諺
ことわざ · kotowaza · JLPT N3 · noun
proverb
📜💬 koto-waza = word (言 koto) + skill (技 waza): words used with skill
The kanji splits the same way: 言 speech on the left, 彦 accomplished man on the right. A proverb is speech handed down by wise people. The reading follows the old compound koto (word) + waza (skill or deed).