Culture · Kotowaza (ことわざ)

聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥 — "To ask is a moment's shame, not to ask is a lifetime's shame" (Better to ask and look foolish once than to never learn)

Kotowaza are short traditional sayings that carry a piece of Japanese wisdom. Here are thirty-two, grouped by theme — each with its reading, meaning, and a small animation to help it stick.