Proverb / Kotowaza
早起きは三文の徳
Waking up early is good for your health and can bring small, unexpected benefits.
Waking up early is worth three mon of virtue
Quick Answer
Waking up early is good for your health and can bring small, unexpected benefits.
- Literal Image
- Waking up early is worth three mon of virtue
- Closest Equivalent
- The early bird catches the worm.
- How to Use It
- Used to encourage someone to wake up earlier or to describe a small positive experience gained from starting the day early.
Meaning
Rising early is beneficial for physical health and overall well-being. It also suggests that by starting your day early, you are likely to encounter small pieces of good fortune or accomplish something productive that you would have otherwise missed.
Literal Image
Waking up early is worth three mon of virtue
Equivalent Proverbs
The early bird catches the worm.
Focuses on gaining an advantage by acting early.
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Emphasizes health and wisdom, similar to the Japanese focus on health and 'toku'.
How to Use It
Used to encourage someone to wake up earlier or to describe a small positive experience gained from starting the day early.
Tone
An encouraging and positive proverb used in daily life.
Examples
朝の散歩で珍しい野鳥を見つけた。早起きは三文の徳だ。
I saw a rare wild bird during my morning walk. Waking up early really does bring its rewards.
早起きは三文の徳と信じて、毎朝五時に起きて勉強している。
Believing that the early bird catches the worm, I wake up at five every morning to study.
朝市で新鮮な魚を安く手に入れた。早起きは三文の徳というものだ。
I managed to get fresh fish at a bargain at the morning market. They say waking up early brings small fortunes.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of simple words like 'early rising' and 'three', though the use of 'mon' (old currency) and the particle 'wa' for emphasis are idiomatic.
早起き
はやおき / hayaoki
waking up early
三文
さんもん / sanmon
three mon (a small amount of money)
徳
とく / toku
virtue; benefit; gain
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Note that 'sanmon' refers to a very small amount, emphasizing that even a tiny benefit makes early rising worthwhile.
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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.