もん
門
ぜん
前
 
の
こ
小
ぞう
僧
なら
習
 
わ
 
ぬ
きょう
経
 
を
よ
読
 
む

expression, Godan verb

Proverb.
  1. you learn, without realizing it, from what is around you, a shop-boy near the temple gate will recite sutras untaught.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
もん
門
ぜん
前
 
の
こ
小
ぞう
僧
なら
習
 
わ
 
ぬ
きょう
経
 
を
よ
読
 
む
門前の小僧習わぬ経を読む もんぜんのこぞうならわぬきょうをよむ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

gate, counter for cannons
モン かど と (2nd, N2)
in front, before
まえ ゼン さき (2nd, N5)
grass, straw, herbs
to divide
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
cutting off feet as form of punishment
ゲツ グチ ゴツ
month, moon
つき ゲツ ガツ (1st, N5)
knife, standing sword radical (no. 18)
トウ
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
Buddhist priest, monk
ソウ (Early Jr. High, N1)
human radical (no. 9)
formerly, once, before
ソ ソウ かつ (Late High School)
to divide
rice field, rice paddy
た デン たん (1st, N4)
day, sun, Japan
ひ ニチ にっ (1st, N5)
learn
シュウ なら.う ジュ (3rd, N4)
feathers, counter for birds, rabbits
はね は ば (2nd, N2)
learn(習) variant
hooked enclosure
two-stroke water radical or ice radical (no. 15)
ヒョウ こおり (Kentei 1)
white
しろ ハク しら- (1st, N5)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
day, sun, Japan
ひ ニチ にっ (1st, N5)
sutra, longitude, pass thru
ケイ た.つ へ.る (5th, N3)
thread
いと シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ こ- ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ や はっ (1st, N5)
holy, sacred
コツ クツ コチ
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また ユウ やす (Late Jr. High, N1)
soil, earth, ground
ド つち は (1st, N5)
read
よ.む ドク よみ (2nd, N5)
say, word
い.う こと ゲン (2nd, N4)
dot, tick or dot radical (no. 3)
チュ (Kentei 1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
mouth
くち コウ ク (1st, N4)
sell
う.る バイ うり (2nd, N4)
gentleman, scholar, samurai
シ さむらい お (5th, N1)
a net, net-like, radical 122
wa-shaped crown radical (no. 14)
ベキ (Kentei 1)
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン ニン がい (Kentei 1)