知らぬ神より馴染みの鬼 しらぬかみよりなじみのおに Meanings Expression better the devil you know than the devil you don't know (literally: better the ogre you know than the god you don't) See also: 知らぬ仏より馴染みの鬼 (しらぬほとけよりなじみのおに). Kanji 知 know. Read as しる. 神 god. Read as かみ. 馴 familiar 染 stain. Read as しみ. 鬼 ogre. Read as おに. Word lists Proverbs Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists