五転三起

go-ten san-ki

idiom★Intermediate◆proverb

◆ What It Really Means

The ability to overcome repeated failures through persistence and determination

¶ Literal Meaning

Five falls and three rises

Literal Breakdown

五転five falls+三起three rises

◇ Mental Image

A person who falls multiple times but keeps getting back up, symbolizing resilience

◈ When to Use

A businessperson who fails multiple times but eventually succeeds through perseverance

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb reflects the Japanese cultural value of resilience and the importance of learning from failures

formal

To experience multiple failures but persist and ultimately succeed through resilience and determination

起業家は五転三起の精神で挑戦を続ける

Entrepreneurs continue their challenges with the spirit of five falls and three rises

💡

This proverb emphasizes perseverance and the ability to learn from failures

Collocations

五転三起の精神the spirit of five falls and three rises

七転び八起きproverb

to fall seven times and rise eight times

This proverb reflects the Japanese value of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity

Use this phrase to describe someone who has overcome multiple failures to achieve success

From the Chinese idiom 五折三起, meaning to fall five times and rise three times, symbolizing resilience

Often used to describe someone who has overcome significant obstacles through persistence

五転

five falls

root

三起

three rises

root

和英辞典