日本の諺を英語でどういうかを一米国人が日本語学習者向けに著した一冊に見る2016.7.29 EFC

安藤猛

Japanese proverb Similar proverb Literal translation English equivalent Remark

1 馬子にも衣裳 馬子にも衣装髪かたちEven a packhorse driver looks

fine in proper dress.

1. Clothes make the man.

2. Fine feathers make fine birds.

2 膝とも談合 物は相談Consult anyone, even your

knees.

1. Two heads are better than one.

2. Consult with your pillow.

3 猿も木から落ちる

河童の川流れ

弘法にも筆の誤り

孔子の倒れ

Even monkeys fall from trees.

1. Anybody can make a mistake.

2. A horse may stumble though it has four

legs

4 紺屋の白袴 医者の不養生 Dyers wear undyed trousers.1. Shoemakers' children go barefoot.

2. The tailor's wife is worst clad.

諺辞典になし、読み間

違い

5 千里の道も一歩から

遠きに行くは必ず近くより

す

高きに登るには低きよりす

Even a thousand-mile journey

begins with the first step.

1. You have to start somewhere.

2. Even the longest journey begins with the

first step.

6 蟹は甲羅に似せて穴を掘るCrabs dig holes according to

the size of their shells.1&2. Cut your coat according to your cloth.

7 人生は風前の灯Life is a candle before the

wind.1. Our life is but a span.

馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし

8 蛇の道はへびSnakes follow the way of

serpents.1&2. Set a thief to catch a thief.

9 戴くものは夏でも小袖 貰うものは夏も小袖

A padded jacket is an

acceptable gift even in

summer.

1. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. 意味取違い

1

10 同病相憐れむPeople with the same disease

share sympathy.

1. Misery loves company.

2. Misery makes strange bed-fellows.（不

幸で寄り合う他人かな。）

11 仏の顔も三度 兎も七日なぶれば噛みつくBudda's face when asked three

times.

1. To try the patience of a saint.

2. When pot's full it will boil over.（鍋も一

杯になると吹きこぼれる)

12 一文惜しみの百損一文惜しみの百失い

一文惜しみの百知らず

One coin saved and a hundred

losses.1&2. Penny-wise, pound-foolish.

13 悪事千里を走る好事門を出でず、悪事千里

を行く

An evil act runs a thousand

miles.1&2. Bad news travels fast.

14 郷に入っては郷に従え 人の躍る時は踊れObey the customs of the

village you enter.1&2. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

15 畑から蛤はとれぬ

畑に蛤

山に蛤を求む

水中に火を求む

木に縁りて魚を求む

You can't get clams from a

field.

1. You can't get blood from a stone.

2. There is no getting blood from a turnip.

16 船頭多くして船山に登るToo many boatmen will bring a

boat up a mountain.1&2. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

17 裏には裏がある 底に底ありThe reverse side has its

reverse side.1. There are wheels within wheels.

18 多芸は無芸何でも来いに名人なし

器用貧乏人宝

Too many accomplishments

make no accomlishment.1&2. Jack of all trades, master of none.

19 口は禍の元口は禍の門

舌は禍の根

The mouth is the cause of

calamity.

1. The mouth is the gate of evil.

2. Out of the mouth comes evil.

2

20落花枝に帰らず、破鏡再び

照らさず覆水盆に返らず

Fallen blossoms do not return

to branches: a broken mirror

does not again reflect.

1. There's no use crying over spilt milk.

2. What is lost is lost.馴染薄

21 鬼の女房鬼神がなるThe wife of a devil grows

worse than her mate.1. The apprentice outstrips the master.

馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、意味取違い

22 卵と誓いは砕けやすいEggs and vows are easily

broken.1. Actions speak louder than workds.

馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし

23一杯は人酒を飲み二杯は酒

酒を飲み三杯は酒人を飲む

First the man takes a drink,

then the drink takes a drink,

then the drink takes the man.

1. Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

24味噌の味噌臭いは上味噌に

あらず

The bean paste that smells like

bean paste is not the best

quality.

1. All that gliters is not gold.馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし

25 一寸の虫にも五分の魂 痩せ腕にも骨Even a one-inch insect has a

half-inch soul.

1. Everything has its place.

2. Even a worm will turn. （虫でも向かって

くるものである。）

26 毛深い者は色深い A hairy person is sexy. 1. Bald and barren.馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし

27 餅は餅屋 芸は道によって賢しFor rice cakes, go to the rice-

cake maker.

1. The right man for the ight job.

2. There is a mystery in the meanest

trade.(どんなつまらない仕事にも秘訣があ

る。）

3

28 捕らぬ狸の皮算用

飛ぶ鳥の献立

沖な物あて

穴の狢を値段する

Don't estimate the value of a

badger skin before catching

the badger.

1, 2. Don't count your chikens before

they're hatched.

2. To sell the bear's skin before one has

caught the bear.

29 泣く子と地頭には勝てぬ

It is impossible to win over a

crying child or government

officials.

1. You can't fight City Hall.

2. The crying child and my lord will have

their own ways.（泣く子と領主（夫）は思

いを通す）

30 犬も歩けば棒に当たるA dog that walks around will

find a stick.

1. Never go for looking for trouble.

Seek and ye shall find.

2. The dog that trots about finds a bone.

31 花より団子 花の下より鼻の下Dumplings are better than

flowers.1&2. Pudding before praise.

32 塵も積もれば山となる 大遣いより小遣いEven dust amassed will grow

into a mountain.

1. Great oaks from little acorns grow.

2. Many a little makes a mickle.

Every little bit helps.

33 泣きっ面に蜂弱り目に祟り目

こけた上を踏まれるStinging a crying face.

1. Adding insult to injury.

2. Misfortunes never come singly.

34 無理が通れば道理引っ込む勝てば官軍負ければ賊軍

無理も通れば道理になる

When illogic prevails, reason

gives away.

1. Might makes right.

2. When might is master, justice is servant.

35 臭い物に蓋 Put a lid on what smells bad.

1. Don't wash dirty linen in public.

2. To sweep a troublesome problem under

the carpet.

36 貧乏暇なし Poor people have no leisure.1. There is no rest for the weary.

2. Poverty leaves no leisure.

4

37 背に腹は代えられぬ 背より腹The back cannot take the

place of the belly.

1. Self-preservation is the first law of

nature.

2. Necessity knows no law.（必要の前に法

はない。）

38 藪をつついて蛇を出す 藪蛇By poking at a bamboo thicket,

one drives out a snake.1&2. Let sleeping dogs lie.

39 親しき中にも礼儀ありThere are formalities between

the closest of friends.

1. Familiality breeds contempt.

2. A hedge between keeps friendship

green.（間に垣根があると友情は生き生きと

保たれる。）

40犬の喧嘩に子供が出、子供

の喧嘩に親が出る

Dog fights draw children:

children's fights draw parents.1. One thing leads to another.

馴染薄、諺辞典になし、意味取違い

41 絵に描いた餅は食えぬ画餅

机上の空論

You can't eat the rice cake in a

picture.

1. Never confuse art with life.

2. Pie in the sky.

42 蛙の子は蛙瓜の蔓に茄子はならぬ

鳶の子は鷹にならずThe child of a frog is a frog.

1. Like father, like son.

2. A chip off the old block.（古木の木っ端--

父親そっくりの息子）

43 出る釘は打たれる出る杭は打たれる

高木は風におらる

The protruding nail will be

hammered.

The stake that sticks up will be

pounded down.

1. Don't make waves.

2. Envy is the companion of honor.

3. Excellence is shot down by mediocrity;

Doing better than others evokes jealousy;

Difference is forced into conformity.

44 馬鹿も一芸 Even a fool has one talent. 1. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし

5

45 負けるが勝ち 逃げるが勝ち To lose is to win.

1. The race is not to the swift.

2. To stoop to conquer.（勝つために屈服す

る--屈辱をしのんで目的を達する）

46 十人十色 人の心は面のごとし Ten men, ten tastes.

1. There is no accounting for tastes.

2. So many men, so many minds.

Every man has his humor（気質）.

47 去る者は日々にに疎し 遠くなれば薄くなるThose who depart are

forgotten, day by day.1&2. Out of sight, out of mind.

48 地震・雷・火事・親父Earthquakes, thunderbolts,

fires, fathers.1. Fear those greater than yourself.

49 爪の垢を煎じて飲むBoil and drink anotheer's

fingernail dirt.1. Follow in someone's footsteps.

50 京の夢大阪の夢Dreams in the capital, dreams

in Osaka.1. Wishing will make it so. 馴染薄

51 旅は道連れ世は情けIn traveling, a companion, in

life, sympathy.

1. A friend in need is a friend in deed.

2. An agreeable companion on the road is

as good as a coach.（よい道連れは馬車も

同然）

1.は意味取違い？

52 屁を放って尻つぼめThere is no use scrunching up

your buttocks after a fart.

1. No use shutting the barn door after the

horse has bolted.

2. After death, the doctor.

53葦の髄から天井を見る(覗

く)

管を以って天を窺う

貝殻で海を量る

One sees the sky through a

hollow reed.1. You can't see the forest for the trees.

54 三つ子の魂百まで雀百まで踊り忘れず

噛む馬はしまいまで噛む

The spirit of a three year old

lasts a hundred years.

1.The child is the father of the man.

2. As the boy, so the man.

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55 門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む

A boy living near a Buddhist

temple can learn an untaught

sutra by heart.

1. Experience is the best teacher.

2. A saint's maid quotes Latin.（聖人の家

のお手伝いはラテン語を引用する）

56 急がば回れ

近道は遠道

急いては事を仕損じる

走れば躓く

急ぎの文は静かに書け

When in a hurry, take the

roundabout route.

1. The more haste, the less speed.

2. Make haste slowly.

57 念には念を入れよ石橋を叩いて渡る

浅い川も深く渡れAdd caution to caution. 1&2. Look before you leap.

58 馬の耳に念仏

馬耳東風

馬の耳に風

犬に論語

蛙の面に水

A sutra in a horse's ear.

1. Preaching to deaf ears.

2. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind

horse.　(頷こうが目配しようが同じこと)

59 吝ん坊の柿の種金持ちと灰吹きはたまるほ

ど汚い

A miser and his persimmon

seeds.

1. A penny pincher will pick up anything.

2. He will make nineteen bites of a

bilberry.　(こけもも１個を１９回齧る奴）

60 頭隠して尻隠さずOne hides the head and leaves

the rear end uncovered.

1. Protect yourself at all points.

2. Ostrich policy.(駝鳥の策---駝鳥は追い詰

められると砂に頭を突っ込んで隠れたつも

りになるということから)

61 善は急げ、悪は延べよ

思い立ったが吉日Do quickly what is good.

1. Strike while the iron is hot.

2. Make hay while the sun shines.

62 年寄りの冷や水An old man dips into cold

water.

1. There's no fool like an old fool.

2. An old sack asketh much patching.（古

い袋は大いに継ぎの要あり）

7

63 身から出た錆自業自得

因果応報

Rust comes from within the

body.

1. As you make your bed, so you must lie

in it.

2. An ill life, an ill end.

64 大魚は小池に棲まずBig fish don't live in small

pond.１.A great ship must have deep water. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

65 恋と咳とは隠されぬLove and a cough cannot be

hidden.1. Love conquers all.

馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし、

意味取違い？

66 運は勇者を助く Fate aids the courageous. 1. Fortune favors the brave.馴染薄、諺辞典にな

し、ネットにもなし

67 昔取った杵柄The skill of using a mortar and

pestle never leaves one.

1. You never forget your own trade.

2. Utilizing one's experience of former

days.

68 骨折り損のくたびれ儲けBreak your bones and earn

only exhaustion.

1. Much pain, little gain.

2. Great pains but all in vain.

69 果報は寝て待て 待てば海路の日和あり Sleep and wait for good luck. 1&2. Everything comes to him who waits

70 柳の下に鰌はいない株を守りて兎を待つ

朔ごとに餅は食えぬ

One cannot always find a fish

under a willow.

1. No one's luck lasts forever.

2. A fox is not taken twice in the same

snare.

71 老いては子に従えWhen you grow old, obey your

children.

1. The old generation must make way for

the new.

2. Let old people obey their children.

72 能ある鷹は爪を隠す 上手の猫は爪を隠す A clever hawk hides its claws.1. He who knows most speaks least.

2. Cats hide their claws.

8

73珍客も長座に過ぎれば厭わ

る

Even a welcome guest

becomes tiresome by

overstaying.

1. Fish and visitors stink in three days. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし,

74 八十の手習い 六十の手習いOne may study calligraphy at

eighty.1&2. It is never too late to learn.

75 残り物に福があり あまり茶に福あり The leftover piece is lucky.

1. The last but not least.

2. Good luck lies in odd numbers.（半端物

に幸運あり）

76 子は三界の首枷Children yoke parents to the

past, present and future.

1. Children are burden to their parents.

2. Children suck the mother when they are

young, and the father when they are

old.(子供は幼にして母を吸い、長じて父を

齧る）

77 良薬は口に苦し 忠言耳に逆らうGood medicine tastes bitter in

the mouth.

1. Advice when most needed is least

heeded.

2. Good medicine is bitter to the mouth.

78 腐れ縄も役に立つEven a rotting rope can be put

to use.1. Necessity is the mother of invention.

馴染薄、諺辞典になし,

ネットにもなし

79 八方美人は薄情An eight-sided beauty is

coldhearted.1. Fair and fickle. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

80 身を殺して仁をなすOne becomes virtuous by

subduing the body.1. The world, the flesh, and the devil. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

81 他人の疝気を頭痛に病む 踵で頭痛を病むDon't get a headache over

another's lumbago.

1. Don't meddle in others' affairs.

2. Meddle not another man's matter.

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82 柳に風 馬耳東風 A willow before the wind.1. Follow the path of least resistance.

2. No reply is best.

83 短気は損気A short temper is a

disadvantage.

1. Be slow to anger, quick to befriend.

2. Out of temper, out of money.

84 手が入れば足も入るWhen the hand is put in, the

foot follow.1. Draw back while there is still time. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

85 鳥なき里の蝙蝠 鼬なき間の貂誇り Like a bat in a birdless village.

1. Like a one-eyed man in the kingdom of

the blind.

2.For want of someone wise a fool is set in

the chair.（賢者がいないと愚者が議長席に

着く）

馴染薄

86 弁慶の泣き所The spot that makes the

warrior Benkei cry.

1. Everyone has his Achilles' heel.

2. Achilles' heel.

87 案ずるより産むが易しChildbirth is easier than the

worrying beforehand.

1. It's always darkest before the dawn.

2. An attempt is sometimes easier than

expected.

88虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得

ず危ない橋も一度は渡れ

You cannot catch a tiger cub

unless you enter the tiger's

den.

1&2. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

89 香を盗むものは香に現るHe who steals incense smells

of it.1. Guilt will out.

馴染薄、諺辞典になし,

ネットにもなし

90 商売は草の種

There are as many ways of

making a living as seeds of

grass.

1. Each to his own trade.

91大食腹に満つれば学問腹に

入らず

A full belly is not the stomach

of a scholar.1. Hunger sharpens the mind. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

10

92 丹漆飾らずA red lacquer dish needs no

decoration.1. Beauty alone is sufficient. 馴染薄、諺辞典になし

93 臍を噛めども及ばぬIt's no good trying to bite your

navel.

1. Don't cut off your nose to spite your

face.

諺辞典になし,ネットに

もなし、読み間違い、

意味勘違い

94 生兵法は大怪我の基Crude military tactics are the

cause of severe casualties.1&2. A little learning is a dangerous thing.

95 京の着倒れ大阪の食い倒れ

Kyoto people ruin themselves

for clothing, Osaka people for

food.

1. Each goes to hell in his own way.

96 武士は食わねど高楊枝 鷹は飢えても穂を摘まず

Even when a samurai has not

eaten, he holds his toothpick

high.

1. One must put on a brave display even in

adversity.

2. Better go to bed supperless than to rise

in debt.(借金を背負って起きるくらいなら晩

飯抜きで寝る）

97 天に向かって唾を吐くThe spit aimed at the sky

comes back to one.

1. Don't spit into the wind.

2. Who spits against Heaven spits in his

own face.

98 国滅びて山河ありDestroy a country, but its

mountains and rivers remain.

1. The land outlast the king.

2. The mountains and rivers are good

neighbors.

99 一寸先は闇 Darkness lies one inch ahead.

1. No man knows his own future.

2. Nobody knows what tomorrow might

bring.

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100 七転び八起きFall down seven times, get up

eight.

1. If at first you don't succeed, try, try

again.

2. Walking is a succession of falls.

（注4） 第3欄の「Similar proverb」は学研の「ことわざ辞典第二版」に依る類似乃至関連の諺。

(注7）第7欄の「Remark」はAndo's remarks。「諺辞典にない」の諺辞典は学研の「ことわざ辞典第２版」のこと。「ネットにもない」は下記（注8）に述べる3サイ

トで探しても該当するものが見付からなかったの意。

　 （注8） 依拠した資料は基本的には学研教育出版の「ことわざ辞典第2版」だが、インターネット上の下記サイトも参考にした。

（i）くろご式ことわざ辞典 / 慣用句辞典

黒子知視（くろごともみ）なる人物が運営するサイト。どこからどうやって資料を集めているのか不思議だがその網羅度は高い。相当にマニアックな人物と思われる。

http://www.geocities.jp/tomomi965/index.html

（ii）故事ことわざ辞典

(株)ルックバイス（英文表記：Lookvise,Inc.）が運営する諺・故事成語・慣用句・四字熟語の無料辞書サイト。

http://kotowaza-allguide.com/

（iii）コトバンク

朝日新聞社が主体となってとりまとめたインターネット百科事典サイト。運営はVoyage Group。様々な辞書・辞典を横断検索して呉れる。

https://kotobank.jp/

（注1） 原本の書名："Even Monkeys Fall From Trees"and Other Japanese Proverbs, 1987. 著者：David Galef　序文：Edward G. Seidensticker

(注2)　第1欄の番号は原本で各日本の諺に振られている番号。

（注3） 第2欄の「Japanese Proverb」は漢字も読みも含め原本の通り。

（注5） 第4欄のLiteral translation」は原本に依る。

(注6 ) 第5欄の「English equivalent」の「1.」は原本、「2.」は学研の「ことわざ辞典」、「3」は別の本「101 Japanese Idioms」夫々に依る。.

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