remember, you will never accomplish anything by not taking any risk
and playing it safe.

Gold Coins to a Cat



Buying a gift for someone is really a hard task, but the worst is that person not
appreciating the gift. This saying is similar to the saying 'pearls before swine'. The
lesson to take from this one is not to give a gift to someone who can't appreciate it.

Giving birth to a baby is easier than worrying about it

It is a fact backed by many studies that we are influenced more by the fear or anxiety
about taking an action rather than the action itself. So stop worrying about the outcomes
and take a plunge.

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