Japanese Proverbs About Relationships

Always having a comeback or excuse instead of listening to what someone says.

When someone is in love or biased, even the other person's flaws appear to be charming qualities.

Choosing to respond to harm or ill-treatment with kindness and favors instead of seeking revenge.

To seize on someone's minor slip of the tongue or mistake to criticize or tease them.

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

To have a charm and amiability so natural and abundant that it seems to overflow from one's expressions and gestures.

A person who intervenes to settle a conflict or dispute is a precious and helpful presence.

To lose all affection, trust, or patience for someone due to their bad behavior.

To be so stunned or dumbfounded by someone's appalling behavior that one is left speechless.

A metaphor for a woman who has lost a man's love, or anything that was once valued but is now neglected after its time has passed.

Autumn eggplants are either too delicious to share with a daughter-in-law or should be avoided for her health.

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

An unattractive woman tends to be deeply devoted and single-minded in her love for one person.

Marrying an unsuitable wife results in a lifetime of hardship comparable to sixty years of crop failure.

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

Having an older wife helps a husband live a steady and frugal life, leading to the growth of family wealth.

A student or disciple who surpasses their teacher in skill or knowledge.

People find someone annoying while they are alive, only to miss them dearly once they have passed away.

Lending money on the condition that it can be repaid whenever the borrower is able, without any reminders.

A person’s character is naturally improved when they are in a virtuous environment or around excellent companions.

A person's character and development are shaped by their environment and the people they associate with.

Betraying a benefactor and causing them further trouble or dishonor upon one's departure.

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

The moment people meet, the process of eventually parting begins.

Two or more people working together in perfect synchronization of timing and feeling.

Refers to a one-sided love where one person has deep feelings for someone who does not feel the same way.

Anything that has been joined together must eventually separate.

The idea that the ideal couple consists of a brave, strong man from the East (Kanto) and a refined, elegant woman from Kyoto.

Parents tend to feel a deeper affection and concern for a child who is less capable or causes more trouble.

Being liked by everyone or having universal appeal.

Poor families have many children.

Behaving selfishly or inconsiderately as if there were no other people present.

Hating someone so much that you extend that hatred to everything associated with them.

Family ties and bonds between blood relatives are stronger than relationships with others.

Human unity and cooperation are more powerful than material or geographical advantages.

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

A close friend who truly understands one's heart or the true essence of one's work.

Passionate romance that starts suddenly tends to cool down just as fast.

A close friend from early childhood.

A person's strengths can also be seen as weaknesses depending on the perspective and context.

A person who intervenes in a quarrel is as helpful and welcome as a guardian deity appearing at just the right time.

A truly loyal person remains committed to one master and does not serve another.

A Confucian teaching that boys and girls should be separated from age seven to maintain proper etiquette and moral distinction.

Great strength is achieved when many people work together as a single unit.

People who share the same sufferings or difficulties naturally sympathize with and comfort each other.

To be in the same position or working together while having different thoughts or hidden goals.

People in the same difficult situation should help one another.

The bonds of romance are mysterious, unpredictable, and full of inexplicable charm.