聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥
きくはいっときのはじきかぬはいっしょうのはじ
better to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know
生聞き is read as なまぎき (namagiki) and means being inattentive.
なまぎき
namagiki
きくはいっときのはじきかぬはいっしょうのはじ
better to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know