1.
haste makes waste; rushing leads to mistakes
A proverb warning that acting too hastily causes errors and poor results. Patience and careful action produce better outcomes.
A common Japanese proverb equivalent to the English "haste makes waste" or "more haste, less speed." The verb 仕損じる means "to fail" or "to bungle," so the literal meaning is "if you rush, you will bungle the task."
Common patterns
The 急いて is the te-form of 急く (to hurry), and は adds contrastive emphasis: "if you hurry (in contrast to being patient), you will fail." The proverb is typically quoted in its full form.
Similar words
- 急がば回れ: if in a hurry, take the roundabout way — similar meaning emphasizing careful action
- 慌てる乞食はもらいが少ない: the beggar who panics gets less — similar admonition against rushing
Usage
Often used as gentle advice or self-reflection when someone has made a mistake due to rushing. Commonly followed by という, とはこのことだ, or だよ.