ことわざ are Japanese proverbs, and I have listed some basic proverbs, their equivalents in English, and a rough translation of the meanings of the Japanese phrase.
There is a test for ことわざ called the ことわざ能力検定 (ことわざのうりょくけんてい) and these are some of the phrases that appear in level 8 or 8級 (10 being the lowest level). Try one or two of these out the next time you speak with a native Japanese speaker!
Additional ことわざ (こと検8級): 19 | 20
More ことわざ (こと検9級): 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18
Even More ことわざ (こと検10級): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Even monkeys fall from trees
Even experts make mistakes.
Leave the gods untouched and no curse will come
Stay away from trouble and you avoid problems.
Two heads are better than one
Three people together have the wisdom of Monju (the boddhisatva who represents wisdom).
Failure is the foundation of success
You learn from mistakes and improve.
Even among close friends, there is etiquette
Be respectful even with people you know well.
What one likes, one will do well
People improve at things they enjoy.
Habits from youth remain for life
A sparrow never forgets dancing even at 100.
In an emergency, necessities come first
One cannot substitute the back for the belly.
If prepared, there is no worry.
The wholesaler won’t sell it that way.