転ばぬ先の杖

ころばぬさきのつえ

Meanings

1. Expression prevention is better than cure; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; look before you leap; forewarned is forearmed; a stitch in time saves nine (literally: a walking stick before stumbling)

Kanji

• 転 turn. Read as ころぶ.
• 先 ahead. Read as さき.
• 杖 staff; cane. Read as つえ.

Example sentences

• 「転ばぬ先の杖」はことわざである。
  "A stitch in time saves nine" is a proverb.
• 転ばぬ先の杖。
  Forewarned is forearmed.
• 君もそのうち転ばぬ先の杖だということがわかるよ。
  You'll learn in time that a stitch in time saves nine.

Word lists

• Proverbs

Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists