These words imply that just a few well-chosen words of compassion or encouragement can have a long-lasting impact on someone. They may cling to those empathetic words and then overcome even the biggest difficulties in their life. So, always choose to be kind and considerate with your words to others.
2.
This proverb reminds us that our limited perspectives can cloud our judgment and we can end up thinking too highly of ourselves. To the frog that is content with living inside its well, the little pool of water is vast and it can't imagine a world outside that. Hence, we must not keep our views of the world restricted.
3.
This saying is a reminder that unless we know when to keep quiet, we shouldn’t speak at all. Because saying the wrong words can cause long-lasting damage.
4.
Before going ahead with anything, make sure that you have given it good thought. Because an opportunity, once lost, may never come again.
5.
What this means to say is that someone would ideally prefer a practical gift over a beautiful one. Sure, flowers might be pretty to look at. But dumplings will fill you up when you are hungry. And that’s way more essential!
6.
This proverb isn’t talking about literally giving birth. It means to say that it’s so easy to stress over the future, or what is to come. However, often what we were worried about turns out to be much easier than we thought it would be.
7.
This one’s simple yet so true. It means that if your focus is divided and you end up attempting too many things at the same time, you are likely to fail at all of them. Therefore, it’s much better to keep yourself focused on one goal at a time.
8.
A pot of gold coins wouldn’t mean much to a cat, would it? For the animal, those coins would just be shiny little things to look at. So, what this proverb suggests is that you shouldn't offer things of value to someone who does not appreciate it.
9.
Sea bream is a group of compact, medium-sized fish, that has long been used in celebrations in Japan to bring good luck. But if the same delicious dish is eaten alone, it won’t have much meaning. Because meals are often enjoyed that much more with friends and family.
10.
This is a beautiful proverb that says it's no use arriving at a festival too late because you will have missed the chance to enjoy the fervor. So, if you take too long at reaching somewhere you were supposed to be in life, it would lose its significance and you will probably miss the chance you deserved.
11.
You’ve probably heard the English saying: “If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.” This is another version of it and is perhaps a little more expressive. So, even though you might have not succeeded after multiple attempts, don’t give up. Your next one just might do the trick.
12.
Forgiving someone who isn’t apologetic about what they did is absolutely useless. It’s similar to drawing pictures on the surface of the water – it won’t serve any purpose. It’s better to move on and focus your energies elsewhere.
13.
Does knowledge automatically infer wisdom? That’s something all of us need to understand. Just mugging up something we read doesn’t make us knowledgeable. You might have seen countless examples of people who are highly educated but aren’t the best of humans. So knowledge without wisdom and experience can be pointless. It’s important to discern good advice, live skillfully, be righteous, and understand the words of the wise.
14.
Here’s another magnificent Japanese proverb. It signifies that despite not being wealthy if someone leads a sincere and honest life, they are much more admirable than someone who is rich but dishonest.
15.
A 'kappa' is a mischievous water demon in Japanese folklore. Since they live in rivers, they’re supposed to be very agile in water. However, sometimes, they too can be carried away by the force of the river if they are not careful and can drown. This basically means that even experts fail sometimes in the field they are proficient at.
Share these wonderful proverbs with your loved ones!
