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Category Archives: Japanese
What if it’s made of hithlain?
一筋縄では行かない(Hitosuji nawa de wa ikanai;“A single rope won’t do”) Definition: A situation that can’t be handled using the ordinary means, or everyday methods. Especially refers to an enemy or opponent who can’t be overcome with one’s usual techniques or strategies. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged しめ縄, difficulties, 関取千両幟, Lord of the Rings, normal methods, Shinto, strong opponent, the ropes of Lothlórien, unusual challenge, 浄瑠璃, 一筋縄
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A lance where your chin should be
枕戈待旦 chin.ka.tai.tan Literally: pillow – “spear”* – wait – sunrise Alternately: Always ready to give battle. Never dropping your guard or slacking off from necessary preparations. “Sleeping with a weapon as your pillow, awaiting the break of dawn.” Notes: This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged battle-ready, be prepared, Book of Jin, Chinese Antiquity, unusual pillows, 待旦, 晉書, 晋書, 晋书, 枕戈
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By plop or by poit
天から降ったか地から湧いたか(Ten kara futta ka chi kara waita ka;“Fallen from the sky, or sprung from the earth”) Definition: A completely out-of-the-blue occurrence, or something or someone appearing suddenly as if out of nowhere. The image is of something being unexpectedly present … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged caught by surprise, mysterious occurrence, ninja, sudden appearance, teleportation, 地から湧いた, 天から降った
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Make sure you get your ball back afterwards
一球入魂 i-.kkyuu.nyuu.kon Literally: one – sphere – enter / insert – soul Alternately: This phrase from the world of baseball refers to putting your full energy and focus into each action; specifically, putting everything you can into each throw of … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, heart and soul, maximum effort, suddenly baseball, Yowamushi Pedaru, 入魂, 全力, 弱虫ペダル, 一球, 一蹴
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May it be a light to you in dark places
…when all other lights go out – JRRT, FotR 長者の万灯より貧者の一灯(Chouja no mantou yori hinja no ittou;“A pauper’s single light is greater than a rich man’s ten thousand.”) Definition: There is greater honor in a poor person sincerely giving what they … Continue reading
Why that two-faced rat
Well, he looks that way sometimes 首鼠両端 shu.so.ryou.tan Literally: neck – mouse / rat – both – edge Alternately: Caught in indecision, often between two choices. Vacillating; sitting on the fence. By extension, the phrase can also refer to someone … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 首鼠, Fruits Basket, horns of a dilemma, indecisive, look both ways before crossing, 史記, 史记, 両端
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Double rhyme; wastin’ time
(Imagine my horror when I realized that after a year of pushing through Pandemic Doldrums, I finally managed to completely blank out and miss last week’s yojijukugo. In “honor” of that unwonted error, I’ve chosen a compound containing the character … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged analysis paralysis, ハナグマ, 逡巡, 遅疑, 躊躇, hesitation, indecision, nasua, post debt, 俊循
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We’ll cross that non-bridge the instant we come to it
You can’t a ford to wait! 川越して宿とれ (Kawa koshite yado tore; “Cross a river; take lodgings”) Definition: A warning to think ahead and make arrangements just in case. Alternately, an admonition to take care of difficult or annoying tasks quickly … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged act quickly, don't procrastinate, hard and dangerous work, river-crossings, 宿を取れ, 川腰, 川越
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But what age group are riders of the storm?
No age, silly; they’re ghosts! 子供は風の子 (Kodomo wa kaze no ko; “Children are children of the wind”) Definition: Children sometimes seem impervious to the cold, and will happily run around and play outdoors in weather and temperatures that tend to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 17th Century CE joke book, children versus adults, cold weather, 火の子, exercise warms you up, 醒睡笑, 落語, 風の子, 大人, 子供
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For I am the ruler of all that I spoon
杓子定規 shaku.shi.jou.gi Literally: scoop – child – determine – measure Alternately: Assessing everything based on the same criteria, regardless of whether this is appropriate or not. Inflexible; clinging to a single set of rules no matter what. Like trying to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged dipper, hidebound, inflexible, ladle, old rules need to be changed sometimes, spoon, 定規, 杓子, 柄杓, 梅園叢書
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