Exercise 1: Japanese Proverbs – Fill in the Blank
1. *石橋*を叩いて渡る。(thoroughly)
2. 噓から出た誠 (truth comes out of *a lie*).
3. 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (those chasing *two rabbits* catch none).
4. 注意するは事故のもと (caution is the *key* to safety).
5. 川向こうの火事 (a fire across the *river*).
6. 負けるが勝ち (losing is *winning*).
7. 泣く子と地頭には勝てない (you can’t win against a *crying child* and a local boss).
8. 案ずるより生むが易し (giving birth is easier than *worrying* about it).
9. 見ぬが花 (unseen flowers are *prettier*).
10. 七転び八起き (fall seven times, *stand* up eight).
11. 十人十色 (different *ten people*, color).
12. 猿も木から落ちる (even monkeys *fall* from trees).
13. 知らぬが仏 (ignorance is *bliss*).
14. 縁は異なもの味なもの (bonds are *a strange* and mysterious thing).
15. 親の心子の知らず (parents’ hearts children *do not know*).
Exercise 2: Japanese Proverbs – Fill in the Blank
1. 釘が出る (a hidden *dissatisfaction*).
2. 客に出て行く弁当 (a lunch box that *goes* to a guest).
3. 鳥のように骨が折れる (bones break like a *bird*).
4. 情けは人のためならず (*sympathy* is not for one’s own sake).
5. 出る杭は打たれる (the stake that sticks out gets *hammered* down).
6. 寄らば大樹の陰 (take *shelter* under a tall tree).
7. 枯れ木も山のにぎわい (even a dead tree *adds* to the mountain’s beauty).
8. 猫に鰹節 (bonito flakes for a *cat*).
9. 起きて半畳、寝て一畳 (use half a tatami mat *when awake*, one when asleep).
10. 小便の準備をしてから腹立て (empty your *bladder* before getting angry).
11. 他人の薬は自分に効かない (another person’s medicine *doesn’t work* for oneself).
12. 知り合いより親しいが犬 (a dog is *closer* than an acquaintance).
13. 地獄の沙汰も金次第 (everything depends on *money*, even in hell).
14. 竹槍もち一つ (a single bamboo *spear*).
15. 似たもの同士でくっつく (similar things *stick* together).