Learning proverbs is a fun way to boost your enjoyment while practicing Japanese conversation. Learn a few of these food-related proverbs in Japanese and impress your friends at lunch!
花より団子
hana yori dango
Food over Flowers
![hanayoridango](https://thejapanesepage.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hanayoridango.png)
Literally, "Dango is better than flowers." This means the functional and practical is more important than appearances.
- 花 hana—flowers
- より yori—less than (flowers are less important…)
- 団子 dango—Japanese dumpling; boiled or steamed ball of rice flour (food)
絵に描いた餅
e ni kaita mochi
Can't eat a painted cake
Literally, "Mochi that is painted on a picture." This refers to a "pie in the sky" (another food-related proverb!) dream.
- 絵 e—picture; drawing; painting; sketch
- 描いた kaita—painted [from 描く egaku (to draw; to paint; to sketch)]
- 餅 mochi—mochi; sticky rice cake
武士はくわねど高楊枝
bushi wa kuwanedo taka youji
Even if a samurai hasn't eaten, he holds his toothpick high.
Literally, "Even if a warrior hasn't eaten, he still holds his toothpick high (as if he had a big meal)."
Take pride even if you situation is lowly.
- 武士 bushi—warrior; samurai
- くわねど kuwanedo—not eaten but... [from 食う kuu (to eat); this is probably a shortened form of 食わないけど don't eat but...]
- 高楊枝 taka youji—toothpick held high [represents the leisurely, post-meal use of a toothpick]