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Category Archives: Japanese
The curse of the wart-cure??
ミイラ取りがミイラになる (Miiratori ga miira ni naru; “The mummy-hunter becomes a mummy”) Definition: A person, sent to get someone and bring them back, themselves ends up staying away. A person who goes to convince someone of something ends up being convinced … Continue reading
Better than “Six days a sacrifice”
And on the morning of the third day, he said, “Ugh.” 三日坊主 mi-.kka.bou.zu Literally: three – day – priest – master Alternately: Giving up on something after only trying it out for a little while. Alternately, someone who has trouble … Continue reading
An uncracked egg never omelettilates
蒔かぬ種は生えぬ (Makanu tane wa haenu; “Unsown seeds don’t sprout”) Definition: Nothing happens without a reason for it to happen. Nothing comes of nothing. Plants don’t grow without seeds. Alternately, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Nothing comes … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 生えぬ, 蒔かぬ種, grow, Kefukigusa, sprout, unsown seeds, 毛吹草
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A random generator for political comments
On one website that I visit once in a blue moon or two, there’s a silly little internet game you can play where you type a string of characters (it’s supposed to be a name, but what’s stopping you from … Continue reading
‘Tis but a flesh wound. Okay, twenty flesh wounds.
満身創痍 man.shin.sou.i Literally: full – person – start/injury – injury Alternately: One’s entire body is covered in wounds. (The specific image is having been cut many times by bladed weapons.) Hurt through and through. By extension, being in a psychic … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged entire body, injury, Man of Wounds, wounded, 創痍, 満身
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Like a room without books
Unless it’s a room where books aren’t appropriate. Look, talk to Cicero. 仏作って魂入れず (Hotoke tsukutte tamashii irezu; “Making a Buddha; leaving out the soul”) Definition: Technically finishing something, but leaving out a vital element, even the most important part. Something … Continue reading
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
…Whatever that means. 捧腹絶倒 hou.fuku.ze-.ttou Literally: lift up – belly – sever – fall Alternately: Something is incredibly funny. Laughing so hard that one needs to hold one’s sides to avoid hurting oneself. Notes: Replacing 捧 with homophone 抱 (“to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 絶倒, horse racing, laughing out loud, Shǐjì, very funny, 捧腹
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And my xiphoid process is a blender!
臍で茶を沸かす (Heso de cha wo wakasu; “Boil tea in the belly button”) Definition: Something is so funny – or by extension, so hilariously stupid – that you can’t stand it. The image is of laughter so paroxysmal and intense that … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged へそで茶, belly button, boil tea, 臍茶, hilarious, mockery
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More genuine than genuflection?
For more pointers, watch this video. These guys are absolutely amazing when it comes to explaining Japanese culture. 平身低頭 hei.shin.tei.tou Literally: flat – body – low – head Alternately: Extreme apology or gratitude. From the literal image of kowtowing; kneeling … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged apology, bowing, Chinese grasshopper, kowtow, The Ramens, 平身, 低頭
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I wouldn’t wish it on a dog
夫婦喧嘩は犬も食わぬ (Fuufu genka wa inu mo kuwanu; “Even a dog doesn’t eat a husband-wife fight”) Definition: Fights between marital partners are based on small issues that seem ridiculous to outsiders but can become emotionally charged. Then they quickly blow over and the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical grammar, couple fight, 犬も食わぬ, even a dog, 喧嘩, 夫婦
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