Translation guide
A short, well-known saying that expresses a common truth or piece of advice.
ことわざ
proverb
To refer to a traditional saying that gives advice or states a general truth.
The standard word for 'proverb'. Used for traditional sayings like 'A stitch in time saves nine'.
「急がば回れ」は有名なことわざです。
'Haste makes waste' is a famous proverb.
Kanji form of ことわざ, more common in formal writing.
この諺の意味を説明してください。
Please explain the meaning of this proverb.
Refers to a maxim or aphorism, often more philosophical or formal than ことわざ.
彼はスピーチで有名な格言を引用した。
He quoted a famous maxim in his speech.
A 'golden saying' or wise maxim, often with a moral or practical lesson. Less common in daily speech.
祖母はよく古い金言を口にした。
My grandmother often recited old golden sayings.
To talk about proverbs as a category, or a book of proverbs.
A collection or book of proverbs.
このことわざ集には世界中のことわざが載っている。
This proverb collection contains proverbs from around the world.
A proverb dictionary.
ことわざ辞典で意味を調べた。
I looked up the meaning in a proverb dictionary.
To refer to the Book of Proverbs in the Bible.
The standard Japanese name for the biblical Book of Proverbs.
箴言には知恵に関する教えが多く含まれている。
The Book of Proverbs contains many teachings about wisdom.
ことわざ are traditional, often folksy sayings passed down orally (e.g., 猿も木から落ちる 'Even monkeys fall from trees'). 格言 are more formal, often attributed to a specific person or text, and carry a philosophical or moral weight (e.g., 時は金なり 'Time is money'). In everyday conversation, ことわざ is the safer choice.
While 諺 is the kanji for ことわざ, it is rarely used in casual contexts. Stick to hiragana ことわざ unless writing a formal essay or academic paper.