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Category Archives: Japanese
Ire makes me tire
What if you studied at a 短気大学? 短気は損気 (Tanki wa sonki; “A short temper leads to loss”) Definition: People who let their tempers get the better of them end up making errors, getting into fights, and causing trouble, and ultimately … Continue reading
Also about good posture
“And you shall speak of them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” 行住坐臥 gyou.juu.za.ga Literally: go / walk – reside – sit – lie … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, contemplation on the mind-ground, daily life, 行住, four postures, 四威儀, 坐臥, 座臥, 心地観経
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Billennium?
起きて半畳寝て一畳 (Okite hanjou nete ichijou; “Half a tatami awake, one tatami asleep”) Definition: People should be satisfied when they have enough to live on, instead of hungering for unnecessary wealth and rank. There’s no point in chasing unreasonable levels of … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 畳, 韓詩外伝, 起きて半畳, Hanshi Waizhuan, satisfaction, tatami
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A wish for 2017
不偏不党 fu.hen.fu.tou Literally: not – lean – not – faction Alternately: Impartial. Unbiased. Neutral. Independent. Moved by facts, reason, and what is right and true rather than partisan bickering or blind loyalties. Notes: This compound comes from a text called … Continue reading
As we journey through this world…
…Let’s wear our hearts on sleeves unfurled (I should have written a post in advance, but yesterday was taken up largely by my sister getting married. Today’s kotowaza is in honor of that long-awaited joyous event as well as a … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged analogy, classical Japanese grammar, human kindness, Iroha karuta, journey, marriage
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Do what I say, not what I say
朝令暮改 chou.rei.bo.kai Literally: morning – command – evening – reform / change Alternately: An unstable situation where it’s never clear what the rules are or what they’re going to be, because they’re being changed so frequently. Laws or decrees being … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Book of Han, instability, Tanaka Makiko, waffling, 暮改, 朝令
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If you beat it, dust will come
Field of Dreams reference, right? Right! 叩けば埃が出る (Tatakeba hokori ga deru; “If you strike it, dust will come out.”) Definition: No matter how much you smooth over the surface of something and make it presentable, closer inspection will reveal flaws; … Continue reading
Nuts to you
Limited numbers of them, though 朝三暮四 chou.san.bo.shi Literally: morning – three – evening – four Alternately: Being fooled by the promise of profit or advantage into missing the fact that a difference or change is superficial only. Greed leading someone … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged fools, monkeys, short-sighted profit interest, Spring and Autumn period, 暮四, 朝三
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They say he only likes it when you pat his belly
仏の顔も三度 (Hotoke no kao mo sando; “Even the Buddha’s face, three times”) Definition: Even the most gentle person will become angry if you treat them poorly on a frequent enough basis (often used in reference to rude behavior). Even the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Buddha, Chikamatsu Monzaemon, 近松門左衛門, limits, patience of a saint, rudeness
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