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Proverb / Kotowaza

早寝早起き病知らず

ReadingはやねはやおきやまいしらずRomajihayane hayaoki yamai shirazu

Going to bed early and waking up early leads to a healthy life free from sickness.

Early to bed, early to rise, not knowing illness

Quick Answer

Going to bed early and waking up early leads to a healthy life free from sickness.

Literal Image
Early to bed, early to rise, not knowing illness
Closest Equivalent
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
How to Use It
Used when advising someone on the importance of a regular routine or explaining why someone stays healthy.

Meaning

This proverb emphasizes that establishing a regular lifestyle of going to bed early and rising early is the key to physical well-being. By maintaining disciplined sleep habits, one can prevent disease and stay healthy.

Literal Image

Early to bed, early to rise, not knowing illness

Equivalent Proverbs

01
Close✓ Reviewed

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Includes broader benefits like wealth and wisdom, but shares the core health message.

How to Use It

Used when advising someone on the importance of a regular routine or explaining why someone stays healthy.

Tone

Instructive and reassuring.

Examples

01

早寝早起き病知らずというが、規則正しい生活が健康の基本だ。

They say 'early to bed and early to rise keeps sickness away,' and indeed a regular life is the foundation of health.

Learning Notes

Key Vocabulary

Estimated LevelN3Confidence: Medium
Estimate, not an official JLPT list

While the vocabulary is straightforward, the compound construction and the classical 'shirazu' ending are typical of proverbs at this level.

早寝

はやね / hayane

sleeping early

早起き

はやおき / hayaoki

waking early

やまい / yamai

illness; disease

知らず

しらず / shirazu

not knowing; without

Usage Profile

NeutralReassuringMoralizing

Misread Risk

Do not confuse 'yamai' (illness) with 'itami' (pain).

Search As

早寝早起き病知らずはやねはやおきやまいしらずhayane hayaoki yamai shirazuhayanehayaokiyamaishirazuhayane-hayaoki-yamai-shirazu

Kanji in This Proverb

Related Proverbs

Entry available早起きは三文の徳hayaoki wa sanmon no tokuWaking up early is good for your health and can bring small, unexpected benefits.
Similar頭寒足熱

Origin

This proverb stems from ancient wisdom regarding the health benefits of regular sleep habits. Modern medicine has since provided scientific evidence for the importance of sleep in maintaining health.

Index

Topics, Situations, and Tags

01

Topics

Life and HealthLearning and Wisdom
02

Situations

Give Life Advice
03

Tags

⚔️Life & General Wisdom🎌Japanese Culture

Source Note

Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.

Published
2026-03-15
Updated
2026-05-08
Source 1: tomomi965.comSource 2: tomomi965.comSource 3: tomomi965.comAbout Data SourcesReport a Correction

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