expression
the older, the wiser
Proverb emphasizing that experience gained with age is more valuable than even a turtle's long-lived shell. Used to praise or acknowledge the wisdom of elders.
祖父はいつも「亀の甲より年の功」と言って、私たちに助言をくれる。
My grandfather always says 'the older, the wiser' and gives us advice.
Variant spelling using 劫 (aeon) instead of 功 (achievement), emphasizing the long passage of time rather than accomplishment.
A Japanese proverb literally meaning 'rather than a turtle's shell, the achievements of age'. The turtle's shell symbolizes longevity, but the saying asserts that the wisdom and experience accumulated over many years are even more valuable.