<は>

馬鹿とハサミは使いよう。 Fools and scissors require careful handling.[ need good handling]

馬鹿につける薬はない。 No medicine can cure a fool.

馬耳東風 e.g. He turned a deaf ear to his teacher’s advice.

早起きは三文の得。The early birds catch the worm.

八十の手習い。One is never too old to learn

            You never too old to learn.#

腹が減っては戦が出来ぬ。 The stomach carries the feet. 

腹八分に医者要らず。Moderate eating keeps the doctor away.

                 Many dishes make many diseases.

 

<ひ>

美人薄命。Those who the gods love die young. ・

人を見たら泥棒と思え。 Never trust a stranger.

人の口に戸は立てられない。 People will talk.

人のふり見てわがふりなおせ。 One mans fault is another mans lesson.  *

Learn wisdom from the follies of others.

人の物はよく見える。 The apples on the other side of the wall are the sweetest.

人はパンのみに生きるにあらず。Man does not live by Bread alone.  #

貧乏暇なし。 The poor have no leisure.

火のないところに煙は立たず。 Make no fire, raise no smoke.

               Where there is smoke, there is fire.

                            There is no smoke without fire.  *

貧の友は真の友。A friend in need is a friend indeed.

必要は発明の母。Necessity is the mother of invention

人を呪わば穴2つ。Danger past, and God forgotten.

  Curses come home to roost. ***  

人の噂も七十五日。A wonder lasts but nine days

日のあるうちに乾し草を作れ。 Make hay while the sun shines. *

百聞は一見にしかず。To see is to believe.

          Seeing is believing.

 

<ふ>

不言実行     Actions speak louder than words.

覆水盆に返らず。It is no use crying over spilt milk.

豚に真珠。 Dont throw pearls to swine. ・

太く短く生きる。Burn the bright, burn the shortest.  ***

分割統治。 Divide and govern (Machiavelli)

 

<へ>

ペンは剣よりも強し。 The pen is mighter than the sword.

 

<ほ>

坊主憎くけりゃ袈裟まで憎い。 Love me, love my dog.

吠える犬は噛まない。Barking dogs seldom bite. #

仏の顔も三度まで。Even the patience of a saint has limit.

              You can only go so far. ***

 

(はーほ)