Proverb / Kotowaza
命あっての物種
Everything is possible only as long as you are alive, so life must be protected above all else.
Life is the seed of all things
Quick Answer
Everything is possible only as long as you are alive, so life must be protected above all else.
- Literal Image
- Life is the seed of all things
- Closest Equivalent
- While there is life, there is hope.
- How to Use It
- Used to advise someone to prioritize their health and safety, especially when they are overworking or taking unnecessary risks.
Meaning
This proverb emphasizes that life is the fundamental requirement for any achievement or experience. It teaches that once life is lost, everything ends, making life the most important asset regardless of the difficulties one faces. It serves as a reminder to prioritize health and safety over reckless goals or excessive work.
Literal Image
Life is the seed of all things
Equivalent Proverbs
While there is life, there is hope.
While the English focus is on hope and the Japanese on being the 'seed' of possibilities, the core lesson is the same.
How to Use It
Used to advise someone to prioritize their health and safety, especially when they are overworking or taking unnecessary risks.
Tone
Can be used as practical life advice or a cautionary reminder.
Examples
命あっての物種だ。無理をせず、体を第一に考えなさい。
Life is the most important thing. Don't overdo it, and put your health first.
命あっての物種と言うから、危険な場所には近づかない方がいい。
They say that life is everything, so it is better not to go near dangerous places.
命あっての物種で、仕事よりもまず健康を優先すべきだ。
Health should come before work, because everything starts with being alive.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the grammatical structure 'A atte no B' (B which exists only because of A) and the slightly literary term 'monodane'.
命
いのち / inochi
life
物種
ものだね / monodane
the seed or root of things; the foundation
Usage Profile
Usage note: Do not use this to dismiss someone's goals; use it to remind them that those goals require them to be alive and healthy first.
Misread Risk
Learners might mistake 'monodane' as simply 'a kind of thing', but here it specifically means the 'seed' or 'source' that allows other things to exist.
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Related Proverbs
Meaning and Source of Monodane
The term 'monodane' (物種) refers to the fundamental root or origin of things. This proverb serves as a piece of practical wisdom, teaching that while anything can be achieved as long as one is alive, death ends all possibilities. Therefore, life is the most precious asset regardless of the hardships one faces.
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