English.me

“Fall seven times, stand up eight”: meaning, origin and examples

Fall seven times, stand up eight

What it means

This phrase means you should never give up, no matter how many times you fail. Each time you fall or face a setback, you should get back up and try again.

Tone Encouraging, motivational

Where it comes from

The phrase is often attributed to a Japanese proverb: Nanakorobi yaoki (七転び八起き), which literally translates to “Fall down seven times, get up eight.”

Examples

  • Even after losing several matches, the team kept practicing—fall seven times, stand up eight.
  • She failed the exam multiple times, but remembered: fall seven times, stand up eight.
  • His perseverance showed he believed in the idea to fall seven times, stand up eight.

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