挨あい拶さつより円えん札さつ

expression

money speaks louder than words; yen bills over salutations

A jocular proverb playing on the shared さつ ending of 挨拶 (greeting) and 円札 (yen bill). Used to suggest that money is more persuasive than empty words.

• 「挨あい拶さつより円えん札さつ」って、うまいこと言いうね。

  "Money speaks louder than words" — that's a clever saying, isn't it?

• 政せい治じ家かに頼たのむなら、挨あい拶さつより円えん札さつだよ。

  If you're asking a politician, money talks louder than greetings.