日本語にはたくさんのことわざ（諺）がありますが、それらを英語で表現するとどんな風に言えるのでしょうか？

日本のことわざ（諺）は、英語圏のことわざ（諺）と同じ意味を持つものがとても多いでのです。

英語のことわざ（諺）は、日本語をそのまま翻訳したものではありません。が、表現は違ってもことわざ（諺）を通して伝えようとする意味・意図はほぼ共通しています。

この記事では、日本のことわざ（諺）が、それぞれ英語ではどう表現されるのか、一覧にしてご紹介します。

 

「あ行」で始まることわざの英語表現

「あ」から始まることわざ

 

会うは別れの始め

The best friends must part.

---

 

悪貨は良貨を駆逐する

Bad money drives out good.

---

 

悪妻家を滅ぼす

A bad wife ruins the house.

---

 

後は野となれ山となれ

I don’t care what follows.

---

 

悪事千里を走る

Bad news travels fast.

---

 

悪銭身に付かず

Easy come, easy go.

---

 

朝飯前

It’s a piece of cake.
As easy as ABC.

---

 

明日は明日の風が吹く

Tomorrow is another day.

---

 

羹（あつもの）に懲りて膾（なます）を吹く

Once bitten and twice shy.

---

 

後の祭り

The day after the fair.

---

 

あぶはちとらず

A door must either be shut or open.

---

 

嵐の前の静けさ

After a calm comes a storm.

---

 

案ずるより、生むが易し

Fear is often greater than the danger.

---

 

「い」から始まることわざ

 

石の上にも３年

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

---

石橋をたたいて渡る

Look before you leap.

---

 

言うは易し、行うは難し

Easier said than done.

---

 

医者の不養生

Physician, heal thyself.

---

 

衣食足りて礼節を知る

Manner and money make a gentleman.

---

 

急がば、回れ

The more haste, the less speed.

---

 

一年の計は元旦にあり

The whole year’s plans are made on New Year’s Day.

---

 

一事が万事

One instance shows all.

---

 

一難去ってまた一難

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

---

 

一を聞いて、十を知る

A word is enough to a wise man.

---

 

一寸先は闇

Who can read the future ?

---

 

一寸の虫にも五分の魂

A worm will turn.

---

 

犬も歩けば棒に当たる

Every dog has his day.

---

 

井の中の蛙大海を知らず

A frog in the well knows not the sea.

---

 

言わぬが花

Speech is silver, silence is gold.

---

 

鰯（いわし）の頭も信心から

Believe well and have well.

---

 

「う」から始まることわざ

 

魚心あれば水心

You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

---

 

生みの親より育ての親

A child is what his parents make.

---

 

嘘から出た誠

Many a true word is spoken in jest.

---

 

嘘つきは泥棒の始まり

Lying and stealing are next-door neighbors.

---

 

嘘も方便

A small lie is useful in some cases.

---

 

噂をすれば影

Talk of the devil, and he’ll appeare.

---

 

売り言葉に買い言葉

One ill word asks another.

---

 

「え」から始まることわざ

 

英雄色を好む

Who loves not wine,women and song he is a fool his whole life.

---

 

絵に書いた餅

Never confuse art with life.

---

 

縁とは異なもの

There is no telling which two will make a couple.

---

 

エビで鯛を釣る

A little bait catches a large fish.

---

 

「お」から始まることわざ

 

老いては子に従え

The old generation must make way for the new.

---

 

おごれるものは久しからず

Pride goes before a fall.

---

 

己の欲せざるところ、人に施すなかれ

Do to others as you would have others do to you.

---

 

終わりよければすべて良し

All’s well that ends well.

---

 

鬼のいぬ間に洗濯

When the cat is away, the mice will play.

---

 

帯に短し、襷に長し

Too much spoils, too little is nothing.

---

 

おぼれる者はわらをもつかむ

A drowning man will catch at a straw.

---

 

思い立ったが、吉日

Make hay while the sun shines.

---

 

親孝行したいときに親はなし

By the time you wish to be a good son, your parents are long gone.

---

 

親はなくとも、子は育つ

Nature is a good mother.

---

 

女心と秋の空

Woman is as fickle as April weather.

---

恩を仇で返す

Returning evil for good.

 

「か行」で始まることわざの英語表現

 

賢い人は転んでもただでは起きない       

 A wise person profits by his mistakes.

---

蛙の子は蛙        

Children have the qualities of the parents.

---

飼い犬に手をかまれる       

 He has brought up a bird to pick out his own eyes.

---

学問に王道なし        

There is no royal road to learning.

---

カッパの川流れ        

Even Homer sometimes nods.

---

勝てば官軍、負ければ賊軍   

Might is right.

Losers are always in the wrong.

---

     

金の切れ目が縁の切れ目        

The end of money is the end of love.

---

 

金がものを言う        

Money talks.

---

 

禍福は糾える縄の如し　

The worse luck now, the better another time.

---

 

壁に耳あり障子に目あり        

Walls have ears.

---

 

金は天下の回りもの        

Money comes and goes.

---

果報は寝て待て        

Sleep and wait for good luck.

亀の甲より年の功        

Experience counts.

---

      

かわいい子には旅させよ        

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

---

 

き～        

聞くと見るとは大違い        

今日できることは明日に延ばすな        Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

木を見て森を見ず        We cannot see the wood for the trees.

逆境で人は成長する        Adversity is the best school.

聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥        Nothing is lost for asking.

木の価値はその実でわかる        A tree is known by its fruits.

逆境が人を賢くする

Adversity makes a man wise.

窮鼠ネコをかむ        A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.

く～        

苦あれば楽あり、楽あれば苦あり        

空腹にまずいものなし        A good appetite is a good sauce.

薬も過ぎれば毒となる(2)        

口八丁手八丁        

口は災いの元        Out of the mouth comes evil.

雲がなければ太陽の喜びはない        If there were no clouds, we should not enjoy the sun.

苦しいときの神頼み        Danger past, God forgotten.

来る者は拒まず、去る者は追わず        

君子豹変す        A wise man changes his mind, a fool never.

け～        

鶏口となるも牛後となるなかれ        

継続は力なり        

欠点なき人はなし        No man is without his faults.

健全なる精神は健全なる肉体に宿る        A sound mind in a sound body.

芸術は長く人生は短い        Art is long, life is short.

経験は最良の知        Experience is the best teacher.

健康の価値は病気になるまでわからない        Health is not valued until sickness comes.

結果良ければすべて良し        The end justifies the means.

犬猿の仲        

こ～        

恋は盲目        Love is blind.

光陰矢のごとし        Time flies like an arrow.

後悔先に立たず        What is done cannot be undone.

好機逃すべからず(1)        

好機は二度訪れない        Opportunity seldom knocks twice.

郷に入っては郷に従え        Do in Rome as the Romans do.

幸不幸は心次第        

五十歩百歩        The pot calls kettle black.

虎穴に入らずんば、虎児を獲ず        Nothing venture, nothing gain.

困ったときの神頼み        

困ったときの友は、真の友        A friend in need is a friend indeed.

米一合より麦一斗        

転ばぬ先の杖        Look before you leap.

攻撃は最大の防御なり        Attack is the best form of defence.

乞食は三日もやれば止められない        Once a beggar, always a beggar.

紺屋の白袴        Shoemakers’ children go barefoot.

子に過ぎたる宝なし        There is no treasure more precious than a child.

この父にしてこの子あり        Like father, like son.

この世に全く新しきものなし        There is nothing new under the sun.

「さ行」で始まることわざの英語表現

さ～        

賽は投げられた        The die is cast.

先んずれば人を制す        Take the lead, and you will win.

酒は飲んでも飲まれるな        I know what I do when I drink.

酒は百薬の長        Good wine makes good blood.

酒は本心を表す        

三度目の正直        All things thrive at thrice.

猿の尻笑い        

猿も木から落ちる        Even Homer sometimes nods.

触らぬ神に祟りなし        Let sleeping dogs lie.

３人よれば文殊の知恵        Two heads are better than one.

し        

自画自賛        

地獄の沙汰も金次第        

事実は小説より奇なり        Fact is stranger than fiction.

正直者が馬鹿を見る        Honesty is ill for thriving.

少年よ大志を抱け        Boys be ambitious.

将を射んとせばまず馬を射よ        Love the babe for her that bore it.

親しき仲にも礼儀あり        Politeness is not just for strangers.

失敗は成功の元        Failure teaches success.

質より量        

死人に口なし        

釈迦に説法        

弱肉強食        

蛇の道はへび        

十人十色        So many men, so many minds.

朱に交われば赤くなる        

春眠暁を覚えず        

正直貧乏        

正直者は馬鹿を見る        

初心忘るべからず        Don’t forget your first resolution.

知らぬは亭主ばかりなり        The husband is always the last to know.

自業自得        One must drink as one brews.

正直者は馬鹿を見る        

知らぬが仏        

人事を尽くして天命を待つ        Use the means and God will give the blessing.

す～        

捨てる神あれば拾う神あり        When one god deserts you, another will pick you up.

過ぎたるは及ばざるがごとし        Less is more.

好きこそものの上手なれ        Nothing is hard to a willing mind.

全ての卵をひとつのかごに入れるな        

すべての道はローマに通ず        All roads lead to Rome.

住めば都        To every bird his own nest is best.

寸鉄人を殺す        

せ～        

背に腹は代えられぬ        Close is my shirt, but closer is my skin.

千里の道も一歩から        You have to start somewhere.

急いては事をし損じる        Haste make waste.

善悪は友を見よ        

船頭多くして船、山に登る        Too many cooks spoil the broth.

善は急げ        Make hay while the sun shines.

そ～        

備えあれば憂いなし        Save up for a rainy day.

袖ふれあうも多生の縁        There is a destiny that makes us brothers.

損して得取れ        Sometimes the best gain is to lose.

「た行」で始まることわざの英語表現

た～        

大器晩成        Great oaks from little acorns grow.

大山鳴動して鼠一匹        

大食短命        

蓼食う者も好きずき        There is no accounting for taste.

旅の恥はかきすて        A man away from home need feel no shame.

大は小を兼ねる        The greater embraces the less.

宝の持ち腐れ        A book that remains shut is but a block.

多芸に無芸        

立つ鳥あとを濁さず        Cast no dirt in the well that gives you water.

ただほど高いものはない        Nothing costs so much as what is given us.

盾の両面を見よ        

棚からぼた餅        

旅は道連れ世は情け        No road is long with good company.

便りのないのはよい便り        No news is good news.

短気は損気        Haste is waste.

 

ち～        

血は水よりも濃い        Blood is thicker than water.

知識は力なり        Knowledge is power.

 

沈黙は雄弁に勝る        Speech is silver; silence is golden.

塵も積もれば山となる        Many a little makes a mickle.

つ～        

角（つの）を矯（た）めて牛を殺す        

罪を憎んで人を憎まず        Condemn the offense, but pity the offender.

て～        

点滴石をも穿つ        Constant dripping wears away a stone.

鉄は熱いうちに打て        Strike the iron while it is hot.

出る杭は打たれる        A nail that stands up will be pounded down.

天は二物を与えず        

天は自ら助ける者を助ける        Heaven helps those who help themselves.

と～        

閉じられた本は塊でしかない        A book that is shut is but a block.

年寄りのいうことは滅多にはずれない        As old man’s saying are seldom untrue.

遠くの親類より近くの他人        A near friend is better than a far-dwelling kinsman.

時は金なり        Time is money.

灯台もと暗し        It is dark at the foot of a candle.

取り越し苦労        Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.

捕らぬ狸の皮算用        Count not your chickens before they are hatched.

虎の威を借る狐        An ass in a lion’s skin.

どんな悪い者も評判ほどではない        The devil is not so black as he is painted.

飛んで火に入る夏の虫        Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

 

「な行」で始まることわざの英語表現

何もないよりはまし        Anything is better than nothing.

無い袖は振れぬ        A naked man cannot be stripped of clothes.

何事にも潮時在り        Everything has its time.

長いものには巻かれよ        It is no meddling with our betters.

泣き面に蜂        Misfortunes never come singly.

名は体を表す        Names and natures often agree.

情けは人のためならず        One good turn deserves another.

七転び八起き        He that falls today may rise tomorrow.

習うより慣れよ        Practice makes perfect.

生兵法は大けがのもと        A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

二兎追う者は一兎をも得ず        He who runs after two hares will catch neither.

憎まれっ子、世にはばかる        Ill weeds grow apace.

人間万事塞翁が馬        Bad luck often brings good luck.

二度と同じ手は食わない        No fish is caught twice with the same bait.

二度在ることは三度在る        What happens twice will happen three times.

逃がした魚は大きい        The one that got away is always the biggest.

逃げるが勝ち        He that fights and runs away may live to fight another day.

盗んだ果実はおいしい        A stolen fruit tastes sweet.

糠に釘        All is lost that is given to a fool.

盗人を捕らえて縄をなう        To lock the stable when the horse is stolen.

猫がいないとネズミが暴れる        When the cat is away, the mice will play.

猫に小判        Give not pearls to the hogs.

眠っているライオンを起こすな        Wake not a sleeping lion.

能ある鷹は爪隠す        Still waters run deep.

残り物には福がある        Last but not least.

軒を貸して母屋を取られる        Give him an inch and he’ll tale a mile.

喉元すぎれば熱さを忘れる        Danger past, God is forgotten.

暖簾に腕押し        He catches the wind with a net.

乗りかかった船        Never do things by halves.

「は行」で始まることわざの英語表現

始めが肝心        A good beginning makes a good ending.

早い者勝ち        First come, first served.

八十の手習い        One is never too old to learn.

馬鹿の一つ覚え        He that knows little often repeats it.

花より団子        Pudding rather than praise.

早ければ早い程良い        The sooner, the better.

歯に衣着せぬ        Call a spade a spade.

早起きは３文の得        The early bird catches the worm.

光ものすべてが金ならず        All is not gold that glitters.

必要は発明の母        Necessity is the mother of invention.

美人薄命        Those whom the gods love die young.

人の振り見てわが振り直せ        One man’s fault is another man’s lesson.

人の噂も７５日        A wonder lasts but nine days.

人はパンのみにて生きるにあらず        Man shall not live by bread alone.

人は見かけによらぬもの        There is no trusting in appearances.

火のないところに煙は立たず        Where there is smoke, there is fire.

百聞は一見にしかず        To see is to believe.

人の口に戸は立てられない        People will talk.

人の物はよく見える        The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.

貧乏暇なし        The poor have no leisure.

豚に真珠        Do not throw pearls to swine.

笛吹けど踊らず        We have piped to you, and you have not danced.

武士に二言なし        A bargain is a bargain.

二人の主人には仕えない        No man can serve two masters.

夫婦げんかは犬も食わない        One should not interfere in lovers’ quarrels.

覆水盆に返らず        It is no use crying over spilt milk.

下手な職人は道具のせいにする        A bad workman always blames his tools.

下手な鉄砲も数打ちゃあたる        He that shoots oft at last shall hit the mark.

ペンは剣よりもつよし        The pen is mighter than the sword.

吠える犬はかまない        A barking dog never bites.

骨折り損のくたびれ儲け        Great pains but all in vain.

坊主憎くけりゃ袈裟まで憎い        Love me, love my dog.

仏のお顔も三度        To try the patience of a saint.

 

「ま行」で始まることわざの英語表現

負けるが勝ち        To lose is to win.

馬子にも衣装        Manners and money make a gentleman.

まず隗より始めよ        Practice what you preach.

待てば海路の日和あり        Everything comes to him who waits.

蒔かぬ種は生えぬ        You must sow before you can reap.

三つ子の魂百まで        As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.

身から出た錆        You have to reap what you have sown.

身の程を知れ        Cut your coat according to your cloth.

実を見て木を知れ        The tree is known by the fruit.

水が清いと魚は住まない        Clear water breeds no fish.

ミイラ取りがミイラになる        The biter is sometimes bitten.

無知は幸福        Ignorance is bliss.

昔取った杵柄        You never forget your own trade.

無理が通れば道理が引っ込む        Might makes right.

目には目を、歯には歯を        An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

目は心の窓        The eye is the window of the soul.

目は口ほどにものを言う        The heart’s letter is read in the eyes.

門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む        A saint’s maid quotes Latin.

餅は餅屋        Every man does his own business best.

物は試し        You’ll never know unless you try.

物には時節        Everything has its time.

もとの鞘（さや）におさまる　        Old love is renewed again.

 

「や行」で始まることわざの英語表現

やぶ蛇        Don’t wake a sleeping dog.

病は気から        Care killed a cat.

火傷した子は火を怖がる        A burnt child fears the fire.

焼け石に水        To cast water into the Thames.

柳に雪折れなし        Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm.

安物買いの銭失い        Penny wise and pound foolish.

柳の下にはいつも鰌はいない        A fox is not caught twice in the same snare.

油断大敵        Security is the greatest enemy.

沈黙は金        Silence is gold.

よく学び、よく遊べ        All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

羊頭狗肉        He cries wine and sells vinegar.

弱り目にたたり目        Misfortunes never come alone.

寄らば大樹の陰        When you take shelter, make sure you go under a big tree.

寄る年波には勝てない        Old age tires both body and soul.

 

「ら行」で始まることわざの英語表現

来年のことをいえば鬼が笑う        Next year is the devil’s joke.

楽あれば苦あり        Pleasure is the source of pain.

良薬は口に苦し        A good medicine tastes bitter.

両雄並び立たず        Two kings in one kingdom cannot reign at once.

類は友を呼ぶ        Birds of a feather flock together.

歴史は繰り返す        History repeats itself.

例外のないルールはない        There is no rule without exceptions.

ローマは１日にしてならず        Rome was not built in a day.

六十の手習い        Never too late to learn.

論より証拠        To see is to believe.

老犬に新しい芸は教えられない        You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

 

「わ行」で始まることわざの英語表現

若いときの苦労は買ってでもせよ        Heavy work in youth is quiet rest in old age.

災い転じて福となる        Good comes out of evil.

渡る世間に鬼はなし        There is kindness to be found everywhere.

笑う門には福来る        Fortune comes in by a merry gate.

悪い噂はすぐに伝わる        Bad news travels quickly.

我が家程良いところはない        There is no place like home.

割れ鍋に綴じ蓋        Every Jack has his Jill.

笑いは百薬の長        Laughter is the best medicine.