expression
what is learned in the cradle is carried to the tomb
Proverb meaning that habits or skills acquired in youth persist into old age, just as a sparrow never forgets its hopping dance.
祖父は今でも毎朝ラジオ体操を欠かさない。雀百まで踊り忘れずだね。
My grandfather still does radio calisthenics every morning without fail. Old habits die hard, as they say.
Standard kanji form of the proverb.
Variant using 迄 for まで; less common.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The literal meaning is 'a sparrow doesn't forget its dance even at a hundred (years old),' referring to the sparrow's characteristic hopping. The exact origin is uncertain.