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Category Archives: Kotowaza
An almost-luxurious oppression
Nobody tell the Merovingian. 真綿で首を絞める(Mawata de kubi wo shimeru;“To strangle with silk floss”) Definition: Pressure or harm that comes at someone gradually or indirectly, rather than as an overt attack or dramatic event. Breakdown: We begin with the noun 真綿 … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 真綿, 粘綿, damage over time, 首絞め, indirect harm, micro-aggression, passive aggressioin, silk, silk production, 浮世草子
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Only a failure to see
–Malcolm Muggeridge 闇夜に鉄砲(Yamiyo ni teppou;“A gun on a dark night”) Definition: Doing things at random without any clear plans or information. Taking shots in the dark without even a target, much less the ability to see and aim at one. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged arbitrary action, つぶて, 鉄砲, 闇夜, Iroha karuta, random flailing, shooting, the value of planning
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Actually, don’t put a lid on it
Keep your mouth open and face the music 臭い物に蓋をする(Kusai mono ni futa wo suru;“To put a lid on something stinky”) Definition: Stopgap measures to hide misdeeds, scandal, or other inconvenient realities. The tactic is temporary, but that doesn’t stop some, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged a reckoning will not be postponed indefinitely, crime, 臭いもの, 臭い物, 蓋をする, hiding the truth, Iroha karuta, scandal, temporary measures, 双蝶蝶曲輪日記, 浄瑠璃
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Too hot for a cold reading
“Philosophers / must ultimately find / their true perfection // in knowing all / the follies of mankind / -by introspection.” – Piet Hein, Grooks, “The Ultimate Wisdom.” 陰陽師身の上知らず(On’youji mi no ue shirazu;“The diviner knows not their own fate”) Definition: … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged blind spot, 知らない, divination, 陰陽師, 身の上, fortune-telling, Grooks, Iroha karuta, Onmyoudou, self-awareness
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The hammer of kindness
鑿と言えば槌(Nomi to ieba tsuchi;“When [asked for] a chisel, [one also brings a] mallet”) Definition: To be intelligent and thoughtful in all things – as a description, or as an imperative. If someone asks you to bring them a chisel, having … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged chisel, consideration, 鑿, hammer, Iroha karuta, mallet, understanding, 槌
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“Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to.”
For better or for worse… or for just vaguely smelly 鰯の頭も信心から(Iwashi no atama mo shinjin kara;“Even a sardine’s head, from faith”) Definition: Faith works in mysterious ways; faith is kind of weird if you stop to think about it. Even … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged イワシの頭, Buddhism, 鰯の頭, faith, fish heads, Iroha karuta, irrational belief, magical thinking, sardines, Setsubun, 信心
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Out of the wrong, something sweet
嘘から出た実(Uso kara deta makoto;“Truth that came from a lie”) Definition: Something that was said as a lie or joke turns out to be true after all. Note that this applies to coincidences and accidental truths, not “fake it ‘til you … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged まこと, Iroha karuta, irony, joke, lies, truth, unexpected result, 嘘から, 実
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