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Category Archives: Kotowaza
Je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte
Pascal, not Twain 下手の長談義(Heta no nagadangi;“The long discourse of the unskilled”) Definition: A rambling talk or story characteristic of people who aren’t very good at clear and organized speaking. To drone on in a poorly-paced, unengaging way, especially in a … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged bad at, conversational skill, 無布施経, 長話, 長談義, 長口上, long-winded, rambling, unskilled, 下手
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A Scandanavian problem
惚れたが因果(Horeta ga inga;“The lover’s lot is karma”) Definition: For someone who has fallen in love, suffering because of it is an unavoidable part of human existence. When one is in love, pain is an inevitable result – in part due … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Buddhism, Iroha karuta, karma, love is sad, suffering, 因果, 惚れた
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Not applicable to Bāguázhǎng practitioners
(The “eight trigrams palm” art is 八卦掌, Japanese hakkeshou.) 握れば拳開けば掌(Nigireba kobushi hirakeba tenohira;“When clenched, a fist; when opened, a palm”) Definition: A given thing can change dramatically depending on the circumstances or even on how one thinks or feels. The … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged attitude, ba gua zhang, 開けば掌, psychological relativity, 八卦掌, 握れば拳
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Why the rich have a limited point of view
針の穴から天を覗く(Hari no ana kara ten wo nozoku;“To peer at the heavens through the eye of a needle”) Definition: Attempting to solve big, complicated problems or deal with issues requiring expertise, despite only having a small supply of knowledge. Trying to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Dunning-Kruger, eye of the needle, 針の穴, installing Linux, Iroha karuta, limits, mansplaining, overconfidence, 天を窺う, 天を覗く
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Even Perlman?
論より証拠(Ron yori shouko;“Proof over theory”) Definition: The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Things tend to be clarified more by evidence than by arguing or philosophizing about them. Concrete examples are the first step and foundation when trying … Continue reading
Skating on thin wood
板子一枚下は地獄(Itago ichimai shita wa jigoku;“One plank below is perdition”) Definition: This sailors’ saying expresses the fact that sailing is a dangerous profession, and warns them to be careful while out on the water. Only a thin bit of wood separates … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged "Getting Rich Quick in the Bering Sea"!?, Deadliest Catch, hard and dangerous work, hell, immanent danger, sailing, thalassophobia, 和船, 地獄, 板子, 一寸下, 一枚下, 三寸下
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If at first you don’t succeed…
…that’s perfectly normal, so wait. (My records show that this is the 365th kotowaza post in the series! In celebration, I decided to use a saying that includes the character 年, “year.”) 商い三年(Akinai sannen;“Business dealings, three years”) Definition: A business … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged a year of weeks, business and profit, patience, perseverance, starting something new, Things Take Time, 商い, 三年
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A cup of water onto the sand.
In the Dry Land. 爪で拾って箕で零す(Tsume de hirotte mi de kobosu;“Scraped up with the fingernails; spilled with a basket”) Definition: Some resource that was gathered slowly and with great effort over an extended period of time is used up in an … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 爪で拾う, 箕でこぼす, 箕で零す, low income high expense, money, Tehanu, wasted effort, wasted resources, 文选, 文選
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Square Eggs that Look Round
“‘My dear old fish,’ said Mr Wonka, ‘go and boil your head!’” – he probably didn’t know about this saying. 丸い卵も切りようで四角(Marui tamago mo kiriyou de shikaku;“Even a round egg can be square, depending on how you cut it.”) Definition: A … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged まるいたまご, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, 角が立つ, 言いよう, method matters, offensive phrasing, tact, watch your words, word choice, 切よう, 四角, 丸い玉子
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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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