expression
better to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know
Proverb encouraging people to ask questions even at the risk of momentary embarrassment, because remaining ignorant leads to lasting shame. Often contrasted with the similar proverb 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥.
See also: 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥
「聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは末代の恥」というから、わからないことはすぐに質問しよう。
As the proverb says, 'Better to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know,' so let's ask questions right away when we don't understand something.
A more common variant using 一生 (a lifetime) instead of 末代 (eternity). The meaning is essentially the same, but 一生の恥 is more frequently used in modern Japanese.
A Japanese proverb of uncertain origin, contrasting the temporary embarrassment of asking a question (一時の恥) with the lasting shame of remaining ignorant (末代の恥).