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Category Archives: Japanese
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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You have good lumber for this job!
適材適所 teki.zai.teki.sho Literally: suitable – material – suitable – place Alternately: “The right person in the right place.” Placing someone in a position or job that matches their character and skills. Finding the right person to do a given job. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 適所, 適材, infinite recursion, lumber, right job, right person, right place
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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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A single turn of the heart machine!
心機一転 shin.ki.i-.tten Literally: heart – mechanism – one – turn Alternately: A complete change (for the better) in one’s emotional state in response to something. A fresh outlook on life. Turning over a new leaf. Notes: There are many ways … Continue reading
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
Round ’em up!
一網打尽 ichi.mou.da.jin Literally: one – net – hit – use up Alternately: Arresting an entire criminal organization at once. Catching all the bad guys in one net. Notes: This one seems to come from the Song Shi.
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged all the bad guys, arrest, gay club sound event, one net, 打尽, 一網
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An autumn all the more lovely for being free of raiders from the north
This isn’t a kotowaza in the normal sense of an adage or precept; it’s just an expression. But I’ve loved it since I learned it, and thought I’d take this opportunity to share. 天高く馬肥ゆる秋 (Ten takaku uma koyuru aki; “High-heavened, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged autumn, 秋, Du Shenyan, 馬肥ゆる, fall, good weather, seasonal greetings, Xiongnu, 天高く
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There’s no sense crying over every mistake. You just keep on trying ’til you run out of cake.
試行錯誤 shi.kou.saku.go Literally: test – go / conduct – disordered – error Alternately: Trial and error. Solving a problem through repeated attempts. Notes: This seems to have been directly translated from the English “trial and error.”
On canine tautologies
(In other news, water is wet.) 犬が西向きゃ尾は東 (Inu ga nishi mukya o wa higashi; “If a dog faces west, its tail points east.”) Definition: Self-evident. Blatantly matter-of-fact. Something is so obvious that it’s barely worth mentioning. Since a dog’s tail … Continue reading
What goes up, must come down.
A continuation. 盛者必衰 jou.sha.hi-.ssui Literally: prosper – person – inevitable – decline Alternately: All those who prosper will see their fortunes wane. Even those who attain worldly success and glory will eventually fall or fade away, due to the mutable … Continue reading
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