No. of chars
|
Phrase
(ordered by
number of characters)
|
Card / Kana
|
Phrase
|
3
|
|
Nu
|
糠に釘
Nukanikugi
"Having no effect; waste of effort"
|
4
|
|
E
|
縁と月日
Entotsukihi
Part of 縁と月日の末を待て
Entotsukihinosuewomate
"Month and the edge."
Don't try and force things, wait for things to come naturally.
|
4
|
|
O
|
鬼に金棒
Oninikanabou
"Making a strong person even stronger (like giving a metal rod to an ogre); as strong as can be."
|
4
|
|
Ne
|
猫に小判
Nekonikoban
Gold after the cat. "(To cast) pearls before swine; really big waste of resources."
|
4
|
|
Mu
|
無芸大食
Mugeitaishoku
"Lacking the talent to do anything but eat."
|
4
|
|
Ya
|
闇に鉄砲
Yaminiteppou
Firing in the dark.
|
4
|
|
Yu
|
油断大敵
Yudantaiteki
"Unpreparedness is one's greatest enemy; He that is too secure is not safe."
|
4
|
|
Wo / O
|
鬼も十八
Part of 鬼も十八番茶も出花
Onimojuuhachibanchamodebana
"Just as even coarse tea tastes good when fresh, even homely girls look beautiful at the peak of their youth"
|
5
|
|
U
|
氏より育ち
Ujiyorisodachi
"Birth is much, but breeding is more."
|
5
|
|
Sa
|
竿の先に鈴 / 竿の先の鈴
Saanosakinosuzu
On the end of a pole, a bell
People with big mouths make a lot of noise.
|
5
|
|
Shi
|
知らぬが仏
Shiranugahotoke
"Ignorance is bliss"
|
5
|
|
Ta
|
立て板に水
Tateitanimizu
"Fluency; volubility."
|
5
|
|
Te
|
寺から里へ
Terakarasatohe
"To the village from the temple." To put things the wrong way round, like, put the cart before the horse.
|
5
|
|
Ha
|
花より団子
Hanayoridango
"Dumplings rather than flowers; people are more interested in the practical over the aesthetic"
|
5
|
|
Hi
|
瓢箪から駒
Hyoutankarakoma
"A horse comes from a gourd; something very unexpected; something said as a joke actually happening"
|
5
|
|
Ro
|
論より証拠
Ron'yorishouko
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating (lit: evidence is better than debate.)"
|
6
|
|
Ke / Ge
|
芸は身を助く
Geihamiwotasuku
"Art brings bread."
|
6
|
|
Na
|
泣きっ面に蜂
Nakittsuranihachi
"It rains, but it pours; misfortunes seldom come alone."
|
6
|
|
Ni
|
二階から目薬
Nikai kara megusuri
Applying eyedrops from the 2nd floor.
"Something that cannot be done no matter how hard one tries (and is slightly frustrating because of this)"
|
6
|
|
He
|
下手の長談義
Hetanonagadangi
It is unskillful to give a long-winded speech.
"Brevity is the soul of wit."
|
6
|
|
Ho
|
仏の顔も三度
Hotokenokaomosando
To stare at the face of Buddha thrice.
"To try the patience of a saint."
|
6
|
|
Ma
|
負けるが勝ち
Makerugakachi
"To lose is to win"
|
6
|
|
Mi
|
身から出た錆
Mikaradetasabi
"Paying for one's mistakes; getting one's just deserts; suffering the consequences (of one's own actions); reap what you sow."
|
6
|
|
Me
|
目の上のこぶ
Menouenokobu
A bump above the eyes.
"A thorn in one's side; a pain in the butt (often someone higher in rank, ability, etc.); nuisance; something in the way."
|
7
|
|
Ka
|
かえるの面に水
Kaerunotsuranimizu
"Water on a frog's face; like water off a duck's back. Can mean something that somebody finds effortless or that something does not effect a person, they are oblivious or impervious"
|
7
|
|
Tsu
|
爪に火をともす
Tsumenihiwotomosu
"To light one's fingernail (instead of a candle). To lead a stingy life; to scrimp and save; to pinch pennies."
|
7
|
|
To
|
年寄りの冷や水
Toshiyorinohiyamizu
Old person drinking cool water.
Doing things that are not characteristic of one's age.
|
7
|
|
No
|
ノミ)と言えば槌
Nomitoiebatsuchi
I was told to bring the chisel not the mallet. If you need a chisel it stands to reason you need a mallet. Be attentive.
|
7
|
|
Mo
|
桃栗三年柿八年
Momokurisannenkakihachinen
"Planted peach and chestnut seeds take three years to bear fruit, persimmons take eight. It often takes time to bear the fruit of one's actions."
|
7
|
|
Ri
|
律義者の子沢山
Richigimononokodakusan
Honest people have many children. A person that has time to have so many children can't be a philanderer!
|
7
|
|
We / E
|
縁の下の力持ち
Ennoshitanochikaramochi
Under the floorboards is a strong man.
"Unsung hero; person who does a thankless task."
|
7
|
|
N
|
京の夢大阪の夢
Kyounoyumeoosakanoyume
Dream of Kyoto dream of Osaka
|
8
|
|
A
|
頭隠して尻隠さず
Atamakakushiteshirikakusazu
"Don't cover your head and leave your bottom exposed; you have to be careful not to expose your weak point while attempting to protect yourself."
|
8
|
|
Yo
|
夜目遠目笠のうち
Yometoomekasanouchi
"Expression used to depict a woman who is attractive primarily when it's dark out, she's far away, or her face is partially hidden by a bamboo hat."
|
8
|
|
Ru
|
類をもって集まる / 類を以て集まる
Ruiwomotteatsumaru
Birds of a feather flock together.
|
8
|
|
Wa
|
笑う門には福来る
Waraukadonihafukukitaru
"Good fortune and happiness will come to the home of those who smile."
|
8
|
|
Wi / I
|
鰯の頭も信心から
Iwashinoatamamoshinjinkara
Even a sardine head by virtue of faith. If you have faith then even inconsequential things can help.
People would put fish heads in front of their houses in the hope that the smell would ward off demons. The phrase is used earnestly by some and by others to mock people.
|
9
|
|
Ki
|
聞いて極楽見て地獄
Kiitegokurakumitejigoku
"A paradise on hearsay, a hell at sight."
|
9
|
|
Ku
|
臭い物に蓋をする
くさいものにふたをする
Kusaimononifutawwosuru.
Put a lid on things that smell. Cover up the bad things that people do. Also meant to apply things that are inappropriate, such as a bandaid/plaster on a broken leg.
|
9
|
|
Ko
|
これにこりよ道才坊 / これに懲りよ道才坊
Korenikoriyodousaibou
Behold!, Learn by experience, moral teachings, by hitting a boy down an old road with a stick.
Learn by the rod. People learn by having it beat into them.(!)
|
9
|
|
Su
|
雀百まで踊り忘れぬ / 雀百まで踊り忘れず
Suzumehyakumadeodoriwasurenu
I remember dancing with 100 sparrows. To the Japanese sparrows have a habit of jumping aimlessly!
What is learned in the cradle is carried to the grave, even bad habits.
|
9
|
|
Se
|
背に腹は変えられぬ / 背に腹は変えられない
Seniharahakaeraremu
/ Seniharahakaerarenai
Sacrifice the back in favour or the stomach.
"Not able to escape an urgent problem without making some sacrifice." It is better to be stabbed in the back instead of the stomach.
|
9
|
|
Chi / Ji
|
地獄の沙汰も金次第
Jigokunosatamokaneshidai
Hells instruction, be dependant on money. You can buy anything, even in hell.
"Money is the best lawyer."
|
10
|
|
I
|
犬も歩けば棒に当たる
Inumoarukebabouniataru
"Even a dog, if it walks, will bump into a pole. No matter what you attempt, tragedy may befall you."
|
10
|
|
Hu / Bu
|
武士は食わねど高楊枝
ぶしはくわねどたかようじ
Bushihakuwaredotakayouji
"A samurai, even when he has not eaten, uses a toothpick like a lord." Even in poverty act like you are not. In Japan the use of a toothpick is to indicate you have had a good big meal.
|
11
|
|
Re
|
れうよく (良薬) は口に苦し
Ryouyakuhakuchininigashi
"Good medicine tastes bitter; the most helpful advice may be difficult to listen to."
|
12
|
|
Ra
|
来年の事を言うと鬼が笑う
Rainennokotowoiutoonigawarau
"Talk about next year and the devil will laugh." Be careful when planning for the future as circumstances will foil the best laid plans.
|
12
|
|
So
|
袖の振り合わせも他生の縁
そでふりあうもたしょうのえん
Sodeburiaumotashounoen
Even chance meetings are forged by destiny.
|