諺(ことわざ)

ことわざ

noun

proverb, saying, maxim

1. proverb, saying

A traditional saying that expresses wisdom or advice.

日本(にほん)には面白(おもしろ)い諺(ことわざ)がたくさんある。

There are many interesting proverbs in Japan.

「七転(ななころ)び八起(やお)き」という諺(ことわざ)がある。

There is a proverb that goes 'Fall seven times, stand up eight.'

諺(ことわざ)にもあるように、「継続(けいぞく)は力(ちから)なり」だ。

As the proverb says, 'Perseverance is power.'

諺(ことわざ)には先人(せんじん)の知恵(ちえ)が詰(つ)まっている。現代(げんだい)でも通用(つうよう)するものが多(おお)い。

Proverbs are filled with the wisdom of our ancestors. Many of them are still applicable today.

When you look into foreign proverbs, you realize that despite differences in culture and history, there are many commonalities in how people think.

諺(ことわざ) refers to proverbs and traditional sayings.

Famous japanese proverbs

七転(ななころ)び八起(やお)き (Fall seven times, stand up eight)
猿(さる)も木(き)から落(お)ちる (Even monkeys fall from trees)
継続(けいぞく)は力(ちから)なり (Persistence is power)
石(いし)の上(うえ)にも三年(さんねん) (Three years on a stone - patience pays)
急(いそ)がば回(まわ)れ (If in a hurry, go around - haste makes waste)

Common patterns

諺(ことわざ)にあるように (as the proverb says)
という諺(ことわざ)がある (there is a proverb that says ~)

Similar

諺(ことわざ): proverb (traditional saying)
格言(かくげん): maxim, aphorism
慣用(かんよう)句(く): idiomatic phrase

Related Words

Compare: 格言(かくげん) (maxim, aphorism)

Compare: 慣用句(かんようく) (idiomatic phrase)

Compare: 故事成語(こじせいご) (idiom from a historical story)

Compare: 成句(せいく) (set phrase)

Compare: 成語(せいご) (set phrase)

Related: 慣用語(かんようご) (idiom)

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Added 2026.1.11 16:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

02500/02765_kotowaza