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Category Archives: Kotowaza
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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Forget little spoon; do you want to be the lid?
割れ鍋に綴じ蓋 (Warenabe ni tojibuta; “A mended lid on a cracked pot”) Definition: Everybody has their match; no matter how out-of-place a person may feel, there is someone out there who would make a good spouse, friend, or other sort of … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged a good match, 破れ鍋, 綴じ蓋, flaws, hot pot, imperfect, Iroha karuta, 割れ鍋
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The taste of a beetle
蓼食う虫も好き好き (Tade kuu mushi mo sukizuki; “Even the bug who eats knotweed likes it”) Definition: Yet again, “different people have different tastes.” A person can like a thing that you don’t (or vice-versa), and that’s okay. Even spicy plants have … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged ホタルハムシ, differences, 蓼の虫, knotweed, matter of taste, spice, 好き好き
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Any shape other than the actual shape, really
四角な座敷を丸く掃く (Shikaku na zashiki wo maruku haku; “To sweep a circle in a square room”) Definition: To shirk; to cut corners; to do a bad job at something because you put in the bare minimum of thought and effort. Like … Continue reading
It ain’t no thing
– but an unfelt sting 鹿の角を蜂が刺す (Shika no tsuno wo hachi ga sasu; “A wasp stings a deer’s antler”) Definition: In literal terms, this phrase refers to something that doesn’t even tickle or itch, much less hurt; something that elicits … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 蜂が刺す, 鹿の角, pain, unfeeling, unrepentant, willfully ignorant
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Hasty digging in the Mines of Morai
慌てる乞食は貰いが少ない (Awateru kojiki wa morai ga sukunai; “A beggar in a hurry receives little alms”) Definition: Haste makes waste; slow and steady wins the race. Rushing about or fighting to get in the door first, especially in pursuit of profit, … Continue reading
All eyes upon you, Masao-kun
弱り目に祟り目(Yowarime ni tatarime; “In a time of weakness, a curse”) Definition: To be beset by compounded troubles when things were already bad. To be kicked when you’re down. Having salt rubbed on your wounds. Things were already worrisome, then they … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged bad luck, 祟り目, 落ち目, misfortune, Nichijou, 弱り目, 日常
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