あ行
悪事千里を走る
Ill news travels(runs) apace(fast).
(悪い噂は翼を持つ)
Bad news has wings.
悪貨は良貨を駆逐する
Bad money drives out good.
悪銭身につかず
Easy come, easy go.
Easy money is easy to spend.
明日は明日の風が吹く
Tomorrow is another day.
明日の百より、今日の五十
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
当たって砕けろ
(海に行けば魚が獲れる)
Go to the sea, if you would fish well.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
頭隠して尻隠さず
(駝鳥のごとく、砂の中に頭を隠す)
To bury one's head ostrich-like in the head.
後の祭り
(市の済んだ次の日)
A day after the fair.
(死後に医者)
After death a doctor.
後は野となれ、山となれ
(自分の後に大洪水)
After me the deluge.
あばたもえくぼ
Love blinds a man to all imperfections.
虻蜂取らず
(皆つかめば皆失う)
Grasp all, lose all.
(二つの椅子に座ろうとすれば地面に倒れる)
Between two stools you fall to the ground.
雨降って地固まる
(嵐の後に凪が来る)
After a storm comes a calm.
あやまちを改むるにはばかることなかれ
It is never too late to mend.
案ずより生むが易し
(計画は期待より容易なることあり)
An attempt is sometimes easier than expected.
Fear often exaggerates danger.
言うは易く行うは難し
(言うことと行うこととは別)
Easy to say, hard to do.
Saying and doing are two things.
いくつになっても学ぶことはある
One is never too old to learn.
石の上にも三年
(忍耐が勝つ)
Preseverence prevails.
Perseverance will win in the end.
石橋を叩いて渡る
(跳ぶ前に気を付けよ)
Look before you leap.
医者の不養生
Doctors often neglect their own health.
急がばまわれ
(近道には誤り多し)
A short cut is often a wrong cut.
(あわてれば無駄になる)
Haste makes waste.
(ゆっくり急げ)
Hasten slowly.
一事が万事
One instance shows all the rest.
(ピンを盗むものは何でも盗む)
One who steals a pin will steal everything.
一石二鳥
Kill two birds with one stone.
一年の計は元旦にあり
The whole year's plans are made on New Year's Day.
一を聞いて十を知る
(一部を聞いて全体を知る)
To know all by hearing a part.
一寸の虫にも五分の魂
(虫けらでも向き直る)
A worm will turn.
糸はそれが一番弱いところで切れる
The thread breaks where it is weakest.
犬も歩けば棒に当たる
(飛ぶ鳥は常に何かをつかむ)
A flying crow always catches something.
命あっての物種
(命ある間は希望がある)
While there is life, there is hope.
井の中の蛙、大海を知らず
(地獄にいるものは天国を知らない)
He who is in hell knows not what heaven is.
(谷にいるものは丘の向こうを知らない)
He that stays in the valley shall never get over the hill.
鰯(いわし)の頭も信心から
(信仰は山をも動かす)
Faith moves a mountain.
言わぬが花
(沈黙は言葉より雄弁である)
Silence is more eloquent than words.
(語るのは銀、黙するのは金)
Speech is silver, silence is gold.
因果応報
(噛み殺した犬は噛み殺される)
The dog that kills wolves is killed by wolves.
上には上がある
Diamond cuts diamond.
魚心あれば水心
Scratch my back and I will scratch yours.
氏より育ち
Birth is much, breeding is more.
嘘から出た真
Many a true word is spoken in jest.
嘘も方便
A necessary lie is harmless.
The ends justifies the means.
A lie is often expedient.
美しいものには棘がある
(棘のない薔薇はない)
No rose without a thorn.
馬の耳に念仏(馬耳東風)
(アヒルの背に水をかける)
To pour water on a duck's back.
(壁に話しかける)
Talking to a brick-wall.
馬を水辺に連れて行けるが、飲ますことは出来ない
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
噂をすれば影
(天使の話をすると、翼の音を聞く)
Speak of angels and you hear their wings.
(悪魔の噂をすれば、悪魔が現れる)
Talk of the devil and he will appear.
得手に帆を上げる
(順風に帆を上げよ)
Set your sail according to the wind.
(幸福の神がノックしたらドアを開け)
When fortune knocks, open the door.
海老で鯛を釣る
Use small fry to catch a big fish.
(鯨を捕まえようと小魚を投げる)
Throw a sprat to catch a whale.
負うた子に教えられて浅瀬を渡る
(ヒヨコが親鳥に忠告する)
The chicken gives advice to the hen.
大男総身に智恵がまわりかね
(大頭の子知恵)
Big head, little wit.
A tall man is fool.
傍目八目(おかめはちもく)
(観客は試合をよく見る)
On-lookers see most of the game.
おごる者久しからず
Pride will have a fall.
(朝日は終日続かない)
The morning sun never lasts a day.
鬼に金棒
(二倍確かなものにする)
That makes it double sure.
鬼のいぬまに
(猫がいない時にネズミは遊ぶ)
When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
鬼の目にも涙
(頑固な心からも涙が出る)
Tears from the hardest heart.
帯に短し、たすきに長し
(多すぎるのは無駄)
Too much is stark naught.
溺れる者は藁をもつかむ
A drowning man will catch at a straw.
思い立ったが吉日
(今日できることを明日に延ばすな)
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
親の心子知らず
No child knows how dear he is to his parents.
親の七光
Ride on one’s father’s coattails.
親馬鹿ちゃんりん
(母親には子は眉目秀麗)
Every mother's childr is handsome.
親はなくとも子は育つ
Nature is a good mother.
終りよければすぺてよし
All's well that ends well.
女心と秋の空
A woman's mind and winter-wind change often.
か行
飼い犬に手を噛まれる
(犬を撫で、服を汚される)
Caress your dog and he'll spoil your clothes.
蛙の子は蛙
Like father like son.
学問に王道なし
There is no royal road to learning.
壁に耳あり、障子に目あり
Walls have ears.
火中の栗を拾う
He risked his neck for her sake.
勝って兜の緒を筋めよ
(歓楽の時こそ注意せよ)
In the time of mirth take heed.
勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍
(敗者は悪者となる)
Losers are always in the wrong.
Might is right.
我田引水
Every miller draws the water to his own mill.
金の切れ目が縁の切れ目
The end of money is the end of love.
金は天下のまわりもの
Money changes hands.
Money comes and money goes.
果報は寝て待て
Every thing comes to him who waits.
亀の甲より年の功
(年老ゆるに伴い、学識が深まる)
The older one grows, the more one learns.
An old fox is hardly caught in a snare.
枯れ木も山の賑わい
Anything is better than nothing.
可愛い子には旅をさせよ
(鞭を惜しめば子供を駄目にする)
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
可愛さ余って憎さ百倍
(最大の憎悪は最大の愛から生ずる)
The greatest hate springs from the greatest love.
考えてから物を言え
First think and then speak.
聞いてびっくり見てびっくり
(想像は長い道のりを走る)
Imagination goes a long way.
聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥
(大いに聞いて、大いに知れ)
Ask much, know much.
A man becomes learned by asking questions.
キジも鳴かずば打たれまい
(馬に乗らねば落ちまい)
Never rode, never fell.
疑心暗鬼を生ず
(藪を妖怪と思う)
You take every bush for a bugbear.
木に縁りて魚を求む
Fish are not to be caught by a birdcall.
(山林で貝を拾おうと思う)
He thinks to catch shell-fish in the trees.
昨日の敵は今日の友
Yesterday's enemies could be today's friends.
昨日の友は今日の敵
A friend today may turn against you tomorrow.
窮すれば通ず
(欠乏は知恵を生む)
Want makes wit.
窮鼠ネコを噛む
(いじめられたネコはライオンのように獰猛になる)
A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.
共同責任は無責任
Everybody's business is nobody's business.
器用貧乏
(立派な職人は金持ちになれない)
Good workmen are seldom rich.
今日できることは明日に延ばすな
Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
漁夫の利
Fish in the troubled waters.
木を見て森を見ず
You can't know the forest for the trees.
勤勉は成功の母
Industry is the parents of success.
空腹にまずいものなし
Hunger is the best sauce.
A good appetite is a good sauce.
腐っても鯛
(老いた鷲でも、若い鳥より優れている)
An old eagle is better than a young bird.
口八丁手八丁
He has long arms and a long tongue as well.
口は禍の門
(悪は口から出る)
Out of the mouth comes evil.
苦しいときの神頼み
Once on shore, we pray no more.
君子危うきに近寄らず
(賢者は危険を求めない)
The wise man never courts danger.
君子豹変す
A wise man changes his mind, a fool never.
経験は最良の知
Experience is the best teacher.
鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ
(獅子の尾よりも、犬の頭となれ)
Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
芸術は長く、人生は短い
Art is long, life is short.
蛍雪の功
(深夜に灯をともす)
To burn the midnight oil.
桂馬の高上がり
(高木には風が当たる)
A tall tree catches much wind.
芸は身を助く
Accomplishments are a friend in need.
結婚は人生の墓場
Marriage is the tomb of life.
健康は富にも勝る
Health is better than wealth.
健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る
A sound mind in a sound body.
恋は盲目
Love is blind.
光陰矢のごとし
Time flies like an arrow.
後悔先に立たず
Repentance comes too late.
What is done cannot undone.
(良いものは失った後にわかる)
A good thing is known when it is lost.
好機を逸すべからず
(日の照るうちに草を干せ)
Make hay while the sun shines.
(幸福が訪ねて来たらドアを開けろ)
When Fortune knocks, open the door.
攻撃は最大の防御なり
The best way to defend is to attack.
郷に入りては郷に従え
When(you are)in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Do in Rome as the Romans do.
甲の薬は乙の毒
(人を見て法を説け)
One man's meat is another man's poisn.
弘法筆を選ばず
(下手な大工は道具に文句を言う)
A bad carpenter quarrels with his tools.
弘法も筆の誤り
Even Homer sometimes nods.
呉越同舟
Bitter enemies placed by fate in the same boat.
虎穴に入らずんば虎児を得ず
Nothing venture, nothing have.
(大儲けをするには大冒険が必要)
Great profits, great risks.
心ここにあらざれば見れども見えず
The eye is blind if the mind is absent.
五十歩百歩
(一つは6で、他は十二の半分)
Six of one and half a dozen of the other.
困ったときの友が真の友
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
転ばぬ先の杖
(暗くなる前に灯りをともせ)
Light your lamp before it becomes dark.
子を持って知る親の恩
(子を持たぬ者には愛がわからない)
Who has no children does not know what love is.
さ行
塞翁が馬
Sadness and gladness succeed each other.
歳月人を待たず
(時の経過と潮の流れは人を待たない)
Time and tide wait for no man.
最後に笑う者が最もよく笑う
He who laughs last, laughs best.
先んずれば人を制す
(一番先に来る者が勝ち)
First come, first served.
(ボートに最初に乗ったものがオールを選べる)
The first in the boat has the choice of oars.
酒は百薬の長
Wine is old men’s milk.
Good wine makes good blood.
去る者は日々に疎し
(視界から消えると、忘れ去る)
Out of sight, out of mind.
触らぬ神に祟りなし
(眠れる犬は寝かしておけ)
Let sleeping dogs lie.
三十六計逃ぐるにしかず
(逃げるのが上手な者は捕まらない)
A good runner is never caught.
3度目の正直
Third time lucky.
三人よれば文殊の知恵
(二つの頭脳は一つの頭脳より勝る)
Two heads are better than one.
自業自得
You reap what you sow.
One must drink as one brews.
地獄の沙汰も金次第
(金は馬をも動かす)
Money makes the mare to go.
(金はすべての戸を開ける鍵)
Money is the key which opens every door.
(金はどこへでも行けるパスポート)
Money is a valid passport anywhere.
事実は小説より奇なり
Fact(Truth) is stranger than fiction.
至誠天に通ず
What comes from the heart goes to the heart.
親しき仲にも礼儀あり
(垣によって友情を保つ)
A hedge between keeps friedship green.
失敗は成功のもと
Failure teaches success.
Every failures is a stepping-stone the success.
死人に口なし
Dead man tells no tales.
釈迦に説法
(魚に泳ぎ方を教える)
Like teaching a fish to swim.
蛇の道は蛇
Set a thief to catch a thief.
The wolf knows what the ill beast thinks.
習慣は第二の天性
Habits is a second nature.
十人十色
So many men, so many minds.
Ever one has his taste.
朱に交われば赤くなる
(松脂に触れば指が汚れる)
He that handleth pitch shall foul his fingers.
習慣は第2の天性
Habit is a second nature.
正直は最善の策
Honesty is the best policy.
小人閑居して不善をなす
(何もしないということが悪事へと誘う)
The devil finds work for idle hands.
An idle man tempts the evil.
小心にして大胆
To be timid and bold.
Make a plan like a coward and carry it out like a brave man.
知らぬが仏
(無知は幸福である)
Ignorance is bliss.
知らぬは亭主ばかりなり
The husband is always the last to know.
人事を尽くして天命を待つ
We have to do our best and leave the rest to Providence.
人生とは何かを知る以前に半分過ぎてしまっている
Life is half spent before we know what it is.
死んで花実が咲くものか
You won’t prove anything by dying.
好きこそ物の上手なれ
What one likes one will do well.
We can do well at what we like.
過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとし
Too much is as bad as too little.
すべての道はローマに通ず
All roads lead to Rome.
住めば都
This place has grown on me.
(どの鳥も自分の巣を良く思う)
Every bird thinks its own best charming.
精神一到何事か成らざらん
(意志あるところに道あり)
Where there is a will, there is a way.
Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.
せいては事を仕損じる
Haste makes waste.
青天の霹靂
A bolt from the blue.
背に腹は代えられぬ
(窮地では、兄弟も友人もない)
At the narrow passage there is no brother and friend.
船頭多くして、船山に登る
(料理人多くして、スープをまずくする)
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
善は急げ
The sooner the better.
千里の道も一歩から
A thousand journey began with a foot put down.
(一段ずつ梯子を登る)
Step after step the ladder is ascended.
袖触れ合うも他生の縁
(偶然の出会いも運命)
Even a chance acquaintance is part of one's destiny.
備えあれば憂いなし
(万一に備え蓄えよ)
Lay by something for a rainy day.
Lay up against a rainy day.
損して得とれ
(損な取引を最上に利用せよ)
Make the best of a bad bargain.
た行
大器晩成
Late fruit keeps well.
A late bloomer.
(早く熟し、早く腐る)
Soon ripe, soon roten.
泰山鳴動して鼠一匹
(声大にして毛少なし)
Great cry and little wool.
大は小を兼ねる
The greater embraces the lesser.
大事の前の小事
We must make a small sacrifice for a great cause.
高嶺の花
It’s a prize beyond my reach.
宝の持ちぐされ
(閉じたままの本は紙の固まり)
A book that is dhut is but a block.
多芸は無芸
(何でもする人は、どれも上手くできない)
He who does all, never does well.
他山の石
(他人の欠点は良き師である)
The fault of another is a good teacher.
タダほど高いものはない
You never get something for nothing.
立つ鳥跡を濁さず
Cast no dirt in the well that gives you water.
(巣を汚すのは悪い鳥である)
It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.
蓼食う虫も好きずき
There is no accounting for tastes.
棚から牡丹餅
(パンが密の中に落ちた)
His bread fell into the honey.
旅の恥はかき捨て
Leave one’s sense of shame at home.
旅は道ずれ世は情け
On the road you need a companion, in life you need sympathy.
When shared, joy is doubled and sorrow halved.
食べるために生きず、生きるために食べろ
Live not to eat, but eat to live.
玉磨かざれば光なし
An uncut gem does not sparkle.
便りのないのは良い便り
No news is good news.
短気は損気
Anger punishes itself.
(怒りは愚に始まり、悔いに終わる)
Anger begins with folly and ends with repentance.
団結は力なり
Union is strength.
知識は力なり
Knowledge is power.
血で血を洗う
(争いを争いで鎮める)
To settle strife by strife.
血は水よりも濃し
Blood is thicker than water.
塵も積れば山となる
Many a little makes a mickle.
Many a pickle makes a mickle.
(水滴が夕立となる)
Many drops make a shawer.
使っている鍬は光る
(休止は錆をつかす)
Rest breeds rust.
月とすっぽん
(白墨とチーズ)
As like as chalk and cheese.
角を矯めて牛を殺す
The remedy may be worse than the disease.
罪を憎んで人を憎まず
(罪を憎み、罪人のために悲しめ)
Detest the sin, but weep for the sinner.
Condemn the offense, but pity the offender.
鶴の一声
One’s word is law.
亭主関白
Wear the pants in his family.
鉄は熱いうちに打て
Strike the iron while it is hot.
(陽があるうちにやれ)
Make hay while the sun shines.
手の中にいる1羽の鳥は藪の中の二羽に相当する
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
手前味噌
(自分のラッパを吹く)
To blow one's trumpet.
天災は忘れたころにやって来る
Natural disaster happen when we have forgotton all about them.
転石苔むさず
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
天は自ら助くる者を助く
Heaven helps those who help themselves.
灯台下暗し
(教会に近いほど、神から遠くなる)
The nearer the church, the farther, from God.
(ろうそくの下は暗い)
It is dark at the foot of a candle.
同病相憐れむ
Fellow suffers pity each other.
遠くて近きは男女の仲
(男は火、女は麻くず)
Man is fire, and woman is tow.
遠くの親類より、近くの他人
A good neighber is better than a brother far off.
Strangers at hand are better than relations afar.
時は金なり
Time is money.
毒くわば皿まで
One may as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
毒を以て毒を制す
Poison drives out poison.
(悪魔を追い払うには、悪魔に寄れ)
Devil must be driven out with devil.
Meet evil with evil.
隣の芝生は青い
The neighbor's lawn is green.
友を見れば人物が分かる
A man is known by the company he keeps.
鳶が鷹を生む
(黒い雌鳥が白い卵を生む)
A black hen lays a white egg.
捕らぬ狸の皮算用
(ヒヨコがかえらないうちに数えるな)
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
(枝の上の鳥を売るのは早すぎる)
It is rush to sell the bird on the bough.
虎の威をかる
(ライオンの皮をかぶったロバ)
An ass in a lion's skin.
取り越し苦労は身の毒
(世話で猫が死んでしまう)
Care killed the cat.
泥棒をとらえて縄をなうな
Locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen.
飛んで火にいる夏の虫
The fly flutters about the candle till at last it getsburned.
な行
ない袖は振れぬ
A man cannot give what he hasn't got.
Naught will be naught.
(空の袋は立たない)
An empty bag will not stand upright.
ないよりまし
Better something than nothing at all.
長いものに撒かれろ
If you can’t beat them, join them.
(流れに逆らうな)
No striving against tfe stream.
(壊れるより曲がれ)
Better bow than break.
中身のない人間ほどよくしゃべる
Empty vessels make the most sound.
泣き面に蜂
(不運は単独ではない)
Misfortune never come singly.
(降れば土砂降り)
It never rains but it pours.
無くて七癖
Everyone has his foibles.
情けは人の為ならず
Charity is a good investment.
(善をなせば己を益する)
He benefits himself that does good to others.
He who gives to another bestows on himself.
七転び八起き
(歩行は転倒の連続)
A man's walking is succession falls.
名は体を現す
(名前と性質は一致する)
Names and natures do often agree.
生兵法は大怪我のもと
(わずかな知識は危険)
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
習うより慣れろ
(練習から完璧が生じる)
Practice makes perfect. .
ならぬ堪忍するが堪忍
(堪忍は苦いが,その果実は甘い)
Practice is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.
成り行きに任せ
Let nature take its course.
名を取るより実を取る
(利は名誉に勝る)
Profit is better than fame.
二階から目薬
(孔雀の羽で太陽をあおぐ)
Fanning the sun with a peacock's feather.
逃した魚は大きい
Every fish that escapes appears greater than it is.
憎まれっ子、世にはばかる
(悪事は絶えず)
A bad thing never dies.
(雑草は滅びず)
Weeds never die.
Ill weeds grow apace.
日光を見ぬうちは結構というな
(ナポリを見てから死ね)
See Naples and then die.
煮ても焼いても食えぬ
(老鳥は籾殻では捕らえられぬ)
Old birds are not caught with chaff.
二兎を追う者は一兎も得ず
He that hunts two hares at once will catch neither.
Between two tools one falls to the ground
盗人にも三分の理
Give the devil his due.
(悪者は口実に事欠かぬ)
The wrong-doer never lacks a pretext.
濡れ手に粟
They made easy money gains.
猫に鰹節
Like trusting a wolf to watch over sheep.
猫に小判
(豚に真珠)
Throw(Cast) not your pearls before swine.
寝る子は育つ
Babies grow up in their sleep.
念には念を
You should make it doubly sure.
You cannot be too careful.
能ある鷹は爪を隠す
A really talented man doesn’t show off.
(静かな流れは深い)
Still waters run deep.
(多く知る者は少なく語る)
Who knows most says least.
残り物には福がある
There is luck in the last helping.
(最後の者が最大の報いを受ける)
Last come, best served.
喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる
Vows made in storm are forgotten in calms.
(危険が過ぎれば神を忘れる)
Danger past, God forgotten.
乗りかかった船
(出帆すれば、航海か沈むかしかない)
He that is out at sea, must eather sail or sink.
は行
背水の陣
(背後のボートを焼く)
To burn one's boat behind.
馬鹿とハサミは使いよう
Fools and scissors require careful handling.
(馬鹿はおだてれば役立つ)
Praise a fool, and you may make him useful.
馬鹿につける薬なし
No medicine can cure folly.
馬鹿の一つ覚え
(馬鹿の矢は考慮なしに放たれる)
A fool's bolt is soon shot.
掃溜に鶴
(肥溜めに宝石)
A jewel in a dunghill.
始めが肝心
(始めは全体の半分)
The beginning is half of the whole.
八十の手習い
One is never too old to learn.
八方美人
(すべての人の友は誰の友でもない)
A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.
花より団子
(鳥の歌よりパン)
Bread is better than the songs of birds.
早起きは三文の徳
(早起き鳥は虫を捕まえる)
The early bird catches the worm.
腹が減っては戦が出来ぬ
The stomach carries the feet.
光もの必ずしも金ならず
All is not gold that glitters.
美人薄命
The fairest flowers sooner fade.
庇を貸して、母屋を取られる
(肩に人を乗せると、頭にまで乗られる)
Who lets another sit on shoulder, will soon have him on his head.
人を見たら泥棒と思え
Never trust a stranger.
必要は発明の母
Necessity is the mother of invention.
人の噂も七五日
(珍しい話も九日すれば飽きる)
No wonder lasts more than nine days.
A wonder lasts but nine days.
人の振り見て我が振り直せ
One man’s fault is another man’s lesson.
Learn wisdom from the follies of others.
(賢者は他人の欠点を見て、自分の欠点を改める)
By other's faults wise men correct their own.
人の褌で相撲を取る
(蛇は他人の手で穴から出せ)
Draw the snake from its hole by another man's hand.
人はパンのみに生きるにあらず
Man does not live by Bread alone.
人は見かけによらぬ
(外見で判断してはならない)
Never judge by appearance.
火のない所に煙はたたぬ
There is no smoke without fire.
Make no fire, raise no smoke.
Where there is smoke, there is fire.
百聞は一見にしかず
(十聞くよりも一つ見よ)
One eye-witness is better than ten hearsays.
(見ることは信じること)
Seeing is believing.
瓢箪から駒
(予期せぬ事が起こる)
Unexpected things often happen.
貧の友は真の友
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
貧乏人に暇なし
Poor men have no leisure.
覆水(ふくすい)盆に返らず
It is no use crying over spilt milk.
河豚は食いたし、命は惜しし
(蜜は甘いが蜂は刺す)
Honey is sweet, but the bee stings.
不言実行
Actions speak louder than words.
武士は食わねど高楊枝
(借金して起きているより、空腹のまま寝る)
Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.
豚に真珠
Don’t throw pearls to swine.
文は人なり
The style is the man.
下手な鉄砲も数打てば当たる
(多く打てば、いつか当たる)
He who shoots often, hits at last.
下手の長談義
(長い説教は注目されない)
Long sermon, little attention.
弁慶の泣き所
(人には弱点がある)
Every man has his week side.
ペンは剣より強し
The pen is mightier than the sword.
坊主憎けりゃ袈裟まで憎い
(木が可愛けりゃ枝まで可愛い)
He that loves the tree loves the branches.
吠える犬は噛まない
Barking dogs seldom bite.
仏作って魂入れず
(畑耕し、種まき忘れる)
Ploughing the field and forgetting the seed.
仏の顔も三度まで
Even the patience of a saint has limit.
ま行
蒔かぬ種は生えぬ
(労なくして得るものなし)
No pains, no gains.
負けるが勝ち
To lose is to win.
(勝つための屈服)
To stoop to conquer.
馬子にも衣装
Manners and money make a gentleman.
Fine feathers make fine birds.
(仕立屋は紳士を作る)
The tailor makes the Gentleman.
まさかの時の友は真の友
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
待てば海路の日和あり
There is a good time coming.
All things come to those who wait.
ミイラ取りがミイラになる
(捕らえに行き、捕らえられる)
We who went to catch are ourselves caught.
Many go out for wool and come home shorn.
見かけによらぬ
(きらめくものすべてが金ではない)
All that glitters is not gold.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Clothes do not make the man.
身から出た錆
(種を蒔いたあなたが刈り取る)
As you sow, you shall reap.
水清ければ魚住まず
Clear water breeds no fish.
三日天下
(儲けてすぐ使い切る)
Soon got, soon spent.
三つ子の魂百まで
(狐は皮を変えても、習慣は変えない)
The fox changes his skin, but not his habits.
What’s learnt in the cradle lasts till the tomb.
身の程を知れ
(布に合わせて上衣を裁て)
One must cut his coat according to his cloth.
(噛み砕けないほど口に入れるな)
Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
見目より心
(人は心)
The mind is the man.
無知は幸福
Ignorance is bliss.
昔取った杵柄
You never forget your own trade.
無理が通れば道理が引っ込む
Might makes right.
Where might is master, justice is servant.
盲蛇に怖じず
(無知な者は、何も恐れない)
They that know nothing fears nothing.
Nothing is so bold as a blind man.
目からうろこが落ちる
The scales fall from one's eyes.
To have one's eyes opened.
目には目を、歯には歯を
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
目は口ほどにものを言う
(どこでも目は言葉の働きをする)
The eye have one language everywhere.
The eyes are eloquent as the tongue.
物は試し
You'll never know unless you try.
物事はなるようにしかならない
We shall see what we shall see.
求めよ、さらば、与えられん
Ask, and you shall be givin you.
Ask, and you will receive.
The squeaking wheel gets the oil.
門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む
A saint’s maid quotes Latin.
や行
安物買いの銭失い
(安物は高くつく)
Ceap bargains are dear.
Penny wise and pound foolish.
Buy cheap goods and you throw your money away.
藪をつついて蛇を出す
(眠っている犬を起こすな)
Don’t wake a sleeping dog.
(眠っているライオンを起こすのは良くない)
It's not good to wake a sleeping lion.
病は口より入る
(肉を多く食べれば、病気になりやすい)
Much meet, much maladies.
油断大敵
Danger comes soonest when it is despised.
Security is the greatest enemy.
羊頭狗肉
(酒を売ると称し、酢を売る)
To cry up wine, and sell vinegar.
よく遊び、よく学べ
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
弱り目に祟り目
Misfortunes never come singly.
(一度倒れると、皆が踏みつける)
If a man once fall, all will tread on him.
ら行
来年のことを言えば、鬼が笑う
Talk about next year, and the devil will laugh.
Next year is the devil's joke.
楽は苦の種、苦は楽の種
(悩みなしの楽しみはなし)
No joy without annoy.
李下に冠を正さず
(悪に見えることは避けよ)
Avoid even the appearance of evil.
良薬は口に苦し
Good medicine is bitter to the mouth.
A good medicine tastes bitter.
類は友を呼ぶ
(同じ羽の鳥は一緒に飛ぶ)
Birds of feather flock together.
例外のない規則はない
There is no rule without exception.
There is no rule but has exceptions.
歴史は繰り返す
History repeats itself.
ローマは一日にしてならず
Rome was not built in a day.
論語読みの論語知らず
You know good manners, but you use but few.
論より証拠
(範例は教説に勝る)
Example is better than precept.
わ
若いときの苦労は買ってでもせよ
Heavy work in youth is quiet rest in old age.
我が家が一番
There’s no place like home.
災い転じて福となす
(悪運は幸運を運んでくる)
Bad luck often brings good luck.
渡る世間に鬼はなし
(どこにでも親切な人はいる)
There is kindness to be found everywhere.
笑いは百薬の長
Laughter is the best medicine.
笑う門には福来る
(幸運は陽気な門から訪れる)
Fortune comes in by a merry gate.
悪い噂はすぐに伝わる
Bad news travels quickly.
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