Kotowaza Collection

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Japanese English Submitted by:
Sumomo mo momo mo momo no uchi Apricots and peaches are both types of peaches. Matt Barnhart
Hatarakazaru mono kuu bekarazu He who doesn't work shouldn't eat. Paul Lassitter
Ii seki ni cho Kill two birds with one stone (the mission motto). Mark Barrionuevo
Baka ni tsukeru kusuri nashi There is no medicine to cure the foolish. James Jennings
Ichi nichi, ichi zen Every day, do one good (Do a good turn daily) Vickie Smith Savory
Me wa Kokoro no Mado Eyes are the Window of the Soul. Matt Peck
Hitsuyo wa Hatsume no haha Necessity is the Mother of Invention. Matt Peck
No Aru taka wa tsume kakusu An able eagle never shows it's talons Steven Neeley
Toranu tanuki no kawa zan yo Don't estimate the value of a badger skin before catching the badger. Steven Neeley
Saru mo ki kara ochiru Even monkeys fall from trees Steven Neeley
Go ni itte wa go ni shitage Obey the customs of the village you enter Steven Neeley
Hatake kara hamaguri wa torenu You can't get clams from a field Steven Neeley
Sendo oku shite fune yama ni noboru Too many skippers bring boats to the mountain Steven Neeley
Chiri mo tsumoreba yama to naru Even dust amassed will grow into a mountain Steven Neeley
Koi to seki to wa kakusarenu Love and a cough cannot be hidden Steven Neeley
Yanagi ni kaze A willow before the wind Steven Neeley
Nana korobi ya oki Fall down seven times, get up eight Steven Neeley
Heso o kamedomo oyobanu It's no good trying to bite your navel Steven Neeley
Onaji kama no meishi no kuta naka The company who ate food from the same pot I Steven Neeley
Arashi no mae no shizukesa Calm before the storm Steven Neeley
Yabu wo tsutsute hebi wo dasu wa Dont poke the bush or you may get a snake Steven Neeley
Kane wa tenka no mawarimono No problems because money always goes around Steven Neeley
Manaita no koi Like a fish on a cutting board Steven Neeley
Gyo kan o yomu Read between the lines Steven Neeley
Ishii no ue ni mo sannen 3 years on a stone Steven Neeley
Watari ni fune A boat for a person about to cross the river Steven Neeley
Kaeru no ko wa kaeru A frogs son is still a frog Steven Neeley
O hotto hitoiki The end is in sight Steven Neeley
Go masuri Apple polishing (the boss) Steven Neeley
Shishi shinchuu no mushi The worm within the lion Steven Neeley
Iyoku ni moeru Full of ambition or enthusiasm Steven Neeley
Kutsujoku o ajiwau To taste or experience humiliation Steven Neeley
Haji wo shinonde iimasu ... To eat your words (pride) admit to shame Steven Neeley
Muri o shimashita ne You overdid yourself Steven Neeley
Amari muri o suru to karada o kowashimasu yo If you overwork yourself, you will ruin your health Steven Neeley
Anzuru yori uma ga yasui Childbirth is not as difficult as fearing it Steven Neeley
Ten ni mukatte tsuba o haku Spit aimed at the sky comes back to one. Steven Neeley
Bushi wa kuwanedo taka yoji When a samurai has not eaten, he holds his toothpick high. Steven Neeley
Mochi wa mochi ya ni makasei Leave mochi making to the mochi makers Steven Neeley
Makeru Ga Kachi Sometimes the best gain is to lose Mikk
Baka ni tsukeru kusuri nashi There isn't any medicine to cure the foolish Mikk
Tonari no shibafu ga aoi The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Mikk
Fukusui bon ni kaerazu Spilt water never comes back to the tray again Mikk
Saigo ni warau mono ga katsu The one who laughs last, laughs best Mikk
Iwana ga hana Some things are better left unsaid Mikk
Hara ga hette wa ikusa ga dekinu You can't fight on an empty stomach. There's nothing you can do when you are hungry. Carlos Guzman
Hajime yokereba owari made A good beginning makes a good ending Matt Peck
Kiku wa ittoki no haji kikaraza wa matsudai no haji To ask is a moments shame, but not to ask is a lifetime 
shame		 Matt Peck
Dokusho hyappen ii onozu kara tsuza Repeated reading clarifies the meaning Matt Peck