Japanese Proverbs About Success and Failure

Being completely perfect and without any faults or shortcomings.

Having a great deal left to accomplish when time is running out.

Favoring someone excessively can unintentionally harm them or damage their reputation.

Putting on a brave front or making sore-loser remarks to hide one's true distress or defeat.

Just as water naturally flows to the lowest point, people and good fortune naturally gather around those who remain humble.

Lamenting the lack of opportunity to exercise one's skills and the resulting idleness.

A person's true character and the sincerity of their relationships are revealed when they face a decline in fortune.

Using someone else's resources, power, or efforts for one's own personal gain.

True success and profit are found on the path less traveled by others.

Entrusting the care or management of something to a person who is likely to cause harm or damage to it.

The natural human tendency to sympathize with or support the underdog or the defeated.

A state where many beautiful flowers are blooming at once, or a period where many talented people and great achievements appear simultaneously.

One should stay focused and maintain effort until a task is completely finished, as the final stage is the most difficult.

Describing someone who has gained extensive experience and skill through many real-world challenges.

Hitting the target with every shot, or having every plan or prediction come true with perfect accuracy.

Visible matters represent only a small fraction of the whole.

To pass on the secrets or essence of a craft, teaching, or tradition from a master to a disciple.

Concentrating single-mindedly on a single goal or task without distraction.

Having a slight edge or superiority in skill or experience compared to others.

One difficulty or crisis follows another in quick succession.

With strong will and mental focus, one can manifest the power to overcome even the greatest difficulties.

A strong desire or unwavering belief will reach heaven and eventually be rewarded.

To share the same fate or destiny with others, regardless of the outcome.

To lose heart and become extremely dejected.

Acting with ruthless speed to snatch profits from others in a fiercely competitive environment.

To be in high spirits, feeling proud and triumphant.

Gaining a massive profit all at once with very little initial investment or effort.

Alternating between joy and anxiety as a situation changes.

Achieving two benefits with a single action.

Being in a center of culture and knowledge provides more growth than isolated study.

Examples of failure that serve as warnings are not found only in ancient history but are close at hand.

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

Changing a disadvantageous situation into a favorable one with a single attempt.

Refers to an impossible event occurring or to someone past their prime achieving success again.

Perseverance prevails; even a cold stone will eventually become warm if you sit on it long enough.

A once-in-a-lifetime major event or the most important moment of one's life.

To take the world by storm or define an entire era throughout society.

To draw a clear boundary between things to distinguish them or to stand apart as being superior.

A situation that fluctuates between improving and worsening without reaching a clear conclusion.

To wander aimlessly or lose one's direction in life.

To deal with a matter decisively, swiftly, and without hesitation.

Those destined for greatness show signs of their extraordinary potential from early childhood.

To become desperate and act recklessly because things did not go as planned.

To stomp one's feet in extreme frustration or anger.

The first step into a disastrous, irreversible, or terrifying situation.

Do everything in your power and leave the rest to fate.

Life consists of both good times and bad times.

Refers to a biased or unorthodox approach that fails to move things straight forward, or a lack of real progress.