Zen wa Isoge (善は急げ - Now is the Time for Action)

Zen wa Isoge

I sometimes remind myself of the Japanese proverb 'zen wa isoge' (善は急げ).

Since 'zen' (善) means "good/virtue" and 'isoge' (急げ) means "hasten/hurry," the literal meaning of 'zen wa isoge' is "hasten to do good things."

In other words, this proverb says that if you think it is a good thing, you should do it immediately without hesitation.

However, unplanned and imprudent actions can cause a bad result, so you should also have some caution.

It can be translated into English as "Now is the time for action."

善は急げ

私はときどき「善は急げ」ということわざを自分に言い聞かせます。

「善」は "good/virtue"、「急げ」は "hasten/hurry" を意味するので、「善は急げ」の文字どおりの意味は "hasten to do good things." になります。

すなわち、「良いと思ったことならば、ためらわずすぐに実行するべきだ」ということを言っているわけです。

ただ、無計画に慌てて行動しては失敗してしまうかもしれないので、気をつけなければいけません。

英語では "Now is the time for action" のように言うことができます。

• I sometimes remind myself of the Japanese proverb 'zen wa isoge' (善は急げ).
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• Since 'zen' (善) means "good/virtue" and 'isoge' (急げ) means "hasten/hurry," the literal meaning of 'zen wa isoge' is "hasten to do good things."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• In other words, this proverb says that if you think it is a good thing, you should do it immediately without hesitation.
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!

• However, unplanned and imprudent actions can cause a bad result, so you should also have some caution.
• However, unplanned and imprudent actions can cause have bad results, so you should also have exercise caution.

  We don't really use "result" after the verb "cause," nor do we often use it in the singular. I see Japanese people do this often. What Japanese word are you thinking of? Maybe "outcome" is a better translation of it, even though "results" is a more common word in English?

• It can be translated into English as "Now is the time for action."
• This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!