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In America, mothers used to warn their sons that in choosing a mate, "Cooking lasts, kissing doesn't." That is, go for "permanent" qualities, not "transient" ones.

Put another way, flowers are pretty to look at, but dumplings are something that you can actually eat.

A mother who would choose "cooking" over "kissing" for her son, would also choose "dumplings" over "flowers."

In America, mothers used to warn their sons that in choosing a mate, "Cooking lasts, kissing doesn't." The parallel with the Japanese proverb is not perfect, but pretty strong.

Put another way, flowers are pretty to look at, but dumplings are something that you can actually eat.

A mother who would choose "cooking" over "kissing" for her son, would also choose "dumplings" over "flowers."

In America, mothers used to warn their sons that in choosing a mate, "Cooking lasts, kissing doesn't." That is, go for "permanent" qualities, not "transient" ones.

Put another way, flowers are pretty to look at, but dumplings are something that you can actually eat.

In America, mothers used to warn their sons that in choosing a mate, "Cooking lasts, kissing doesn't." That is, go for "permanent" qualities, not "transient" ones.

Put another way, flowers are pretty to look at, but dumplings are something that you can actually eat.

A mother who would choose "cooking" over "kissing" for her son, would also choose "dumplings" over "flowers."

In America, mothers used to warn their sons that in choosing a mate, "Cooking lasts, kissing doesn't." That is, go for "permanent" qualities, not "transient" ones.

In America, mothers used to warn their sons that in choosing a mate, "Cooking lasts, kissing doesn't." That is, go for "permanent" qualities, not "transient" ones.

Put another way, flowers are pretty to look at, but dumplings are something that you can actually eat.