KOTOWAZA.JEPANG.ORG

Topic

Japanese Proverbs About Cause and Consequence

Japanese proverbs about cause and consequence explain choices, habits, responsibility, and outcomes that follow action. This selection works when readers want to show the link between behavior and result without a long speech.

Page 2 of 2 lists entries 49-65. Start from the first page to see this list from the beginning.

Back to first page

Japanese Proverbs: Cause and Consequence

Showing 49-65 of 65 entries // Page 2 of 2

+

陰徳あれば陽報あり

intoku areba yoho ari

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

+

犬も歩けば棒に当たる

inu mo arukeba bo ni ataru

Action leads to unexpected outcomes, whether they be sudden misfortunes or lucky accidents.

+

犬骨折って鷹にとられる

inu honeotte taka ni torareru

Someone else takes the credit or reward for your hard work.

+

自業自得

jigou jitoku

To reap the consequences of one's own actions.

+

蛙の子は蛙

kaeru no ko wa kaeru

Children inevitably resemble their parents in character, ability, and lifestyle.

+

飼い犬に手を噛まれる

kaiinu ni te o kamareru

To be unexpectedly betrayed or harmed by a subordinate or someone you have nurtured and treated with care.

+

後悔先に立たず

koukai saki ni tatazu

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

+

口は災いのもと

kuchi wa wazawai no moto

Careless words can lead to great misfortune for the speaker.

+

苦しい時の神頼み

kurushii toki no kamidanomi

Turning to divine help only when in trouble, despite ignoring it at other times.

+

身から出た錆

mi kara deta sabi

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

+

泣きっ面に蜂

nakittsura ni hachi

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

+

情けは人のためならず

nasake wa hito no tame narazu

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

+

二度あることは三度ある

nido aru koto wa sando aru

Things that have occurred twice are likely to happen a third time.

+

馬の耳に念仏

uma no mimi ni nenbutsu

No matter how much advice or opinion you give, the listener ignores it and it has no effect.

+

嘘つきは泥棒のはじまり

usotsuki wa dorobou no hajimari

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

+

焼け石に水

yakeishi ni mizu

A small amount of effort or aid that is completely ineffective against a large problem.

+

病は気から

yamai wa ki kara

Physical illness is influenced by one's state of mind, potentially improving or worsening based on one's attitude.