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Category Archives: Kotowaza
Even this old man comes rolling home
枯れ木も山の賑わい (Kareki mo yama no nigiwai; “Even a dead tree adds life to a mountain”) Definition: Even something boring or drab is better than nothing at all. Even dead, withered trees give more “life” to a mountainside than if it … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged better than nothing, 謙遜, self-deprecation, 山の賑わい, 枯れ木
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Warm, but not a good oven
雪隠で饅頭 (Secchin de manjuu; “A bun in the outhouse”) Definition: Hiding away in order to enjoy something all by oneself, like squirreling oneself away in the toilet to have a snack (or go online with a smartphone, these days). Other, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged bun, eating on the toilet, 雪隠, 饅頭, secret, treating oneself
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A tail full of sound, and furry
(Told by an idiot) 大山鳴動して鼠一匹 (Taizan meidou shite nezumi ippiki; “The mountain trembles; a single mouse.”) Definition: Terrible harbingers and portents without follow-through. Much ado, after which, nothing. Especially used in reference to empty threats. Like a large mountain rumbling … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 鼠一匹, fable, hollow threats, Horace, much ado about nothing, 大山鳴動
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Emerald cufflinks on a woodchuck
猿に烏帽子 (Saru ni eboshi; “A courtier’s cap on a monkey”) Definition: When the appearance of something is all dressed up, but doesn’t match its real content. Alternately, unfitting behavior. Like putting a fancy hat of the kind that used to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 猿に烏帽子, Eboshi, hat on a monkey, hiding the truth, lipstick on a pig, unfitting behavior
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Silver tongues and golden ears
話し上手は聞き上手 (Hanashi jouzu wa kiki jouzu; “A good talker is a good listener”) Definition: The people who are truly skilled at speaking are those who listen well to others before saying their own piece. Good listening is an integral component … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged conversational skill, 聞き上手, 話し上手, good listener, 会話
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By their fruits you will know them
By their refrigerated, long-distance-shipped fruits? 悪事千里を走る (Akuji senri wo hashiru; “Bad deeds run a thousand leagues”) Definition: When you do bad things, the rumors spread rapidly throughout society. News of evildoing soon reaches a distance of a thousand ri. There’s … Continue reading
They just schlep around
毒にも薬にもならない (Doku ni mo kusuri ni mo naranai; “Neither poison nor medicine”) Definition: Something – or someone – that doesn’t matter. Something neither harmful nor beneficial; it doesn’t matter whether it’s there or not. Something that’s just kind of whatever … Continue reading
Too mad right now to come up with a witty title
I literally searched for kotowaza about betrayal 獅子身中の虫 (Shishi shinchuu no mushi; “A bug in a lion”) Definition: Someone ostensibly a member of an organization who nonetheless causes it harm. Someone who rewards kindness with enmity. Like a parasite living … Continue reading
In which 0 = 7
And (n ≥ 1) = 48 無くて七癖 (Nakute nanakuse; “None, seven quirks”) Definition: Even someone who appears completely normal has their quirks, flaws, or questionable habits. Nobody is truly ordinary or above criticism. Everybody has their own faults. Breakdown: This … Continue reading
Green grow the rushes
Oh. 急いては事を仕損じる (Seite wa koto wo shisonjiru; “To hurry is to fail”) Definition: If you rush things you’re going to make mistakes, and your attempt at speed will end up having been in vain. When pressed or pressured, be extra … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged be careful, don't rush, 通俗編, haste makes waste, 急いて, 事を損じる, 事を損ずる
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