Japanese Quotes with Translation: 11 Phrases and Their Origins
Japanese quotes with translation are most often taken from proverbs and Zen texts: 七転び八起き (nanakorobi yaoki) "fall seven times, stand up eight", 初心忘るべからず (shoshin wasuru bekarazu) "don't forget where you started", 明日は明日の風が吹く "tomorrow the wind will blow tomorrow's wind". Below are 11 phrases with a reading in romaji and the source indicated.
Half of the "Japanese quotes" on the internet were never spoken by Japanese people: they were written in English and translated back. Below are those that have a real source: a proverb, a Zen text, or a treatise on the warrior's path.
Proverbs that Japanese people actually say
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 七転び八起きななころびやおき | nanakorobi yaoki | Fall seven times, stand up eight |
| 石の上にも三年いしのうえにもさんねん | ishi no ue ni mo sannen | Even a stone will warm up if you sit on it for three years |
| 明日は明日の風が吹くあしたはあしたのかぜがふく | ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku | Tomorrow the wind will blow tomorrow's wind |
| 猿も木から落ちるさるもきからおちる | saru mo ki kara ochiru | Even a monkey falls from a tree |
| 十人十色じゅうにんといろ | jūnin toiro | Ten people, ten colors |
| 出る杭は打たれるでるくいはうたれる | deru kui wa utareru | The nail that sticks out gets hammered down |
Why "the nail that sticks out" is not about conformism
出る杭は打たれる is often quoted as a verdict on Japanese society. In Japan itself, the proverb has a continuation in the saying tradition: 出過ぎた杭は打たれない — "the nail that sticks out too far cannot be hammered down." The meaning changes to the opposite: if you stand out, do it seriously.
From Zen and treatises
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 初心忘るべからずしょしんわするべからず | shoshin wasuru bekarazu | Do not forget your original intentionZeami, treatise on Noh theater, 15th century |
| 一期一会いちごいちえ | ichigo ichie | This encounter is unique and will never repeata thought of Sen no Rikyū, the formula was cemented by Ii Naosuke |
| 和敬清寂わけいせいじゃく | wa kei sei jaku | Harmony, respect, purity, tranquilityfour principles of the tea ceremony |
| 日々是好日にちにちこれこうじつ | nichinichi kore kōjitsu | Each day is a good dayZen saying |
| 諸行無常しょぎょうむじょう | shogyō mujō | All things are impermanentBuddhist formula, opens "The Tale of the Heike" |
How to distinguish a real quote from a fabricated one
- A real quote has a Japanese original, not just a translation: if you can't find the characters, the quote doesn't exist.
- Check whether the phrase appears in the Japanese internet — not in "japanese quotes" collections, but on Japanese websites.
- Attribution to samurai and "ancient wisdom" without an author's name is almost always a sign of fabrication.
- Too smooth aphoristic quality in English is also suspicious: Japanese proverbs are usually concrete and down-to-earth.
Say the quote aloud
FAQ
What are some beautiful Japanese quotes with translation?
七転び八起き "fall seven times, stand up eight", 初心忘るべからず "don't forget where you started", 日々是好日 "each day is a good day", 一期一会 "this encounter is unique".
Where do Japanese quotes come from?
From proverbs, Zen sayings, treatises on theater and the tea ceremony. Many "Japanese quotes" from the internet are written in English and have no original.
How to check if a quote is real?
Find the Japanese original in characters and check if it appears on Japanese websites. The absence of an original is a sure sign of fabrication.
Which quotes are suitable for tattoos?
Short and complete ones: 一期一会, 初心, 七転び八起き, 日々是好日. Long proverbs with particles look better on paper than on skin.
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