人にん間げん万ばん事じ塞さい翁おうが馬うま

expression

life is full of ups and downs; fortune is unpredictable

A proverb derived from a Chinese story: an old man's horse runs away, but later returns with another horse, and his son's injury from riding prevents him from being drafted. Teaches that misfortune may turn into fortune and vice versa; often used to console someone after a setback.

• 試し験けんに落おちたけど、人にん間げん万ばん事じ塞さい翁おうが馬うまというし、きっといいことがあるよ。

  I failed the exam, but as they say, 'life is full of ups and downs,' so something good will surely come of it.

• 人にん間げん万ばん事じ塞さい翁おうが馬うまだから、今いまの失しっ敗ぱいをあまり気きにしないで。

  Since fortune is unpredictable, don't worry too much about this failure.