[For Seniors] Proverb Quiz with Animal Names
Proverbs that often come up even in everyday casual conversations.
Among them, various kinds of animals make an appearance.
So this time, we’ll present a proverbs quiz featuring animals—perfect for brain training for seniors.
The quiz is a fill-in-the-blank format where the animal names are left blank.
Seniors with a wealth of knowledge might even get a perfect score! You may find proverbs you’ve known since childhood or ones you use frequently.
Let’s give your brain a solid workout through this animal-themed proverbs quiz.
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[For Seniors] Proverb Quiz with Animal Names (21–30)
step on the tail of 〇〇
This is a proverb used as a metaphor for doing something extremely dangerous.
Stepping on a tail might evoke a sense of pity, but the hint may be that the crisis is so serious it makes you forget that feeling.
If you imagine a dangerous animal and substitute it in, you can arrive at the answer.
The answer is “tiger,” and sayings like “to put your hand in a tiger’s mouth” or “to touch someone’s sore spot” (literally, “to touch the imperial wrath”) are similar proverbs.
It could also be fun to ask, with anecdotes, which animals each person considers dangerous and why.
This lasts a thousand years, and that lasts ten thousand years.
These words are used as examples of longevity and good fortune, and if you picture the classic motifs that symbolize long life, you’ll likely arrive at the answer quickly.
It’s also interesting to consider not only motifs of longevity but also creatures known for long lifespans.
If you go looking for beings that live 1,000 or 10,000 years, you won’t find them, so it’s important to note that such lifespans are described in mythology.
The answer is “cranes” and “turtles,” animals used in many contexts as symbols of longevity and auspicious motifs.
If you do not enter the tiger’s den, you will not catch its cubs.
It’s a proverb that conveys the idea that you can’t achieve success without taking risks.
Because it originates from a Chinese historical text, the wording can feel unfamiliar and tricky.
If you think about where you would have to go to capture a tiger’s cub, you’ll get closer to the answer.
The proverb is “If you do not enter the tiger’s den, you cannot catch its cub,” meaning that unless you accept the risk of stepping into the tiger’s lair, you can’t catch the cub.
It may remind you, through the proverb, of times in your own experience when you braced yourself for risk and took the plunge.
Even a small 〇〇 has a spirit of its own (literally: Even in an inch of 〇〇, there is a half-inch soul).
This is a phrase used as an example to show that no matter how weak something may be, it has its own pride and way of thinking, and shouldn’t be underestimated.
If you think about small things that we don’t usually pay much attention to in daily life, you might get closer to the answer.
One sun is about three centimeters, but that’s a figurative expression of smallness rather than an actual size—another hint.
The answer is “insect.” It’s a phrase that carries the lesson that even the smallest living creature has a life of its own and should not be treated carelessly.
under the willow
It’s a proverb that means even if you succeed by chance, repeating the same method won’t necessarily lead to success again.
If you think about what you might find under a willow tree that would make you feel successful, the discussion can get lively as everyone shares their own ideals.
Since the range of answers seems broad, it’s recommended to focus on the word “willow” and expand your ideas to things like dish names that use the kanji for willow.
The answer to the riddle is likely “dojo under the willow” (yanagi no shita no dojo), and it’s a proverb that might bring to mind Yanagawa-nabe.
to add insult to injury
It’s a phrase that describes experiencing one misfortune on top of another.
Think of “a crying face” as the bad situation, then consider what, if added to it, would make things even worse.
Many unpleasant things might come to mind, but the hint “insect” narrows it down.
The answer is “bee”: it paints a scene where, while crying, you also get stung by a bee.
It’s similar in meaning to expressions like “adding insult to injury” or “when it rains, it pours.”
Plum blossoms with 〇〇〇〇
This is a phrase used as a metaphor for things that are well-matched or beautifully harmonious.
Let’s think about what appears in plum-blossom season, or what looks beautiful when placed near plum blossoms.
Clear hints include a bird flying toward the plum tree and a vivid green that stands out against the pink of the plum blossoms.
The answer is “uguisu” (Japanese bush warbler).
It’s also interesting that there are many other expressions for beautiful seasonal scenes or harmony, such as “crane with pine,” “deer with autumn leaves,” and “butterfly with peony.”
In conclusion
We gave a quiz on animal-related proverbs for seniors to try—how many did you get right? Even proverbs you know well can be tricky when they’re turned into quiz questions, right? But that thinking and grappling is what matters! Have fun and give it a try.