Proverbs
Proverbs in English and Japanese
1/08/02
Seminar1 Judy Yoneoka
1. Introduction
There are many proverbs in the world. We sometimes use them in
order to explain the situation or our feelings. However we don’t know when
and where these proverbs were made and their origins. I am wondering if
they really mean the same thing in Japanese and English. And almost
Japanese people may not know how many and what kind of proverbs were
naturalized into Japanese and English. And I want to find characteristic
proverbs of each country. So this paper classified three main types that are
called Universal proverbs, Culturally influenced proverbs and Culturally
bound proverbs.
2. Body
Proverbs show national characteristics of each country. So there are
some kinds of proverbs, different way of expression and metaphor, and
characteristic proverbs.
1). Universal proverbs
There are many common proverbs all over the world.
・Walls have ears.
・Life is a dream.
--- Kabeni mimiari.
--- Jinsei yumenogotoshi.
・There is no smoke without fire.
--- Hinonaitokoroni kemuriha tatanu.
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Proverbs
・Time is money.
--- Tokiha kanenari.
・Time and tide wait for no man.
・Money talks.
--- Saigetu hitowo matazu.
--- Kanega monowo yuu.
These proverbs are almost about universal truth or humanity. These
proverbs are no difference between English and Japanese. Because they are
fundamental moral and they are made by using the same words to tell the
same lesson. So they are not influenced by different life style.
2). Culturally influenced proverbs
Each country has own culture and humanity. So some proverbs show
different ways of expression form. For example,
・It is no use crying over spilt milk.
--- Fukusui bonni kaerazu.
This proverb came from Chinese historical fact. Japanese proverb can be
put in other words. ``What is done cannot be undone.” and ``Repentance
comes too late”. So it means abandonment. But English proverb is a little
bit different. It means that it’s useless regretting your mistake. You have to
think something to compensate. So English have a positive idea.
And English proverb is used ``milk’’, but Japanese is used ``water’’. In this
case, milk, beef, butter, and cheese were very important foods for Europeans
and Americans before, but Japanese people had hardly drink milk. So milk
was translated into water in Japan. There is no proverb by using ``milk” in
Japan. And we can find many English idioms are used ``milk’’. For example,
``cry over spirit milk’’ ``milk and water”, ``milk for babies”, ``milk the bull”.
In contrast to English, many Japanese proverbs are used ``water’’ and ``tea’’.
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Proverbs
Because tea is traditional Japanese drink. For example, ``uogogkoro areba
mizugokoro’’ (you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.), ``mizu to abura” (oil
and vinegar), ``mizuni nagasu”(Let bygones be bygones.), ``mizuwo
sasu’’(throw a wet blanket on), ``chanoma”(living room), ``chawo nigosu’’
(did a taken job.), ``hesode chawo wakasu”, ``chato hyakushouha
shiboruhodo deru”.
3). Culturally bound proverbs
1-1. The following proverbs are influenced by Western culture.
・To err is human, to forgive divine.
・Knowledge is power.
・The exception proves the rule.
・A bad penny always comes back.
・A friend in need is a friend indeed.
・A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.
・Nothing succeeds like success.
These English proverbs have no close equivalent in Japanese. I think
many of English proverbs are come from the Bible. Because I found a lot of
proverbs that are used the word ``god”. ``God” is very important for Western
people. And I could find the different way of thinking between English and
Japanese. So I think these proverbs are interesting.
1-2. Proverbs that are naturalized into Japanese
・If you run after two hares you will catch neither.
---- Nitowo oumonoha ittowomo ezu.
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Proverbs
Many Japanese people imaged that this proverb came from Chinese. But it’s
wrong. This is come from western country in Meiji period. Although I didn’t
know about it, many English proverbs were translated into Japanese. These
are examples,
・Time is money.
--- Tokiha kanenari.
・Kill two birds with one stone.
---Isseki nichou.
・Strike while the iron is hot.
--- Tetuha atuiutiniute.
・To cast pearls before swine.
--- Butani shinjyu.
・A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
---Oborerumonoha warawoomo tukamu.
・Blood is thicker than water.
--- Chiha mizuyorimo koshi.
・He that hunts two hares loses both.
--- Nitowo oumonoha ittowomoezu.
・Necessity is the mother of invention.
--- hituyouha hatumeino haha.
2. The following proverbs are only Japanese.
・Akinasuha yomeni kuwasuna
・Derukuiha utareru
・Shunimajiwareba akakunaru.
・Gouniitteha gounishitagae.
・Nagaimononiha makarero.
In Japan, group principle is taken a serious view of society. Japanese people
value cooperation more than individual. If you get into the group or
organization, you need to conform to the customs and rules of the group and
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Proverbs
can’t act your own thought. I think Japanese way of thinking can be seen in
Japanese school. There are many school rules. If one of the students breaks
the rule, teachers dress him or her down. You can feel this if you see the
school event, sports festival and culture festival and so on. So students are
educated group activity, teamwork, and cooperative. And it’s said that
Japanese students are shy and don’t express their ideas. I know it’s a bad
custom and we have to be more positive. But I think this is one of the
Japanese conventions. So these proverbs show Japanese way of thinking
and society. Conversely, Western people don’t think rule is very important.
Here is an example, ``There is no general rule without some exception.”
This proverb shows what I’m trying to say. Western society is individual.
These proverbs are different from society, lifestyle, humanity, culture,
and many kinds of causes.
4. Conclusion
I didn’t know many proverbs were naturalized into Japanese until I
researched this time. And I felt interesting to know the differences between
English and Japanese. This report shows you that English proverbs show
people’s joy, sorrow and warning like Japanese proverbs. I was surprised
and admired to know the way of thinking. After all, through these proverbs,
I could see the Western custom and traditional culture.
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5/5
Proverbs
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English and
Japanese Proverbs: A Comparative Study", Taishukan
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hokuseidoushoten 1981 Tokyo 377p
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nitieidokufututaishouhyou'',