孝行のしたい時分に親はなし（こうこうのしたいじぶんにおやはなし）

Japanese vocabulary

Meaning: when you are ready to be a filial child, your parents are already gone

See it used in real works

• Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
• Hear “孝行のしたい時分に親はなし” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)