1、乗りかかった船／如箭在弦

　　● A boat you are already on.

　　○ To be already into something with both feet.

　　2、先んずれば人を制す／先發制人

　　● Be first and you will rule.

　　○ First come， first served.

　　3、急ては事をし損じる／忙中出錯

　　● Hurry and fail.

　　○ If you hurry， you will most likely fail.

　　4、見ると聞くとはおおちがい／眼見為實，耳聽為虛

　　● There's a big difference between hearing and actually seeing.

　　○ Seeing is believing.

　　5、安物買いの銭失い／貪小便宜吃大虧

　　● Buy cheap and waste money.

　　○ Penny wise and pound foolish.

　　6、禍を転じて福となす／禍兮福所倚

　　●○ Turn a misfortune into a blessing.

　　7、過ぎたるはなお及ばざるがごとし／過猶不及

　　●○ Too much is as bad as too little.

　　8、壁に耳あり障子に目あり／隔墻有耳

　　●○ Walls have ears； paper screens have eyes.

　　9、石の上にも三年／堅持就是勝利

　　● Sitting on a rock for three years.

　　○ Perseverance brings success.

　　10、善は急げ／趁熱打鐵

　　● Do whatever is good quickly.

　　○ Strike while the iron is hot.

　　11、猿も木から落ちる／人非圣賢，孰能無過

　　● Even monkeys sometimes fall from trees.

　　○ Everyone makes mistakes.

　　12、転ばぬ先の杖／預防勝于治療

　　● A cane for when you fall over.

　　○ Prevention is better than cure.

　　注：●＝a literal translation

　　○＝an expression with the same meaning