Japanese Proverbs About Karma & Consequences

A scene of extreme suffering where people cry out in agony and desperation.

Whether people get along with one another or not is all due to a mysterious fate.

Unwanted or harmful relationships are deeply rooted and difficult to break.

If you do bad things, you will eventually face negative consequences.

Bad deeds and negative rumors spread quickly to the world.

Bad deeds and negative reputations spread rapidly over great distances.

Money obtained without effort or through dishonest means is quickly lost because it is spent carelessly.

Good things can unexpectedly be found in what others have left behind or passed over.

Forgetting the favors and gratitude owed to others once a difficult situation has passed.

Adversity or conflict leads to a more stable and stronger foundation than before.

A tiny flaw or a moment of carelessness can lead to a massive disaster or failure.

People forget the help and kindness they received during a crisis once the difficulty has passed.

To waste all of one's previous efforts or hard work.

Responding to violence with further violence, or engaging in a brutal struggle between those closely related.

To be caught up in an unexpected disaster or trouble through no fault of one's own.

Great events or major problems originate from minor causes.

Use an evil or harmful thing to eliminate or counteract another evil.

To perform a service for free only to end up suffering a loss or damage as a result.

To pile further shame on top of an existing failure, while trying to cover it up.

A state of extreme financial distress or struggling to make ends meet.

A rumor cannot exist without some underlying truth or cause.

A sincere gift from someone with little is more valuable than a large, hollow gift from someone with much.

There is only harm and no benefit whatsoever.

Good deeds bring good results, and bad deeds bring bad results.

Doing good deeds in secret will inevitably lead to a visible reward.

To reap the consequences of one's own actions.

Good luck comes naturally in its own time, so wait patiently without rushing.

Regretting something after it is already done is useless because it cannot be undone.

To suffer the negative consequences of one's own past actions.

A situation where bad luck is followed by even more bad luck.

Kindness shown to others is not just for their benefit, but will eventually return to you.

Good things are found among the items others have left behind.

Lying is the first step toward committing more serious crimes like theft.