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Category Archives: Kotowaza
On the benefits of job security
Or ego security, perhaps. 名人は人を謗らず (Meijin wa hito wo soshirazu; “The master speaks not ill of others”) Definition: True masters of their art do not go out of their way to find fault with others. If you are an expert, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 謗る, mastery, self-confidence, Strategies of the Warring States, 名人, 戦国策
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Keep your debrief brief
敗軍の将は兵を語らず (Haigun no shou wa hei wo katarazu; “The defeated commander speaks not of war.”) Definition: Someone who has failed at something has no authority to speak on the topic; a defeated general should not give their opinions on warfare. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged excuses, 謀る, lessons of defeat, Records of the Grand Historian, sore loser, 兵を語る, 史記, 史记, 敗軍の将
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Darkened minds are worse than darkened eyes
真の闇より無闇が怖い (Shin no yami yori muyami ga kowai; “Thoughtlessness is more frightening than pitch darkness”) Definition: Being caught in utter darkness is scary, because you can’t be sure where everything is, or even what actually is and isn’t there at … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged a clear choice, 無闇, 真の闇, darkness, the value of planning, thoughtless, 怖い
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A leaf on the wind; watch how it soars
一葉落ちて天下の秋を知る (Ichiyou ochite tenka no aki wo shiru; “A leaf falls, and one knows autumn”) Definition: Sensing something big coming on from a relatively minor hint. Understanding the future from the very first signs. Like realizing that fall is on … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged autumn, 秋を知る, 落ち葉, glimpses of the future, omens and portents, 桐一葉, 淮南子, 一葉
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A skeleton in every closet
A monster under every bed 人を見たら泥棒と思え (Hito wo mitara dorobou to omoe; “When you see someone, think them a thief”) Definition: Don’t blindly trust strangers. A proverb advising the listener to protect themselves by doubting and confirming, rather than naively … Continue reading
All ties weird and wonderful
A red thread binds them all? 縁は異なもの味なもの (En wa i na mono aji na mono; “A relationship is a strange thing, a wondrous thing”) Definition: The ties that bind two people together are mysterious, inexplicable, and often pleasantly weird. This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Chikamatsu Monzaemon, 異なもの, 縁, 近松, fated lovers, Iroha karuta, relationships, romantic destiny, unexpected, 味なもの, 浄瑠璃, 丹波与作待夜の小室節
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Some people just want things that don’t burn
沈香も焚かず屁もひらず (Jinkou mo takazu he mo hirazu; “Neither burning agarwood incense nor loosing a fart”) Definition: A person (or lifestyle) without any particular good or bad points; someone who causes no harm but is exceedingly mediocre. Someone with, metaphorically speaking, … Continue reading
The disaster’s antecedent
蟻の穴から堤も崩れる (Ari no ana kara tsutsumi mo kuzureru; “Even a dike crumbles due to an ant’s burrow”) Definition: Big events can arise from small causes. Specifically, even errors, negligence, or lack of attention or preparation that didn’t seem important at … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged ant nest, catastrophe, 韓非子, 韩非子, 蟻の穴, for want of a nail, Han Fei, tiny flaw, 堤も崩れる
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“It is useless to meet revenge with revenge; it will heal nothing.”
(J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King) 彼方を立てれば此方が立たず (Achira wo tatereba kochira ga tatazu; “If one raises that side, this side will not rise.”) Definition: It’s difficult, almost impossible, to get all sides of something equally accepting and happy about … Continue reading →