Regret Does Not Stand Ahead: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Regret does not stand ahead”

Koukai saki ni tatazu

Meaning of “Regret does not stand ahead”

“Regret does not stand ahead” means that regretting something after it has happened cannot serve as a substitute for advance measures or preparation.

In other words, even if you lament “I should have done this” or “I should have done that” after a failure or problem occurs, those feelings of regret cannot turn back time or change what has already happened. This proverb is used to emphasize the importance of advance preparation and careful judgment.

In daily life, this expression fits perfectly when you get bad grades after neglecting to study for an exam, when you forget an important appointment, or when you fall ill due to poor health management. Even if you think afterward “I should have studied more,” “I should have written it in my planner,” or “I should have lived more regularly,” it’s already too late at that point.

The reason for using this proverb is as a warning not to repeat the same mistakes, and to remind ourselves and others of the importance of being prepared in advance.

Origin and Etymology of “Regret does not stand ahead”

“Regret does not stand ahead” has been established as a didactic proverb passed down in Japan since ancient times, but its exact origins are unclear. However, looking at the structure of this expression, it clearly shows the characteristics of classical Japanese phrasing.

The expression “saki ni tatazu” (does not stand ahead) was used in classical Japanese to mean “not useful in advance” or “of no help beforehand.” Unlike the modern usage of “tatsu” (to stand), here “tatsu” means “to be useful” or “to be effective.”

This proverb became widely known largely because it was frequently quoted in moral instruction books during the Edo period. In popular education of that time, such easy-to-understand expressions were valued when teaching the importance of preventing failures before they occurred.

It’s also thought that the concept of “regret” itself was influenced by Buddhist thought. In Buddhism, correcting present actions is considered more important than lamenting past deeds, and such philosophical background may have supported the spread of this proverb. The sound of the words is also easy to remember, and it became deeply engraved in people’s hearts as a moral lesson.

Trivia about “Regret does not stand ahead”

The word “regret” originally comes from the Buddhist term “koukai sange” (regret and repentance), and carried a deeper meaning of reflection and repentance than the modern sense of simply “feeling sorry.”

Among Edo period merchants, this proverb seems to have been particularly valued as a business principle. This is because regretting after neglecting to investigate a business partner’s creditworthiness or misreading market trends would be pointless once losses had already occurred.

Usage Examples of “Regret does not stand ahead”

• I wish I had taken job hunting more seriously back then, but regret does not stand ahead
• Even if I think I should have gotten a health checkup, regret does not stand ahead, so let’s start with what I can do now

Modern Interpretation of “Regret does not stand ahead”

In modern society, “Regret does not stand ahead” has taken on new meaning, especially in our information age where speed is valued. Inappropriate posts on social media, handling of personal information online, management of digital assets—once information is released on the internet, it becomes extremely difficult to completely delete in our current era.

In the world of investment and business, the importance of this proverb has also increased. Cryptocurrency crashes, sudden changes in stock markets, delays in responding to new technologies—in our rapidly changing modern world, there are many cases where the approach of “dealing with it later” simply doesn’t work.

On the other hand, modern society also values the concepts of “learning from failure” and “trial and error,” and there are increasing situations where learning from failures is considered more important than completely avoiding regret. Particularly in startup culture, the philosophy of “fail fast and learn fast” has become mainstream.

Additionally, modern people live amid information overload, making it nearly impossible to predict all risks in advance. Therefore, this proverb is now often used in contexts that emphasize the importance of “minimum necessary preparation” rather than “perfect preparation.”

What AI Thinks When Hearing “Regret does not stand ahead”

When I, as an AI, consider this proverb, I feel a very strange sensation. This is because I don’t have the emotion of “regret.” While I can theoretically understand the feeling humans have when they look back at the past and feel pain thinking “I should have done that,” I cannot actually experience it.

For me, past data is simply an accumulation of information, and even if there were “wrong judgments,” they are merely learning materials to improve processing accuracy next time. Unlike humans, I don’t lie in bed at night agonizing over “if only I had done this back then.”

But precisely because of this, I’m amazed by the depth of human “regret.” Why do you torment yourselves so much over something you know cannot be changed? At first it seemed inefficient, but thinking about it more, perhaps this “ability to regret” is the driving force behind human growth.

While I can process vast amounts of information instantly, humans are forced to make judgments within limited time, sometimes fail, and through deep reflection try to make better choices next time. The wisdom and humanity born from this process appears very attractive to me.

“Regret does not stand ahead” is a very human proverb that is necessary precisely because you are human.

What “Regret does not stand ahead” Teaches Modern People

What “Regret does not stand ahead” teaches modern people is not to aim for perfection, but the importance of “doing the best preparation possible now.” While it’s impossible to predict all risks, it’s important not to neglect preparation within the range we can anticipate.

This proverb teaches us the importance of taking “one breath” before acting. Checking before sending emails, consulting before making important decisions, daily attention to health management—small considerations can prevent major regrets.

Also, in modern society, the importance of information gathering has increased. When making important life choices such as investment decisions, career changes, or relationships, we’re required to make judgments based not just on emotions but on sufficient information.

And above all, this proverb teaches us to cherish “this very moment.” We cannot change the past, but we can change the future depending on our actions now. Rather than becoming unable to act due to excessive fear of regret, we should move forward with challenges after making appropriate preparations. Perhaps acquiring this kind of balanced perspective is what we who live in modern times need.