Hello, I’m Kodak.
You may have seen the Japanese phrase 七転び八起き on a motivational poster, a Daruma doll, a tattoo, or a quote translated as:
If I fall seven times, shouldn’t I stand up only seven times?
Why does Japanese say eight?
The numbers are not meant as an exact calculation. They create the image of falling again and again but always rising.
七転び八起き means: no matter how many times you fail, do not give up—get back up and try again.
七転び八起き (nanakorobi yaoki) literally means “seven falls, eight rises.”
Natural English meanings include:
・fall seven times, stand up eight
・never give up
・keep getting back on your feet
・persevere through repeated failure
・life has many ups and downs
This article explains the phrase from a beginner’s point of view, including its kanji, pronunciation, grammar, origin, the strange seven-versus-eight count, its connection with Daruma dolls, and natural example sentences.
What Does Nanakorobi Yaoki Mean?
七転び八起き describes someone who experiences repeated failures or difficulties but refuses to stay defeated.
Hiragana: ななころびやおき
Romaji: nanakorobi yaoki / nana korobi ya oki
Literal image: falling seven times and getting up eight times
Figurative meaning: persevering and recovering after every setback
失敗しても諦めない。七転び八起きだ。
Shippai shite mo akiramenai. Nanakorobi yaoki da.
Even if I fail, I won’t give up. Fall seven times, stand up eight.
彼の人生は七転び八起きだった。
Kare no jinsei wa nanakorobi yaoki datta.
His life had many setbacks, but he always managed to get back on his feet.
It can describe the ups and downs of life—periods of failure and recovery, decline and success.
The surrounding sentence tells you whether the focus is perseverance or life’s changing fortunes.
No matter how many times you fail, rise and try again.
Meaning 2: the vicissitudes of life
Life contains repeated ups and downs.
How to Read 七転び八起き
八起き = やおき = yaoki
Full reading:
ななころびやおき
nanakorobi yaoki
八 is commonly read はち (hachi), but it also has the native Japanese reading や (ya).
This proverb uses the native-style readings なな (nana) and や (ya).
しち (shichi) / なな (nana)
八
はち (hachi) / や (ya)
七転び八起き
uses なな + や
七転八起
uses しち + はっ
It is not a particle joining “falling” and “rising.”
Nanakorobi Yaoki Pronunciation
Mora count: 8 morae
Romaji with word boundaries: nana korobi ya oki
Common joined spelling: nanakorobi yaoki
Beginner sound guide: nah-nah koh-roh-bee yah oh-kee
Try to keep the Japanese vowels clear and relatively even. Do not strongly stress only one syllable as you might in English.
七転び｜八起き
nanakorobi | yaoki
In normal speech, however, the proverb flows as one set expression rather than four separate vocabulary words.
Literal Breakdown of 七転び八起き
seven; here, repeated or many times
転び (korobi)
a fall; falling down
from 転ぶ (korobu), to fall or tumble
八 (ya)
eight; here, repeated or many times
起き (oki)
getting up; rising
from 起きる (okiru), to get up or rise
In this proverb, it means getting back onto your feet after falling—not waking from sleep.
Why Do You Stand Up Eight Times After Falling Seven?
The phrase is symbolic rather than mathematical. Japanese proverb dictionaries explain that 七 and 八 can represent a large or repeated number of events rather than exactly seven and eight.
You fall many times
↓
you refuse to remain down
↓
you rise every time—and the phrase finishes with you standing
The safest explanation is that seven and eight are rhetorical numbers. The extra rise strengthens the positive image: however many falls there are, the final movement is upward.
One Japanese proverb dictionary also notes that the larger number 八 brings the will to recover to the foreground. Traditional associations of eight with expansion and good fortune may add a hopeful feeling, but they should be treated as interpretation rather than a proven single origin of the saying.
7 falls − 8 rises = a mathematical puzzle
The important message is:
Failure does not decide your final position. You finish by rising.
“Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight” in Japanese
The widely quoted English version is:
A more literal translation would be “seven falls, eight risings” or “fall seven times, get up eight times.”
Stand up sounds motivational in English, while get back up often conveys the recovery image most naturally.
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
For a natural explanation, you can say:
No matter how many times you fall, get back up.
Origin and History of Nanakorobi Yaoki
The exact inventor of 七転び八起き is not known. It is therefore better not to attribute the proverb confidently to a particular samurai, monk, or historical figure.
The Seisenban Nihon Kokugo Daijiten records an early written example from around 1680 in the Edo-period work Yoshiwara Hitotabane:
The world is a dream or illusion—seven falls and eight risings.
This is evidence that the wording was already in use during the Edo period. It is an early documented example, not proof that the phrase was first created by that author.
It is best presented as a helpful image, not as a proven source of the proverb.
Is Nanakorobi Yaoki Connected to Daruma Dolls?
Yes—Daruma dolls are strongly associated with the spirit of 七転び八起き.
Many Daruma dolls are rounded and weighted so that they return upright after being pushed over. This makes them a visual symbol of patience, resilience, and recovery.
↓
Daruma rises again
↓
七転び八起き
Never remain defeated
Daruma is a powerful symbol of the proverb because the doll rights itself, but the available dictionary evidence does not prove that the doll created the saying itself.
Takasaki City, famous for its Daruma tradition, describes the doll’s stable shape as representing a calm mind and the patience to deal with hardship—an excellent physical image of 七転び八起き.
Nanakorobi Yaoki vs Shichiten Hakki
You may also encounter the four-kanji expression:
Reading: しちてんはっき
Romaji: shichiten hakki
七転び八起き and 七転八起 express essentially the same idea: repeated failure followed by repeated recovery.
The familiar proverb-style reading using native Japanese readings.
七転八起 (shichiten hakki)
A compact four-character idiom using Sino-Japanese readings; often feels more formal or literary.
七転び八起き ⇒ nanakorobi yaoki
七転八起 ⇒ shichiten hakki
They share the same message but have different written forms and readings.
Do Not Confuse 七転八起 with 七転八倒
These expressions look very similar but have almost opposite emotional images.
Fall and rise repeatedly
⇒ perseverance; recovery; never giving up
七転八倒 (shichiten battō)
Roll and writhe repeatedly
⇒ suffering intensely; writhing in agony; complete confusion
起 means rise, so the image ends positively.
倒 means fall over, so the image is one of continued suffering.
Be especially careful because hakki and battō may both appear in four-kanji vocabulary lists.
How to Use 七転び八起き Naturally
七転び八起き functions mainly as a noun-like proverb. It often combines with words such as 精神 (spirit), 人生 (life), and だ (is).
1. 七転び八起きだ
Use this as a complete motivational statement.
一度失敗したくらいで諦めない。七転び八起きだ。
Ichido shippai shita kurai de akiramenai. Nanakorobi yaoki da.
I won’t give up just because I failed once. Fall seven times, stand up eight.
2. 七転び八起きの精神
This means “the spirit of perseverance” or “the fall-seven-rise-eight mindset.”
七転び八起きの精神で挑戦を続けよう。
Nanakorobi yaoki no seishin de chōsen o tsuzukeyō.
Let’s keep taking on the challenge with a never-give-up spirit.
3. 人生は七転び八起き
This emphasizes both resilience and life’s ups and downs.
人生は七転び八起き。悪い時ばかりではない。
Jinsei wa nanakorobi yaoki. Warui toki bakari de wa nai.
Life has its ups and downs. The bad times will not last forever.
4. 七転び八起きで～
This pattern describes achieving something after repeated setbacks.
七転び八起きで、ようやく夢をかなえた。
Nanakorobi yaoki de, yōyaku yume o kanaeta.
After repeated setbacks and comebacks, I finally achieved my dream.
When Do Japanese People Use Nanakorobi Yaoki?
・encouraging someone after failure
・describing a difficult path to success
・talking about recovery after a setback
・expressing a personal motto
・describing a life full of ups and downs
・writing a motivational message
・explaining the symbolism of a Daruma doll
Immediately saying a proverb may sound like a lecture if the person is deeply upset. First acknowledge the feeling:
悔しいよね。でも、七転び八起きだよ。
“That’s really disappointing, isn’t it? But you can get back up and try again.”
Natural Example Sentences
何度失敗しても、七転び八起きの精神を忘れない。
Nando shippai shite mo, nanakorobi yaoki no seishin o wasurenai.
No matter how many times I fail, I will not forget the spirit of perseverance.
彼女は七転び八起きで会社を立て直した。
Kanojo wa nanakorobi yaoki de kaisha o tatenaoshita.
After many setbacks and recoveries, she rebuilt the company.
試験に落ちても、七転び八起きだと思ってもう一度挑戦した。
Shiken ni ochite mo, nanakorobi yaoki da to omotte mō ichido chōsen shita.
Even after failing the exam, I thought, “fall seven times, stand up eight,” and tried again.
人生は七転び八起きだから、今の失敗だけで未来を決めなくていい。
Jinsei wa nanakorobi yaoki dakara, ima no shippai dake de mirai o kimenakute ii.
Life has many ups and downs, so one failure does not have to decide your future.
七転び八起きという言葉に励まされた。
Nanakorobi yaoki to iu kotoba ni hagemasareta.
I was encouraged by the words “fall seven times, stand up eight.”
だるまは七転び八起きの象徴として親しまれている。
Daruma wa nanakorobi yaoki no shōchō to shite shitashimarete iru.
Daruma dolls are familiar symbols of resilience.
新しい事業は七転び八起きの連続だった。
Atarashii jigyō wa nanakorobi yaoki no renzoku datta.
The new business was a continuous series of setbacks and recoveries.
七転び八起きで、最後には成功すればいい。
Nanakorobi yaoki de, saigo ni wa seikō sureba ii.
It is fine to stumble repeatedly as long as you succeed in the end.
一回の失敗で自分を責めすぎないで。七転び八起きだよ。
Ikkai no shippai de jibun o semesuginaide. Nanakorobi yaoki da yo.
Don’t blame yourself too much for one failure. Fall seven times, stand up eight.
彼の七転び八起きの人生は、多くの人に勇気を与えた。
Kare no nanakorobi yaoki no jinsei wa, ōku no hito ni yūki o ataeta.
His life of repeated setbacks and recoveries gave courage to many people.
Anime, Manga, and Motivational Usage
You may encounter 七転び八起き in sports anime, school stories, competition scenes, training arcs, and character speeches about refusing to give up.
It’s not over yet! Fall seven times, stand up eight!
何度負けても立ち上がる。それが七転び八起きだ。
No matter how many times you lose, you get back up. That is nanakorobi yaoki.
七転び八起きの精神で、次こそ勝つ！
With a never-give-up spirit, I’ll win next time!
It may sound more like a motto or piece of advice than casual everyday slang, which is why it fits speeches, writing, sports, business stories, and dramatic dialogue well.
Related Japanese Expressions About Perseverance
諦めない (Akiramenai): Not Give Up
This is the most direct everyday expression.
最後まで諦めない。
Saigo made akiramenai.
I won’t give up until the end.
失敗は成功のもと (Shippai wa Seikō no Moto)
Literally, “failure is the foundation of success.” It emphasizes learning from failure.
継続は力なり (Keizoku wa Chikara Nari)
Literally, “continuation becomes strength.” It focuses on the power of steady persistence.
不撓不屈 (Futō Fukutsu)
A formal four-kanji idiom meaning indomitable or unyielding in the face of difficulty.
Fall and rise repeatedly
⇒ recovery after setbacks
諦めない
Do not give up
⇒ the most direct everyday statement
失敗は成功のもと
Failure leads to success
⇒ learn from mistakes
継続は力なり
Persistence becomes strength
⇒ keep working steadily
不撓不屈
Indomitable spirit
⇒ formal, strong determination
Use 七転び八起き when you want a memorable proverb or want to emphasize recovering after repeated failure.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Reading 八 as Hachi
○ nanakorobi yaoki
Mistake 2: Treating Ya as the Particle “And”
The や in this expression is the reading of 八, not the listing particle.
Mistake 3: Writing Only 七転八起 but Reading Nanakorobi Yaoki
七転八起 ⇒ shichiten hakki
Mistake 4: Confusing It with 七転八倒
七転八倒 means to writhe in agony or suffer intensely, not to persevere successfully.
Mistake 5: Assuming Seven and Eight Are Exact Counts
The numbers express repetition and contrast. The proverb is not intended as literal arithmetic.
Mistake 6: Using It to Dismiss Someone’s Pain
A proverb can encourage, but saying “just get up again” without acknowledging the person’s difficulty may sound insensitive.
Is Nanakorobi Yaoki Good for a Tattoo?
七転び八起き is used in motivational art and tattoos because of its positive message of resilience.
Traditional proverb form
七転八起
Compact four-kanji form
七転び八起き looks like the familiar spoken proverb.
七転八起 is shorter and has the balanced appearance of a four-character idiom.
Check the exact characters, order, and typeface with a knowledgeable Japanese reader before making any permanent design.
FAQ About Nanakorobi Yaoki
What does nanakorobi yaoki mean?
It means that no matter how many times you fail or fall, you should get back up and continue. It can also describe the many ups and downs of life.
What is “fall seven times, stand up eight” in Japanese?
It is 七転び八起き, read ななころびやおき (nanakorobi yaoki).
Why do you get up eight times after falling seven?
The numbers are rhetorical rather than exact. They emphasize repeated setbacks and repeated recovery, with the final image being one of standing rather than remaining defeated.
Is it nana korobi ya oki or nanakorobi yaoki?
Both romanizations refer to the same expression. Nana korobi ya oki shows the components more clearly, while nanakorobi yaoki is a common joined search spelling.
Is ya a particle in nanakorobi yaoki?
No. や is the native Japanese reading of 八, meaning eight.
What is the difference between nanakorobi yaoki and shichiten hakki?
七転び八起き (nanakorobi yaoki) is the familiar proverb-style form. 七転八起 (shichiten hakki) is a compact four-kanji form with essentially the same meaning.
Is nanakorobi yaoki connected to Daruma?
Yes. A weighted Daruma doll rises after being pushed over, so it is a popular symbol of the proverb’s resilience. This association does not prove that Daruma was the original source of the phrase.
What is the opposite of nanakorobi yaoki?
There is no single fixed opposite, but すぐ諦める means “to give up quickly.” Do not confuse 七転び八起き with 七転八倒, which means writhing in agony.
Is nanakorobi yaoki still used in Japan?
Yes. It is a well-known traditional proverb used in motivational messages, speeches, writing, sports, business stories, education, and explanations of Daruma symbolism.
What is the earliest known use of the proverb?
A major Japanese historical dictionary records an example from the Edo-period work Yoshiwara Hitotabane, dating to around 1680. This is an early documented example, not necessarily the moment the proverb was invented.
Summary: Nanakorobi Yaoki Meaning and Usage
Never give up. Recover and try again after every failure.
● Literal translation
“Seven falls, eight rises” or “fall seven times, stand up eight.”
● Writing
七転び八起き
● Reading
ななころびやおき — nanakorobi yaoki
● Why seven and eight?
They are rhetorical numbers expressing repeated falls and recoveries, not exact arithmetic. The phrase ends with one more rise and a positive image.
● Related form
七転八起 — shichiten hakki
● Important warning
七転八倒 means intense suffering and is not the same expression.
● Daruma connection
Daruma dolls rise after being knocked over and therefore symbolize the proverb’s resilient spirit.
The proverb is not counting falls. It is telling me that, whatever happens, the story should end with me standing.
That is the core image of 七転び八起き:
You are not defined by how often you fall, but by your decision to rise again.
References
- Kotobank: 七転び八起き — standard meaning, secondary “ups and downs of life” sense, and commentary on the seven/eight contrast.
- Kotobank: 七転八起き — historical example from around 1680 in Yoshiwara Hitotabane.
- Kanjipedia: 七転び八起き — reading, meaning, and explanation that seven and eight express a large number.
- Kotobank: 七転八起 — meaning and the reading shichiten hakki.
- Kotobank: 七転八倒 — meaning and distinction from 七転八起.
- Takasaki City: History of Takasaki Daruma — official explanation of Daruma’s self-righting shape and its connection with 七転び八起き.