Kotowaza - Japanese Proverb

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 6 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #767 in Arts , #14,752 overall | Donates to Humane Society of the United States

Kotowaza - Japanese Proverbs

Kotowaza are words of wisdom or ancient sayings that have many practical uses for the gaijin (foreigners) living in Japan. Most kotowaza are of ancient Chinese origin, but some have been derived from Japan's own history, other foreign countries or have been made from more modern expressions.

Kotowaza take the place of long explanations, or circumlocution because they get the desired meaning across in a more direct, understandable way.
Skillful use of the Kotowaza by a non-native speaker can help present oneself to the Japanse people as a wise and well studied scholar.

When used correctly, Kotowaza can express ideas that you want to convey, in an impressive, and meaningful manner. Japanese Kotowaza can be a powerful Japanese language ally. We'll take a look at the meaning behind these proverbs, then add them to our Japanese language arsenal. After understanding their literal and metaphorical meaning, we can, of course, plug and play the kotowaza into our own Japanese conversations to really impress the Japanese with our language skills. Use these ancient Japanese expressions - the Kotowaza - to our speaking advantage.

Say this kotowaza the next time you want to impress the Japanese and watch their reactions, you will be surprised at how well they work.

"SARU MO
KI KARA
OCHIRU!"

Japanese Kotowaza -  

Saru mo ki kara ochiru - Even Monkeys Fall From Trees

Saru Mo Ki Kara Ochiru

This kotowaza is a useful Japanese proverbs. Like other kotowaza it talks about animals. Saru is the word for monkeys in Japanese and it has us re-evaluate our take on these skillful tree climbers of the jungle - monkeys. Have you ever seen monkeys, monkey'ing around? They are coordinated physically and are well suited to a life of trees proving that they are skillful animals when it comes to climbing and swinging around on the branches of trees.

This proverb - SARU MO KI KARA OCHIRU - helps me understand that there is not much we can do about our imperfectness. Everybody makes mistakes, nobody is perfect. Even the monkeys themselves, on occassion, have been spotted to fall from trees.

Even the greatest of mortals, and demi-gods like Hercules, Achilles and Samson, all possessed a particular vulnerability, weakness, or tragic flaw. But as this proverb points out even these great semi-mortal men had flaws and were not perfect in every way - "Even Monkeys Fall From Trees."

Nobody is perfect - Even monkeys fall from trees.

Next time you want to impress your Japanese friends with your smooth newly learned kotowaza, just say "saru mo ki kara ochiru" - nobody is perfect, even monkeys fall from trees. Slap this kotowaza on at just the right time in a conversation and watch the unmistakeable reactions you'll receive. Don't forget good pronunciation.

SARU MO KI KARA OCHIRU
EVEN MONKEYS FALL FROM TREES

As always,
Ganbatte Ne!
Do Your Best!
Makurasuki

Japanese proverb dictionary 

Needing a good Japanese Proverb Dictionary?

Use Proverbs to your advantage -

Tigers, Devils, and Fools: A Guide to Japanese Proverbs

Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 07/13/2009)Buy Now

New Flickr Photos that contain monkeys 

Sumatran Orang-utan by Chester Zoo

Sumatran Orang-utan

You know those addictive candies that are so good yet so gross at the same time? This is one of them. by JoshMcConnell

You know those addic...

Brothers and Sisters by alq666

Brothers and Sisters

DSC_0284 by n0nick

DSC_0284

Temple Monkeys by Tracy Hunter

Temple Monkeys

BABOONS! YEAH! by timbrauhn

BABOONS! YEAH!

BABOONS! YEAH! by timbrauhn

BABOONS! YEAH!

BABOONS! YEAH! by timbrauhn

BABOONS! YEAH!

BABOONS! YEAH! by timbrauhn

BABOONS! YEAH!

BABOONS! YEAH! by timbrauhn

BABOONS! YEAH!

New YouTube vids Japanes Kotowaza 

YouTube thumbnail
Japanese Kotowaza: Telepathy

Runtime: 1:52 | 4870 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
kаzeno ohаnashi & oh!kotow...

Runtime: 3:03 | 7993 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
Learning Japanese through Koto...

Runtime: 9:58 | 39 views | Comments

Spanish Japanese RSS: Feed 

If you speak spanish and....

You want to learn Japanese, then Spanish Japanese

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Got a kotowaza you want featured? 

brettkun wrote...

There is another kotowaza for those interested... please see

http://squidoo.com/kotowaza2

ReplyPosted November 22, 2008

kashmir wrote...

Give me more KOTOWAZA please! What's up with stopping the flow of KOTOWAZA, give me more

ReplyPosted March 24, 2008

Blog Posts from Google about Proverbs 

HW Twitter: African Proverbs «
July 13, 2009...1:06 q07. HW Twitter: African Proverbs. Jump to Comments. In the moment of crisis, t...
German Proverbs Translated | German Blog
1) Basically saying that a blind man should not be a judge of colors. In other words, a person shoul...
PERSEVERE: Avoiding Fights and Salvation...Proverbs 20
This verse in Proverbs actually gives them a name - FOOLS! The Bible tells me that a person who is t...
Proverbs 21:9 |
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!! HOW ADORABLE . . . AND TRUE!! Reply. shelly powell says: July 12, 2009 at...

by brettkun

Makurasuki Sensei, Brett McCluskey. enjoys sharing his knowledge of Japanese Grammar  with those serious about becoming fluent. He appl...

(more)
Create a Lens!