武士は食わねど高楊枝
(Bushi wa kuwanedo takayouji;
“Even a warrior who hasn’t eaten uses a toothpick”)

Definition:

A destitute warrior who hasn’t eaten nonetheless acting like they have, in order to avoid revealing weakness to any potential enemies. By extension, putting on airs or a show of pride, or acting stoic in the face of hardship. Forced cheer.

Breakdown:

We begin with the noun 武士 (various pronunciations, in this case bushi), “warrior,” marked as the topic of discussion by the particle は (wa). The comment on this topic begins with the verb 食う (kuu), “to eat.” This verb appears in imperfective form and takes the negative suffix ず (zu). This suffix itself appears in perfective form as ね (ne), allowing it to take the concessive suffix ど (do), “even (if).” Without particles, this verb phrase is followed by the noun 楊枝 (youji), “skewer” or “toothpick.” Prefixing this noun with adjective-turned-noun 高 (taka), “high,” implies that the toothpick use is leisurely, giving an air of self-assurance or of having just enjoyed a satisfying meal.

You get a bonus if you’re Mifune Toshiro.

Notes:

This saying is the ふ entry in the Kyoto iroha karuta set, but is also attributed to the writings of Confucian sage Mencius (孟子, in Japanese Moushi).

Example sentence:

「あいつの精神はな、武士は食わねど高楊枝だから、たとえお前が弁当を分けてあげると言っても一口も食わんだろう」

(“Aitsu no seishin wa na, bushi wa kuwanedo takayouji dakara, tatoe omae ga bentou wo wakete ageru to itte mo hitokuchi mo kuwan darou.”)

[“That guy, he’s got this samurai spirit that doesn’t want to admit any problems, so for example even if you offer him part of your bento, he won’t have a single bite.”]