058Japanese proverb ことわざ
口は災いの元
くちはわざわいのもとKuchi wa wazawai no moto
“The mouth is the source of misfortune.”
The meaning
One word too many costs more than a thousand silences. Speaking relieves for a moment; the consequences last.
At the origin
A traditional proverb on prudence in speech.
The characters
- 口 kuchimouth
- は watopic marker
- 災い
- の
- 元
はParticleMarks the topic: what the sentence is about — “as for…”.
In practice
Before a cutting remark, ask what it will build.
Themes
In the collections · Seijaku
Similar proverbs
- 057 目は口ほどに物を言う The eyes speak as much as the mouth.
- 060 良薬は口に苦し Good medicine is bitter in the mouth.
- 159 一年の計は元旦にあり The year's plan is drawn on New Year's morning.
- 107 物言えば唇寒し秋の風 As soon as words are spoken, the lips feel cold — autumn wind.
- 239 単刀直入 Entering alone, blade drawn, straight to the point.