1Proverb: the nail that sticks out gets hammered down — those who stand out too much are criticized or suppressed by those around them. A variant of 出る杭は打たれる using 釘 (nail) instead of 杭 (stake); the 杭 form is more common in modern usage.
出る釘は打たれると言うから、あまり目立たないほうがいい。
They say the nail that sticks out gets hammered down, so it's better not to stand out too much.
出る釘は打たれるのが怖くて、彼は自分の意見をなかなか言えなかった。
Afraid of being the nail that sticks out, he couldn't easily voice his own opinion.
2Proverb: tall trees catch much wind — people who excel or achieve a lot tend to attract envy and criticism. A variant of 出る杭は打たれる with the same meaning.
彼女は常にトップの成績だったが、出る釘は打たれるで、周囲から冷たい目で見られることも多かった。
She was always at the top of her class, but 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered down' — she was often given the cold shoulder.
あまりに目立つと嫉妬されるものだ。出る釘は打たれるとはよく言ったものだ。
If you stand out too much, you attract jealousy. 'The nail that sticks out gets hammered down' is well said.