知らぬ神より馴染みの鬼

しらぬかみよりなじみのおに

better the devil you know than the devil you don't know; better the ogre you know than the god you don't

馴染み

なじみ

intimacy, friendship, familiarity

知らぬが仏

しらぬがほとけ

Ignorance is bliss

古馴染み

ふるなじみ こなじみ

old friend

お馴染み

おなじみ

familiar, well-known, regular (e.g. customer), old stand-by

耳馴染み

みみなじみ

familiarity (of a sound, etc.)

鬼の念仏

おにのねんぶつ

demon's prayer (Ōtsu-e motif depicting a demon wearing monk's robes and holding a bell)

馴染み深い

なじみぶかい

extremely intimate, very well-acquainted

馴染む

なじむ

to become familiar with, to fit in, to adapt oneself, to get used to, to grow accustomed to

鬼面仏心

きめんぶっしん

having the face of a devil and the heart of Buddha, having a stern face but a tender heart

知らぬ顔

しらぬかお

pretending not to know, feigning ignorance

誰知らぬ

だれしらぬ

nobody knows

見知らぬ

みしらぬ

strange, unfamiliar, unknown

素知らぬ

そしらぬ

feigned, pretending

素知らぬ振り

そしらぬふり

pretending not to recognize, pretending not to recognise, feigned ignorance

知らぬ存ぜぬ

しらぬぞんぜぬ

complete ignorance (usu. in reference to feigning); lack of knowledge

馴染ませる

なじませる

to blend, to mix thoroughly and evenly

素知らぬ顔

そしらぬかお

pretending not to recognize (recognise), feigned ignorance

知らぬ間に

before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing