(Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru) Literally: Luck exists in the leftovers.
Meaning:There is luck in the last helping.

(Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu) Literally: If you do not enter the tiger's cave, you will not catch its cub.
Meaning:Nothing ventured, nothing gained. / You can't do anything without risking something.

(Kachou Fuugetsu) Literally: Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon
Meaning:Experience the beauties of nature, and in doing so learn about yourself.

(Shiranu ga hotoke) Literally: Not knowing is Buddha.
Meaning:Ignorance is bliss. / It's better to not know the truth.

(mikka bzu) Literally: a monk for (just) three days.
Meaning:Giving up at the first sign of difficulty.

(mizu ni nagasu) Literally: let flow in the water
Meaning:Forgive and forget; water under the bridge

(isseki nich) Literally: one stone, two birds
Meaning:Killing two birds with one stone; Doing 2 things with one action

3. Reading:(naseba naru)
(Literal) Translation:if you take action, it will become
Meaning:You can do it if you try.This proverb comes from a poem byUesugi Youzan (), from back in the Edo period. Its pretty cool and being a Japanese poem isnt so long, so heres the full text.

naseba naru
nasaneba naranu nanigoto mo
naranu wa hito no nasanu nari keriIf you try, you may succeed.
If you dont try, you will not succeed. This is true for of all things.
Not succeeding is the result of not trying.Japanese Proverbs
Good manners even between friends. (Jp: Shitashiki naka-ni-mo reigi ari.)Yawning creates sympathetic yawning company. (Jp: Akubi-wo issho-ni sureba mikka itoko. )The nail that sticks gets hammered down. (Jp: Deru kugi-wa utareru.)Food before romance. (Jp: Iroke yori kuike.)Poverty dulls the wit. (Meaning: A poor or hungry person cannot function properly. An empty sack cannot stand upright.)(Jp: Hin sureba don suru.)
[more Japanese Proverbs]Japanese IdiomsJapanese Sayings
To read the air. (Meaning: A popular Japanese expression describing the ability to sense the mood of other people. Read between the lines. To be sensitive to the situation.)(Jp: Kuki-wo yomu.)Rice cake dumpling from the shelf. (Meaning: An unexpected and very welcome luck. Pennies from heaven; a windfall.)(Jp: Tana-kara botamochi. )Cold water on sleepy ears. (Meaning: A funny expression used when hear something surprising. Bolt from the blue. Great surprize.)(Jp: Nemimi-ni mizu.)Love at first sight. (Jp: Hitomebore.) To fall in love at first sight. (Jp: Hitomebore suru.)
[more Japanese Idioms]Japanese Quotes
Who can understand others hardship can inspire others. However, it first requires experiencing the hardship personally. -Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda Motor Company.To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace [Aikido]. -Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido Japanese martial art.
[more Japanese Quotes]Japanese Sayings[1][2][3]This page displays Japanese sayings , including Japanese proverbs , Japanese quotes , Japanese idioms , Japanese expressions and Japanese phrases. And also quotations or quotes about Japan written or said by various famous Japanese people or foreign celebrities and observers of Japan.Disliking the dish prior to having tried it. (Jp: Kuwazu girai. ) Japanese expressionBuilding a multistory mansion on sand. (Meaning: An expression used to indicate that actions need to change course, as the work(relationship,undertaking), even though it looks pretty at first glance, is being built on a shaky and fundamentally unsound ground(principles), eventually leading to a collapse. (Sajou-ni roukaku-wo kizuku. )Gold coin to a cat. (Meaning: A valuable item for someone who wants to play with it, but cannot appreciate it. A useless gesture. Wasting of efforts/resources. Casting pearls before swine. (Jp: Neko-ni koban.)Like a water pored onto a standing plate. (Meaning: Fluency; volubility.) (Jp: Tate ita-ni mizu. )Like a scant raindrops onto a large plate. (Meaning: Halting speech; stammering.)(Jp: Yoko ita-ni amadare. )One red flower in a sea of green vegetation. (Meaning: An expression used to describe situation when there is one woman among many men.) (Jp: Banryoky sou chuu kou itten.)A loud laugh bespeaks a vacant mind. (Jp: Baka-no takawarai. )Like a candle where the wind blows. (Meaning: An expression used to describe a precarious and unstablesituation.)(Jp: Fuuzen-no tomoshibi. )Height comparison amongst acorns. (Meaning: Concern with matters of little importance. Bragging competition. Pissing contest about things that have no outstanding characteristics and all look about the same.)(Jp: Donguri-no seikurabe. )To wear cats appearance. (Meaning: To feign friendliness. To play the hypocrite.)(Jp: Neko-wo kaburu. )A bones breaking and wearing away earnings. (Meaning: An expression used when one is tired from hard but fruitless work. Great pain but all in vain.)(Jp: Honeorizon-no kutabiremouke. )Too busy to warm up a chair. (Jp: Seki-no atatamaru itoma-mo nai. ) Japanese proverbWeak meat is for breakfast. (Meaning: A humorous encouragement to become stronger. The one who is weak will get eaten.)(Jp: Jaku niku choushoku.)Too late! A dollar short, a day late. (Jp: Ato-no matsuri.)A fool will believe anything. A fool will swallow anything. Someone who is too easy to trust anything he is told. (Jp: Aho-no hanashi-gui.)Unless an idiot dies, he wont be cured. (Jp: Baka-wa shinanakya naoranai.)To cross a dangerous bridge. To tread on thin ice. To go out on a limb. To walk a tight rope. To take a dangerous risk. (Jp: Abunai hashi-wp wataru.)Sowing and reaping evil. (Jp: Akuin akka.)A walking (alive) encyclopedia (dictionary). (Jp: Iki jibiki. )
If pushing hard does not work, try pulling it. (Sometimes it is wise to change approach and restructure efforts.)(Jp: Oshite-mo dame-nara hiite mina.)Those who are smart hide their claws. (Meaning: A skilled hawk hides its talons. Showing off is not always a good idea. A wise man keeps some of his capabilities in reserve. The person who knows most often says least.)(Jp: No aru taka-wa tsume-wo kakusu.)A young priest staying outside the gates will learn the sutras naturally. (Meaning: The right environment itself can be a great teacher for a young student. We learn more than we realize.) (Jp: it tMon zen no kozo narawanu kyo wo yomu.)Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon. (Meaning: Experience the beauty of Nature experience yourself. (Jp:Kachou Fuugetsu.)Old mans wisdom is better than tortoises armor. (Jp: Kame-no-kou yori toshi-no-kou. )A frog in a well does not know about the Ocean. (Meaning: An expression used to encourage someone to get a broader perspective. Person who is ignorant (careless) of the real world. Provincial. Parochal.)(Jp: I-no naka-no kawazu taikai-wo shirazu. )One who cannot say a cooked potato from raw. (Used to describe someone too clueless (careless) of the real world.)(Jp: Imo-no nie-mo go-zonji nai. ) -Japanese proverbBad things too shell pass soon. (Jp: Iyana koto mo kore-de oshimai. )People often know little of what is happening under their very noses. (Literally: Its dark right below the lighthouse.)(Jp: Toudai moto kurashi. )Spilled water will not go back into the tray. (Whats done is done. Water under the bridge. It is useless to cry over the spilt milk.) (Jp: Fukusui bon-ni kaerazu.)
Short temper leads to losses. (Jp: Tanki-wa sonki. ) Japanese proverbAnger is not to be transferred, mistake is not to be repeated. (Jp: Ikari-wo utsusazu, ayamachi-wo futatabi sezu. )Do for others what you want others do for you. (Jp: Onore-no hossuru tokoro-wo hito-ni hodokose. ) Japanese version of the scriptures famous quote.Japanese Proverbs about FriendshipGood medicine tastes bitter. (Meaning: Most helpful advice may be hurtful to listen. No pain, no gain.) (Jp: Ryouyaku-wa kuchi-ni nigashi. )Shyness of strangers. (Literally: Observing and learning about a person.)(Meaning: A Japanese expression used to describe somewhat awkward moments of silent shyness and stranger anxiety.)(Jp: Hitomi shiri. )When the devils away do the laundry. (Meaning: When the scary people who pressure you are away it is a good time to refresh and relax yourself. When the cat is away the mice will play.)(Jp: Oni-no inuma-ni sentaku. )A cheap promise is fast forgotten. (Jp: Yasuukeai-no hayawasure. )A friend in need is a friend indeed. (Jp: Masaka-no toki-no tomo koso shinn-no tomo. )A friend to all is a friend to none. (Literally: A person beautiful from all angles showing everybody what they want to see, is not really that beautiful.)(Jp: Happou bizin-wa bizin-de nai. )Japanese Idioms Explained!Here is a collection of Japanese idioms which are used in daily life in Japan.

To cloud the tea. (Meaning: To muddy the waters. To give an evasive, ambiguous or pretentious answer. To prevaricate. To cook up a specious story to get out of an uncomfortable situation.)(Jp: O-cha-wo nigosu.)A doctor who fails in being healthy. (Meaning: Someone who fails to practice what he preaches to others. Talks the walk, but doesnt walk the talk. A financial adviser who himself is poor. A fat writer about slimming diet.)(Jp: Isha-no fuyojo.)(I am very well,) thank you. (Meaning: A polite answer to How are you kind of questions. Im fine, thanks to you. Im ok, thanks to your prayers. Under the gods shadow.)(Jp: O-kage sama-de.)Japanese idiomsYou/It never change. As usual. Same as ever. As always. Maintained status quo.(Jp: Ai-kawarazu.)Leave traces. Leave tracks. To be tracked or trackable. To have a lover. (Jp: Ashi-ga tsuku.)Ill leave it all up to you. (Jp: O-makase.)To give a metal rod to a devil. (Meaning: Empower the devil even further. Arming the evil. Making a too bad and strong man even stronger.)(Jp: Oni-ni kanabou.)Nothing can be done about it. It cant be helped. Its no use. Cant stand it. Being annoyed. Being impatient. ( Shikata-ga nai.)Settling opinions behind the scenes (prior to making an important change or decision in a controversial matter).(Meaning: instead of discussing the problem openly taking care about it in the background. Laying the groundwork.)(Literally: going around the root of the tree, preparing it to transplantig.)(Jp: Nemawashi.)