Level B1 General English
Lesson 26
Proverbs
ことわざ

1
PHRASE OF THE DAY
今日のフレーズ

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
贈られたものにケチをつけてはいけません。

2
SITUATION
状況

Anna is showing a birthday present to Yuki from her boyfriend.
アンナはボーイフレンドから届いた誕生日プレゼントを友紀に見せています。

3
DIALOGUE
ダイアログ

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then practice each role.
課題： 先生の後に続いてくり返した後、それぞれの役を練習してみましょう。

Anna
Hey, look at this. Seems like he at least remembered my birthday.
Yuki
What lovely wrapping!
Anna
Oh, don’t you know what they say? Never judge a book by its cover! He’s got the worst sense, you know.
Yuki
Don’t be silly, Anna. He must know you well enough.
Anna
That’s why I’m telling you. Anyway, let’s see what he got for me. (unwrapping the gift) Ugh! I’ve never seen such an ugly necklace!
Yuki
Anna! Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! You know what that means!
アンナ：
ねえ、これ見て。彼少なくとも私の誕生日を覚えていたみたい。

友紀：
なんてかわいいラッピング！

アンナ：
まあ、“外見で中身を判断しちゃダメ”ってことわざは知ってるでしょ？彼センスが最悪なのよ。

友紀：
そんなこと言わないのよ、アンナ。彼、あなたのこと十分によく知ってるはずよ。

アンナ：
だからよ。まあとにかく、何を選んだのか見てみましょう。（包みを開ける）まあ！こんなひどいネックレス見たことがないわ！

友紀：
アンナ！“贈り物にケチをつけるな”ってどんな意味か知ってるでしょ？

4
VOCABULARY
語い

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud by yourself.
課題： 先生の後に続いてくり返した後、今度はひとりで発音してみましょう。

at least
少なくとも
don’t be silly
冗談はよして
judge
判断する
that’s why
だから
worst
最悪
ugly
不格好な、不細工な

5
LANGUAGE FOCUS
今日のポイント

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
贈られたものにケチをつけてはいけません。
Proverbs
ことわざ表現

Directions: First repeat after your tutor and then read aloud again by yourself.
課題： 先生の後に続いてくり返した後、今度はひとりで発音してみましょう。

One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
= One positive sign does not mean all will be well.
Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.
= Don’t anticipate the future too much.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
= Too many people interfering is a bad way of doing things.
When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
= People will take advantage of someone else’s absence to behave more freely.
一斑をもって全貌を推すべからず

取らぬ狸の皮算用

船頭多くして船山に登る

鬼の居ぬ間の洗濯

6
ACTIVITY
練習

Activity : Which proverbs will you use in the following situations?
練習： 各シチュエーションで使われていることわざは何でしょうか？

1.  (talking to your friend) You’ve got only one interview so far. I think you should keep trying hard!

2.  (Your friend is anxious about a date with her new boyfriend) I’m sure you’ll have a good time! Don’t you know what they say…?

3.  Thanks for helping me with the assignment. This sure is what they say…

4.  Everyone in the office has been so lazy since the boss went on a business trip. I know there’s a saying…

HINTS
Proverbs are often used to comment on a situation, often at the end of a true story someone has told or in response to some event.
Proverbs are very useful and enjoyable to learn what they mean. It is also interesting to see how Japanese proverbs and English ones are different.