These Japanese proverbs may sound funny, but in every language there are certain sayings that just don't translate quite right! Here we have collected 22 of the funniest Japanese proverbs, but they each have very real lessons to teach! At the bottom of this post we have collected some familiar English sayings...can you match up the English to the Japanese? Remember, not every Japanese saying has an English equivalent! Ready....GO!

1. 屁を放って尻つぼめ

へをひってしりつぼめ "There is no use scrunching up your buttocks after a fart." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Hewohitteshirisubomeru.m4a"][/audio]

2. 毒を食わらば皿まで

どくをくわらばさらまで "When eating poison, you may as well lick the plate." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dokukuwarabasaramade.m4a"][/audio]

3. 馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない。

ばか は しな なきゃ なおら ない。 "Unless an idiot dies, he can never be cured." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Bakahashinanakyanaoranai.m4a"][/audio]

4. あばたもえくぼ

"A man in love mistakes a pimple for a dimple." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Abatamoekubo.m4a"][/audio]

5. 人生は楽しいことばかりではない。

じんせい は たのしい こと ばかり で は ない。 "Life's not all beer and skittles." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Jins-Riga.m4a"][/audio]

6. 戴くものは夏も小袖

いただくものはなつもこそで "A padded jacket is an acceptable gift, even in summer." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Itadakimonohanatsumokosode.m4a"][/audio]

7. 頭隠して尻隠さず

あたま かくし て しり かくさす ゙ "Hide your head but not the buttocks." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Atamakakushireshirikakusazu.m4a"][/audio]

8. 猿も木から落ちる

さる も き から おちる "Even monkeys fall from trees" [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Sarumokikaraochiru.m4a"][/audio]

9. 船頭多くして船山に登る

せんどうおおくしてふねやまにのぼる "Too many boatmen will bring a boat up a mountain." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Sendouookushitehuneyamaninoboru.m4a"][/audio]

10. 味噌の味噌臭いは上味噌にあらず

みそのみそくさきはじょうみそにあらず "The bean paste that smells like bean paste is not the best quality." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Miso.m4a"][/audio]

11. 毛深い者は色深い

けぶかい もの は いろ ふかい "A hairy person is sexy." **We couldn't confirm that this was a real saying in Japanese...has anyone heard this before???

12. 爪の垢を煎じて飲む

つめ の あか を せんじ て のむ "Boil and drink another's fingernail dirt." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Tsumenoaka.m4a"][/audio]

13. 臍を噛む

ほぞをかむ "It's no good trying to bite your navel." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Hozowokamu.m4a"][/audio]

14. 朝爪を切れば日に恥をかく

あさ つめ を きれ ば ひ に はじ を か "If you trim your nails in the morning, you will be put to shame that day." **This is not a saying, but rather a very old superstition.

15. 空いた口に牡丹餅

あいたくちへぼたもち "A bean-jam cake [falling] into an open mouth" [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Aitakuchiebotamochi.m4a"][/audio]

16. 秋茄子は嫁に食わすな

あき なすび は よめ に くわす な "Do not let your daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants" [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Akinasuhayomenikuwasuba.m4a"][/audio]

17. 明日のことをいうと天井の鼠が笑う

あした の こと を いう と てんじょう の ねずみ が わらう "If you speak of tomorrow, the rats in the ceiling will laugh" [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Ashitanokotowoiuto.m4a"][/audio]

18. 馬子にも衣裳

まご に も いしょう "Even a packhorse driver looks fine in proper dress." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Magonimoishou.m4a"][/audio]

19. 膝とも談合

ひざ とも だんごう "Consult anyone, even your knees." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Hizatomodangou.m4a"][/audio]

20. 犬猿の仲

けんえんのなか "Relations between a dog and a monkey." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Kennennnonaka.m4a"][/audio]

21. 下駄に焼き味噌

げたにやきみそ "Roast bean paste on wooden clogs." [audio m4a="statamic://asset::blog::wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Getaniyakimiso.m4a"][/audio]

English Sayings

a. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. b. Too many cooks spoil the broth. c. All that glitters is not gold. d. Two heads are better than one. e. Follow in someone's footsteps. f. No use shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted. g. Cut off your nose to spite your face. h. Clothes make the man. i. Love is blind. j. Bury your head in the sand. k. In for a penny, in for a pound. l. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. m. A fool's errand. n. Once a fool, always a fool. o. Anyone can make a mistake. Can you think of an English equivalent we missed? Let us know what you think each saying means in the comments!!