A Japanese proverb (諺, ことわざ, kotowaza?) may take the form of:
- a short saying (言い習わし iinarawashi),
- an idiomatic phrase (慣用句 kan'yōku), or
- a four-character idiom (四字熟語 yojijukugo).
Although "proverb" and "saying" are practically synonymous, the same cannot be said about "idiomatic phrase" and "four-character idiom". Not all kan'yōku and yojijukugo are proverbial. For instance, the kan'yōku 狐の嫁入り kitsune no yomeiri (Literally: a fox's wedding. Meaning: a sun-shower) and the yojijukugo 小春日和 koharubiyori (Literally: small spring weather. Meaning: Indian summer – warm spring-like weather in early winter) are not proverbs. To be considered a proverb, a word or phrase must express a common truth or wisdom; it cannot be a mere noun.
Famous quotes containing the words japanese and/or proverbs:
“In fact, the whole of Japan is a pure invention. There is no such country, there are no such people.... The Japanese people are ... simply a mode of style, an exquisite fancy of art.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Proverbs 15:1.