Proverb / Kotowaza
芸は身に付く
Skills and knowledge acquired remain as personal assets throughout one's life.
An art sticks to the body
Quick Answer
Skills and knowledge acquired remain as personal assets throughout one's life.
- Literal Image
- An art sticks to the body
- Closest Equivalent
- An art is a sure living
- How to Use It
- Used to encourage learning a trade or skill, or to reflect on how a past accomplishment continues to provide value later in life.
Meaning
While money and physical possessions can be lost, skills and knowledge one has mastered stay with them forever. This proverb emphasizes that acquired abilities become a part of oneself and serve as a reliable resource regardless of circumstances.
Literal Image
An art sticks to the body
Equivalent Proverbs
An art is a sure living
Refers to a skill providing a livelihood.
A trade is a fortune
Suggests a skill is as valuable as wealth.
How to Use It
Used to encourage learning a trade or skill, or to reflect on how a past accomplishment continues to provide value later in life.
Tone
Encouraging and instructive.
Examples
若いうちに料理の腕を磨いておいてよかった。芸は身に付くというように、今でも自炊でお金を節約できている。
I'm glad I honed my cooking skills while I was young. As they say, 'skills stay with you,' and I'm still able to save money by cooking for myself today.
楽器を習わせてくれた両親に感謝している。芸は身に付くで、音楽は一生の友となった。
I'm grateful to my parents for letting me learn an instrument. With 'skills sticking to the body,' music has become a lifelong friend.
芸は身に付くというから、若いうちにしっかりと技術を身につけておくべきだ。
They say that 'skills stay with you,' so you should acquire solid technical skills while you are young.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses vocabulary (gei, mi, tsuku) but the phrasing is idiomatic and uses the particle 'ni' in a specific sense of 'sticking to'.
芸
げい / gei
art, craft, skill
身に付く
みにつく / mi ni tsuku
to master, to acquire, to stick to the person
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Do not confuse this with 'gei wa mi wo tasukeru' (art helps the body); while similar, this version emphasizes internal mastery rather than external assistance.
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Related Proverbs
Origin
In this expression, 'gei' refers to technical skills, arts, or accomplishments. It stems from the observation that while physical assets and money can be lost, skills and knowledge are difficult to lose and remain useful throughout one's life. It is closely related to the proverb 'Gei wa mi wo tasukeru,' but specifically emphasizes the mastery becoming a part of the individual.
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Source Note
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