聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥。

Sentence Analyzer

聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥。

English Translation

Nothing is lost for asking.

Furigana

聞(き)くは一時(いちじ)の恥(はじ)、聞(き)かぬは一生(いっしょう)の恥(はじ)。

Romanji

Kiku wa ichiji no haji, kikanu wa isshō no haji.

Words

聞く (きく)

to hear; to listen (e.g. to music); to ask; to enquire; to query; to learn of; to hear about; to follow (advice); to comply with; to smell (esp. incense); to sample fragrance

は (は)

topic marker particle; indicates contrast with another option (stated or unstated); adds emphasis

一時 (いちじ)

one o'clock; once; at one time; formerly; before; for a time; for a while; for the time being; for the present; for the moment; temporarily; a time; one time; once

の (の)

indicates possessive; nominalizes verbs and adjectives; substitutes for "ga" in subordinate phrases; (at sentence-end, falling tone) indicates a confident conclusion; (at sentence-end) indicates emotional emphasis; (at sentence-end, rising tone) indicates question

恥 (はじ、じょく)

shame; embarrassment; disgrace

一生 (いっしょう)

whole life; a lifetime; all through life; one existence; a generation; an age; the whole world; the era; (the only, the greatest, etc.) of one's life