Translation guide
A widely known phrase or proverb expressing shared wisdom or cultural truth.
To express a traditional piece of advice or general truth.
The standard word for 'proverb' or 'saying'. Used for traditional, often old, sayings that convey wisdom.
「急がば回れ」ということわざを知っていますか。
Do you know the saying 'Haste makes waste'?
A 'maxim' or 'aphorism' — a concise, often philosophical saying. Slightly more formal than ことわざ.
彼はいつも格言を引用して話す。
He always speaks quoting maxims.
Kanji form of ことわざ. Used in formal writing or literature.
この本には日本の諺がたくさん載っている。
This book contains many Japanese proverbs.
To refer to a fixed expression used in everyday conversation.
A 'set phrase' or 'cliché' — a fixed expression often used in specific situations.
「お世話になっております」はビジネスの決まり文句です。
'Osewa ni natte orimasu' is a common business phrase.
An 'idiom' — a phrase whose meaning isn't obvious from the individual words.
A 'stock phrase' or 'conventional expression', often with a nuance of being overused or trite.
To refer to a saying that is currently popular or widely recognized.
A 'buzzword' or 'popular phrase' of the moment, often from media or social trends.
今年の流行語大賞が発表された。
This year's buzzword of the year was announced.
A 'famous saying' or 'wise quote', often attributed to a specific person.
ことわざ are traditional, anonymous proverbs (e.g., 急がば回れ). 格言 are concise maxims, often with a known origin. 名言 are famous quotes by specific people.
「腹が立つ」は怒りを表す慣用句です。
'Hara ga tatsu' is an idiom meaning to get angry.
彼のスピーチは常套句ばかりだった。
His speech was full of stock phrases.
スティーブ・ジョブズの名言は多くの人に影響を与えた。
Steve Jobs' famous sayings influenced many people.