Category Archives: Kotowaza

Not applicable to salamanders

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Confanity

飛んで火に入る夏の虫 (Tonde hi ni iru natsu no mushi; “A summer bug that flies into a flame”) Definition: Continuing forward even though doing so means rushing, or at least preceding, headlong into danger. Recklessly inviting danger. “Like a moth to a … Continue reading →

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Nosce te ipsum

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Confanity

彼を知り己を知れば百戦殆うからず (Kare wo shiri onore wo shireba hyakusen ayaukarazu; “When you know your opponent and yourself, you need not fear a hundred battles.”) Definition: If you know the strengths, weaknesses, and situation of yourself, your allies, and your foes, then … Continue reading →

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Please be true please be true please be true

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Confanity

天知る地知る我知る人知る (Ten shiru chi shiru ware shiru hito shiru; “Heaven knows; earth knows; oneself knows; people know”) Definition: Secrets and crimes will eventually come to light. Even if you think something is completely hidden, the gods of the heavens and … Continue reading →

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Tidal waves just sneaking right up on ya there

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Confanity

天災は忘れた頃にやってくる (Tensai wa wasureta koro ni yatte kuru; “Disaster comes when it has been forgotten”) Definition: Don’t let your guard down, because disasters always seem to strike exactly when you’re doing just that. The last catastrophe has faded from memory, … Continue reading →

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Gird your loins, or your chin

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Confanity

勝って兜の緒を締めよ (Katte kabuto no o wo shimeyo; “When you win, tighten your helmet-strap”) Definition: A warning to not let down one’s guard even when things seem to be going well or when one seems to have won a fight. Always … Continue reading →

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The original campsite rule

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Confanity

立つ鳥跡を濁さず (Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu; “The bird taking flight doesn’t muddy its tracks”) Definition: When you leave a place, don’t leave it a mess – leave it at least as pristine as the condition you found it in. Clean … Continue reading →

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Fake it ’til you can make a break for it?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Confanity

虎の威を借る狐 (Tora no i wo karu kitsune; “a fox borrowing a tiger’s menace”) Definition: A person without much personal authority, power, or menace, such as a child or servant, acting high and mighty due to their association with someone who … Continue reading →

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No lip-zipping for you

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Confanity

Until and unless you lead by example, perhaps 世間の口に戸は立てられない (Seken no kuchi ni to wa taterarenai; “You can’t put a door on society’s mouth”) Definition: You can’t stop people from talking. You may not like it when people repeat or … Continue reading →

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You can try it if you’d like, but…

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Confanity

Before you entrust an important job to someone with zero experience, maybe make sure the stakes aren’t too high. 習わぬ経は読めぬ (Narawanu kyou wa yomenu; “You can’t recite a Buddhist sutra you’ve never studied.”) Definition: Complicated tasks are impossible to perform … Continue reading →

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The fruit of corruption

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Confanity

As opposed to 湯から出た錆? 身から出た錆 (Mi kara deta sabi; “Tarnished from within.”) Definition: Suffering due to one’s own misdeeds, especially the bad things one has done to others. Paying for one’s mistakes; getting one’s just deserts. The image here is … Continue reading →

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