Proverb / Kotowaza
転ばぬ先の杖
Preparing in advance ensures that you can avoid failure when trouble strikes.
A walking stick before you stumble
Quick Answer
Preparing in advance ensures that you can avoid failure when trouble strikes.
- Literal Image
- A walking stick before you stumble
- Closest Equivalent
- Prevention is better than cure
- How to Use It
- It is used when suggesting that someone should take preventive measures or when describing someone's wise preparation for future risks.
Meaning
This proverb emphasizes the importance of taking precautions before a problem occurs. Just as using a walking stick before you actually trip can prevent a fall, being careful and prepared in daily life allows you to handle unexpected situations without failing.
Literal Image
A walking stick before you stumble
Equivalent Proverbs
Prevention is better than cure
Focuses on medical or systemic prevention.
Light your lamp before it becomes dark
Emphasizes preparing before the need becomes urgent.
How to Use It
It is used when suggesting that someone should take preventive measures or when describing someone's wise preparation for future risks.
Tone
Can be used in a cautionary or advisory tone to encourage prudence.
Examples
転ばぬ先の杖で、海外旅行には保険に入っておこう。
As a 'walking stick before we fall,' let's get insurance for our overseas trip.
データのバックアップは転ばぬ先の杖だ。万が一に備えておいて損はない。
Backing up your data is like a walking stick before a stumble. There's no harm in being prepared for the worst.
老後の資金を若いうちから積み立てるのは、転ばぬ先の杖というものだ。
Saving for retirement while you are young is exactly what they mean by a walking stick before you fall.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
The vocabulary consists of simple words like 'stumble' and 'stick,' but the negative 'nu' ending and the idiomatic structure are characteristic of proverbs.
転ぶ
ころぶ / korobu
to fall down; to stumble
先
さき / saki
before; ahead
杖
つえ / tsue
cane; walking stick
Usage Profile
Misread Risk
Ensure you use it to describe preparation for a potential problem, not just general planning.
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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.