行いきはよいよい帰かえりは怖こわい

expression, i-adjective

going there is easy but coming back is scary

Proverb from the Edo-period children's song "Tōryanse". Used to express that starting something is easy, but finishing or facing the consequences is frightening. Often quoted in full or alluded to in literature and conversation.

• 「行いきはよいよい帰かえりは怖こわい」という言こと葉ばがあるように、物もの事ごとは始はじめるより終おわらせる方ほうが難むずかしい。

  As the saying goes, 'Going there is easy, but coming back is scary' — finishing something is harder than starting it.

• 彼かれは軽かるい気き持もちで引ひき受うけたが、行いきはよいよい帰かえりは怖こわいで、後あとになって後こう悔かいした。

  He took it on lightly, but as the proverb says, the way back is scary, and he later regretted it.