godan verb (-su), transitive verb
say as a tradition; customarily say
Used for proverbs, sayings, or expressions that are passed down and repeated over time. Often appears in the form 〜と言い習わす.
昔から「早起きは三文の徳」と言い習わされてきた。
It has been said since old times that 'the early bird catches the worm.'
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
have a habit of saying
Describes a personal habit of saying a particular phrase or expression repeatedly. Less common than the traditional-saying sense.
祖母は何かあると「ありがたいねえ」と言い習わす。
My grandmother habitually says 'How grateful we are' whenever something happens.