053Japanese proverb ことわざ
旅は道連れ世は情け
たびはみちづれよはなさけTabi wa michizure yo wa nasake
“On a journey, a companion; in life, kindness.”
The meaning
Neither the road nor life is best crossed alone. The way is safer and sweeter shared, and the world holds together through mutual help.
At the origin
A proverb from the Edo roads, in the days of long walks between way stations.
The characters
- 旅 tabijourney
- は watopic marker
- 道連れ michizuretravel companion
- 世
- は
- 情け
はParticleMarks the topic: what the sentence is about — “as for…”.
In practice
Do not carry alone what can be shared: ask, and offer.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 146 渡る世間に鬼はない Across the wide world, there are no demons.
- 273 世間は広いようで狭い The world seems wide, and it is small.
- 038 情けは人のためならず Kindness is never wasted.
- 054 可愛い子には旅をさせよ Send the child you cherish on a journey.
- 200 人の一生は重荷を負うて遠き道を行くが如し A man's life is a long road walked under a burden; there is no need to hurry.