Lesson 5️⃣ – Proverbs in Real Use (Examples)

---

1️⃣ 猫に小判 – Value wasted

Japanese: あの ひと に この プレゼント は ねこ に こばん だ ね <あのひとにこのプレゼントはねこにこばんだね>
Romaji: Ano hito ni kono purezento wa neko ni koban da ne
English: This gift is wasted on that person, huh.

Grammar / Vocabulary:
あの人 (あのひと / ano hito) = that person
プレゼント (purezento) = present / gift
猫に小判 (ねこにこばん / neko ni koban) = value wasted
だ (da) = is
ね (ne) = agreement

Tip:
Used casually when someone won’t appreciate something valuable.

---

2️⃣ 雨降って地固まる – Stronger after trouble

Japanese: けんか の あと は あめ ふって じ かたまる だ よ <けんかのあとはあめふってじかたまるだよ>
Romaji: Kenka no ato wa ame futte ji katamaru da yo
English: After a fight, things get stronger.

Grammar / Vocabulary:
けんか (kenka) = fight
あと (ato) = after
雨降って地固まる = things improve after trouble
よ (yo) = emphasis

Tip:
Often said to comfort people after conflict.

---

3️⃣ 二兎を追う者は一兎も得ず – Focus

Japanese: そんなに やる と にと を おう もの は いっと も えず だ よ <そんなにやるとにとをおうものはいっともえずだよ>
Romaji: Sonna ni yaru to nito o ou mono wa itto mo ezu da yo
English: If you try to do that much, you’ll end up with nothing.

Grammar / Vocabulary:
そんなに (sonna ni) = that much
やる (yaru) = to do
～と (to) = if / when
二兎を追う者は一兎も得ず = chase two, get none

Tip:
Used as advice—very common from teachers, bosses.

---

4️⃣ 猿も木から落ちる – Even experts fail

Japanese: かれ も まちがえた？ さる も き から おちる ね <かれもまちがえたさるもきからおちるね>
Romaji: Kare mo machigaeta? Saru mo ki kara ochiru ne
English: He made a mistake too? Even monkeys fall from trees, huh.

Grammar / Vocabulary:
かれ (kare) = he
まちがえる (machigaeru) = to make a mistake
猿も木から落ちる = even experts fail
ね (ne) = shared feeling

Tip:
Softens criticism—less harsh than saying “he messed up.”

---

5️⃣ 蛙の子は蛙 – Like parent, like child

Japanese: やっぱり かえる の こ は かえる だ ね <やっぱりかえるのこはかえるだね>
Romaji: Yappari kaeru no ko wa kaeru da ne
English: As expected, like parent, like child.

Grammar / Vocabulary:
やっぱり (yappari) = as expected
蛙の子は蛙 = like parent, like child
だ (da) = is
ね (ne) = agreement

Tip:
Can be praise OR criticism depending on tone.

---

6️⃣ 鯛も朝から焼け – Takes time

Japanese: いそがないで たい も あさ から やけ だ よ <いそがないでたいもあさからやけだよ>
Romaji: Isoganaide tai mo asa kara yake da yo
English: Don’t rush—good things take time.

Grammar / Vocabulary:
いそがないで (isoganaide) = don’t rush
鯛も朝から焼け = things take time
よ (yo) = emphasis

Tip:
Said when someone is rushing or impatient.

---

✅ Lesson 5 – Real Use Summary

• Proverbs are often:

  • Dropped into sentences like nouns

  • Followed by だ / だね / だよ

• Common patterns:

  • ～だね → shared observation

  • ～だよ → advice / emphasis

• Tone matters:

  • Same proverb can comfort, warn, or criticize