ProverbChallengeJapanese origin

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず (Koketsu ni irazunba koji wo ezu)

Meaning: You can't achieve anything great without taking risks.

Literally: If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't catch its cub

Example: “安定した仕事を辞めて起業する。虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ずだ。” — I'm quitting my stable job to start a business: fortune favors the bold.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and 3 more languages

  • English: Fortune favors the bold
  • French: La fortune sourit aux audacieux (literally: Fortune smiles on the bold)
  • Spanish: La fortuna favorece a los audaces (literally: Fortune favors the bold)
  • German: Wer wagt, gewinnt (literally: He who dares, wins)
  • Italian: La fortuna aiuta gli audaci (literally: Fortune helps the bold)
  • Portuguese: A sorte protege os audazes (literally: Fortune protects the bold)
  • Polish: Śmiałym szczęście sprzyja (literally: Fortune favors the bold)
  • Turkish: Korkak bezirgân ne kâr eder ne zarar (literally: A timid merchant makes neither profit nor loss)

Origin: From the Book of the Later Han: the general Ban Chao is said to have spoken these words to rally his few men before a daring night attack.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Amae The comfortable feeling of depending on another's goodwill — leaning into someone's indul…
  • Shinrin-yoku Immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a forest — soaking up its calm through all your s…
  • Boketto Staring off into the distance with your mind pleasantly empty, thinking of nothing at all.

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →