Categories
- Japanese (824)
- Kotowaza (413)
- Yojijukugo (409)
- Long Fiction (6)
- Meta (11)
- Nonfiction (74)
- Poetry (13)
- Short Fiction (20)
- Uncategorized (13)
- World-Building (176)
- Miscellaneous (24)
- Rules (127)
- Setting (69)
- Japanese (824)
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Category Archives: Japanese
Once a three-year-old, always a three-year-old
[What can change the nature of a kid?] 三つ子の魂百まで (Mitsugo no tamashii hyaku made; “A child’s soul at three, until 100.”) Definition: Your character as a small child is set and does not change even if you live to be … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 百, one hundred years old, people don't change, soul, three years old, What can change the nature of a man?, 三つ子
1 Comment
Kindred spirits, thrown together
意気投合 i.ki.tou.gou Literally: mind – spirit – throw – join Alternately: Getting along with someone really well. Hitting it off. Finding a kindred spirit. Mutual understanding. Perfect concordance. Note: For some reason it’s easy for me to start thinking that … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged concordance, minions, rapport, understanding, 意気, 意気投合, 投合
3 Comments
On malicious napping
盗人の昼寝 (Nusubito no hirune; “A thief’s midday nap”) Definition: Even if an activity seems purposeless, it can still have a specific reason and purpose. Someone napping in the middle of the day may seem random, but for a thief the … Continue reading
Otherwise they’ll just make do with some energetic jumping, apparently.
Here’s one thematically similar to Sunday’s kotowaza: 窮鼠噛猫 kyuu.so.gou.byou Literally: destitute / suffering / cornered – mouse / rat – bite – cat Alternately: A cornered rat will bite at a cat. Those in desperate straits will become unexpectedly fierce. … Continue reading
What if you have your back to the future?
Today’s kotowaza, in English terms, is more of a set phrase than a “saying,” but it’s a kotowaza in Japanese none the less. 背水の陣 (Haisui no jin; “An army with its back to the water”) Definition: Having your back to … Continue reading
Three weeks until the semester ends. How are you doing?
余裕綽々 yo.yuu.shaku.shaku Literally: surplus/extra – abundant – lenient/loose – [doubling mark] Alternately: Calm; unhurried; unphased. Notes: The symbol 々 is not in and of itself a kanji. Rather, it indicates that the previous kanji is used a second time – … Continue reading
Has your son married a mouse?
Sorry for the late kotowaza post this week! Things are getting busy, and I had a heck of a time trying to come up with an example usage. Anyway, here’s a beautiful example of folk etymology run amok. 秋茄子嫁に食わすな (Akinasubi yome … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged autumn eggplant, 秋, daughter-in-law, 茄子, Japanese culture, mice, mother-in-law, 嫁
Leave a comment
You can lead a field to water, but you can’t… hang on.
我田引水 ga.den.in.sui Literally: I/self – (rice) field – pull – water Alternately: “Drawing water for one’s own field.” Serving only your own interests. Saying and doing what’s best for your convenience without consideration for others. Notes: In Japan, where wet … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged self-interest, self-serving, tragedy of the commons, 引水, 我田
1 Comment
(cf. every karaoke party ever)
This week’s saying stands in opposition to last week’s: 下手の横好き (Heta no yokozuki; “Enthusiastic but bad.”) Definition: Despite a complete and utter lack of skill, still being really into something. Fanatical about something but hopeless at it. Breakdown: 下手 (heta), … Continue reading
landofnudotcom 