LEVEL II

Proverb/Idiom/Expression in Japanese	English Translation and Meaning
いしのうえにもさんねん 石の上にも三年	''sitting on a rock for 3 yrs'' Be prepared, have patience.
いのなかのかわず（たいかいをしらず） 井の中の蛙（大海を知らず）	''frog in a well does not know the great sea'' People easily judge things from a narrow mind, not knowing what is out in the wide world.
いわぬがはな 言わぬが花	"not speaking is the flower" Silence is golden.
かえるのこはかえる 蛙の子は蛙	"son of a frog is a frog" Life father, like son.
かぜのたより 風の便り	"tidings on the wind" Rumor/statement that cannot be confirmed/denied by the available facts.
じゅうにんといろ 十人十色	"ten men, ten colors" Different strokes for different people (each person is of different background).
ねこにこばん 猫に小判	"gold coins to a cat" Giving a gift to someon who can't appreciate it is a useless gesture.
はなよりだんご 花より団子	''dumplings over flowers'' People are interested in the practical aspects of life than the aesthetics.
みずにながす 水に流す	"let it flow in the water" Forgive and forget.

LEVEL III

Proverb/Idiom/Expression in Japanese	English Translation and Meaning
あめふってじかたまる 雨降って地固まる	"after the rain, the earth hardens" Adversity strengthens the foundation.
いしばしをたたいてわたる 石橋をたたいて渡る	"hit a stone bridge before crossing it" Use caution even when it appears safe.
さんにんよればもんじゅのちえ 三人寄れば文殊の知恵	"two heads are better than one" It is better to think with than without others.
ちりもつもればやまとなる ちりも積もれば山となる	"piled up specks of dust become a mountain" Little things adds up to bigger things.
なきってつらにはち 泣きっ面に蜂	"a bee to a crying face" To make matters worse; misfortunes seldom come singly.
ねこのてもかりたい 猫の手も借りたい	''borrow even a cat's paw" Being extremely busy; even the assistance of a cat's paw is needed when our hands are full of work.
ねもはもない 根も葉もない	"without roots nor leaves" Unproven/unfounded rumor/statement.

LEVEL IV

Proverd/Idiom/Expression in Japanese	English Translation and Meaning
こうぼうはふでをえらばず 弘法は筆を選ばず	"a bad carpenter quarrels with his tools" People never blame themselves for what they do.
さるもきからおちる さるも木から落ちる	"even a monkey falls from trees" Nobody is perfect; everybody makes mistakes.
でるくいはうたれる 出る杭は打たれる	"the stake that sticks out gets hammered down" The noncomformist will get pounded. Don't make waves.
とうだいもとくらし 灯台下暗し	"darkness reigns at the foot of the lighthouse" Familiar things go unoticed whereas unfamiliar circumstances are easily perceived. People tend to lose sight of their surroundings when looking forward.
ねまわし 根回し	"preparing the roots for planting" Make the necessary arrangements; lay out the basic groundwork.