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Category Archives: Kotowaza
Batman in a town without Birdman?
鳥無き里の蝙蝠 (Tori naki sato no koumori; “A bat in a village without birds”) Definition: When there are no exceptional people present, ordinary schmucks will talk big and throw their weight around. My sources compare it to “In the land of … Continue reading
Fortunately, this blog is a complete auteur project….
船頭多くして船山に登る (Sendou ooku shite fune yama ni noboru; “With many boatmen, a ship will climb a mountain”) Definition: Too many cooks spoil the both. With too many crew members trying to steer, a ship can become so lost that it … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged boatmen, 船頭, Kefukigusa, Makioka Sisters, mountain, ship, too many cooks, 山登る
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Play it again, Sam – ?
I like this kotowaza so much, I think I’ll post it next week too! 馬鹿の一つ覚え (Baka no hitotsu oboe; “The one thing a fool remembers”) Definition: “He that knows little often repeats it.” A foolish person clings to one thing, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 馬鹿, fool, one thing, quantum mechanics, repetition, 一つ覚え
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Now I’m caught on the phrase “ear-spoon.”
Counterpoint: 杓子は耳掻きにならず (Shakushi wa mimikaki ni narazu; “A ladle can not be used as an ear-spoon.”) Definition: This saying directly opposes last week’s 大は小を兼ねる. It declares that a larger thing can not necessarily fulfill the role of a smaller one, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged don't overdo it, ear-spoon, 耳掻き, ladle, large small, 杓子
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That’s what she said?
大は小を兼ねる (Dai wa shou wo kaneru; “The large does the work of the small”) Definition: Something that is more can do the work of something that is less. Better too much than too little. It is possible to use a … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged large, redundancy, small, too much is better than not enough, 大は小を兼ねる
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“Because when I get angry, even flies don’t dare to fly!”
地震雷火事親父 (Jishin kaminari kaji oyaji; “Earthquake, thunder, fire, father”) Definition: Scary things. The first and third are self-explanatory for an earthquake-prone archipelago that was home, especially by the end of the Edo era, to dense urban centers built almost entirely … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 火事, earthquake, 雷, 親父, father, fire, patriarchy, scary things, thunder, 地震
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Always look on the bright side of life [whistling]
笑う門には福来る (Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru; “Good fortune comes to laughing gates.”) Definition: Fortune and happiness, or good luck, come to the homes of those who are always smiling and laughing. A positive attitude attracts positive events. Life is … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 福, 笑う, 門, good fortune, laughter, positive outlook
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But wouldn’t a forest be a mountain’s “cover”?
山高きが故に貴からず (Yama takaki ga yue ni tattokarazu; “The mountain is not valued for being high.”) Definition: Don’t judge situations based on superficial qualities, but by their essential nature. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Don’t value a mountain just … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged book by its cover, 高き, 貴からず, mountain, value, 実語教, 山
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The danger of mouth-sweat
綸言汗の如し (Ringen ase no gotoshi; “Imperial words are like sweat.”) Definition: Words, like sweat, cannot be put back where they came from. Once a ruler has issued a command or decree, it cannot be changed or undone. Implicit in this … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Book of Han, can't be taken back, 綸言, imperial words, sweat, 汗
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cf. 飛龍昇天破 (Hiryuu-shouten-ha)
旭日昇天の勢い (Kyokujitsu shouten no ikioi; “[with] the force of the rising sun”) Definition: Vigorous, energetic, and forceful like the sun rising in the morning sky toward its zenith. Breakdown: 旭 by itself can be read asahi, “morning sun.” 旭日 (kyokujitsu) … Continue reading
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