転(ころ)ばぬ先(さき)の杖(つえ)

ころばぬさきのつえ
expression
better safe than sorry
proverb
1. better safe than sorry
Literally 'a walking stick before you fall.' Take precautions in advance so as to avoid trouble.
転(ころ)ばぬ先(さき)の杖(つえ)だ。
Better safe than sorry.
転(ころ)ばぬ先(さき)の杖(つえ)で、保険(ほけん)に入(はい)っておいた。
To be on the safe side, I took out insurance.
旅行(りょこう)の前(まえ)に薬(くすり)を用意(ようい)しておくのは、転(ころ)ばぬ先(さき)の杖(つえ)というものだ。
Packing medicine before a trip is just good sense: better safe than sorry.

転(ころ)ばぬ is the classical negative of 転(ころ)ぶ (= 転(ころ)ばない).

Usage

Often followed by で ("as a precaution, …") or 転(ころ)ばぬ先(さき)の杖(つえ)として.

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 備(そな)えあれば憂(うれ)いなし (if you are prepared, you need not worry)
general
Added 2026.10.5 10:58 · Revised 2026.10.5 10:59
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