Hyakubun wa ikken ni shikazu
Seeing once beats hearing a hundred times.
Proverb used in Japanese, from the Book of Han
Hearing about something repeatedly may still leave gaps that direct observation can fill. This proverb, traced to the Chinese Book of Han, values seeing for yourself. If descriptions of a craft leave you puzzled, watch a demonstration and notice how the maker’s hands move.
Language note: 百聞 (ひゃくぶん / hyakubun) is hearing a hundred times; 一見 (いっけん / ikken) is seeing once. しかず, also written 如かず, means does not equal or match.
What would you understand better by looking closely?
Practice:
写真だけでなく、実物を見てみたい。
Shashin dake de naku, jitsubutsu o mite mitai.
I’d like to see the real thing, not just photos.
Sources:
#DailyJapanWisdom #LearnJapanese #JapaneseCulture