Japanese proverbs are well-suited for a tattoo design, as they communicate people's values and wisdom effectively with a relatively short sentence. They are usually written in both Kanji and Hiragana. In order for a Japanese proverb to be considered for a tattoo marterial, it should be a word or phrases that express your thoughts, ideas, or values. Please note that some of the Japanese proverbs are not idiomatic but merely a noun which doesn't seem to be suited for a tattoo design. So it would be necessary for you to pick a Japanese proverb that is close to what you wish to express yourself.
Below is a carefully selected list of some of the Japanese proverbs that can be used for a kanji tattoo.
- 明日は明日の風が吹く Tomorrow will be another day. - 男は度胸、女は愛嬌 Men should have courage, and women charm. - 明日の百より今日の五十 Fifty today is better than one hundred tomorrow. - 有るは無いに勝る To have something is better than nothing. - 流れ腐らず A stream will never be rotten. - 衣食足りて礼節を知る A man will know manners after he can afford clothes and food. - 急がば回れ If you hurry, take a long but steady road. - 一期一会 Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur. - 一を聞いて十を知る To hear one word and understand ten. - 一石二鳥 To kill two birds with one stone. - 一挙両得 Two profit with one action. - 一刻千金 Every moment is precious. - 一寸の虫にも五分の魂 Even a smallest worm has its life. - 多く見、多く聞き、而して少し語れ See much, hear much, but speak a little. - おごるものは心常に貧しい A man with extreme pride have poor mind. - 己の欲せざるところ、人に施す勿れ Don't do anything what you don't want to be done. - 己を責めて人を責むるな Don't blame others but yourself. - 今日出来ることを明日に延ばすな Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. - 思い立ったが吉日 The best day to start something is the very day you make up your mind to do it. - 終わり良ければすべて良しEverything that ends well is all right. - 栄える家に人集まる People gather round a prosperous home. - 先んずれば人を制す Take the initiative and you will win. - 笑いは百薬の長 Laughter is the best medicine. - 親しき仲にも礼儀あり There should be courtesy even between close friends. - 失敗は成功のもと Failure is base of success. - 小運は大知に勝る A little luck is better than a big wisdom. - 正直の頭に神宿る God dwells in an honest man's head. - 小事を軽んずるなかれ Don't make light of small things. - 勝敗は武器よりも人に有り Victory doesn't depend on guns but the men who use them. - 将を射んとせば馬を射よ To shoot the general, shoot his horse first. - 心配は身の毒 Worry is poisonous. - 千里の道も一歩から A journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step. - 備えあれば憂いなし Be prepared and have no regrets. - 七転び八起き Seven falls and eight rises. - 生兵法は大けがのもと Crude tactics are the source of grave injury. - 習うより慣れろ Don't learn something, but get accustomed to it. - 二兎を追うものは一兎をも得ず He that hunts two hares at once will catch neither. - 蒔かぬ種は生えぬ No plants come from no seeds sown. - 待てば海路の日和あり The sun will shine on a voyager who waits. - 実る稲穂は頭を垂れる The ear that bear most rice hang lowest. (modesty) - 良薬口に苦し Good medicine tastes bitter. - 類は友を呼ぶ Like attracts like. - 論より証拠 Proof is stronger than reason. - 学問に王道なしThere is no royal road to learning. - かわいい子には旅をさせよ Let your pretty child travel alone. - 勤勉は成功の基 Diligence is a base of success. - 苦あれば楽あり After a hard time comes a good time. - 鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ Better be a head of a chicken than the tail of a bull. - 好機逃すべからず Never miss a good chance. - 光陰矢の如し Time flies like an arrow. - 虎穴に入らずんば虎児(こじ)を得ず You cannot catch a tiger's cub unless you enter the den. - 転ばぬ先の杖 It's better to carry a cane than it is to fall. - 大器晩成 Great talent mature late. - 盾の両面を見よ Look at the both sides of the shield. - 玉磨かざれば光なし No gemstones shine without polishing. - 短気は損気 Short temper is disadvantageous. - ちりも積もれば山となる Many a little makes a mickle. - 始めよければ終わりよし Well begun is well done. - 不言実行 Action without words. - 分別は才知に勝る Discretion is better than wits. - 病は気から Sickness depends on mind. - よく学びよく遊べ Learn much and play much. - 笑う門に福来たる Fortune enters at the merry door --- Laugh and grow fat.