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Tag Archives: Chinese Antiquity
Seven is just the beginning!
子子孫孫shi.shi.son.son Literally: child – child – grandchild – grandchild Alternately: One’s children and grandchildren; one’s descendants; posterity; until the end of history. Notes: Each repeated character may be written with the repetition mark 々; the second 孫 (in either form) … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Book of Documents, Chinese Antiquity, descendants, generations, to the last syllable of recorded time, 子々, 子子, 孫々, 孫孫, 書経, 書經, 书经
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A lance where your chin should be
枕戈待旦 chin.ka.tai.tan Literally: pillow – “spear”* – wait – sunrise Alternately: Always ready to give battle. Never dropping your guard or slacking off from necessary preparations. “Sleeping with a weapon as your pillow, awaiting the break of dawn.” Notes: This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged battle-ready, be prepared, Book of Jin, Chinese Antiquity, unusual pillows, 待旦, 晉書, 晋書, 晋书, 枕戈
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Soldiers are for war, not for peaceful protests
(Another saying that features 焉. Next week we’ll have something different, I promise.) 鶏を割くに焉んぞ牛刀を用いん (Niwatori wo saku ni izukunzo gyuutou wo mochiin; “Why use a cow-cleaver to cut up a chicken?”) Definition: There’s no need to use powerful tools, or … Continue reading
Ambition is for the birds
燕雀安くんぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや (Enjaku izukunzo koukoku no kokorozashi wo shiran ya; “How could the swallow or sparrow understand the goose or swan?”) Definition: People of lowly character or small ability don’t, and can’t, understand the thought processes and ambitions of those with … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged birds, Chinese Antiquity, classical Japanese grammar, 燕雀, 鴻鵠, large small, Records of the Grand Historian, understanding, 史記, 史记, 安くんぞ
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Selfless love
Like, literally selfless and universal 兼愛無私 ken.ai.mu.shi Literally: already / and – love – no – self / I Alternately: Equal affection for all people, without drawing lines between oneself and the Other. Universal love without bias or petty tribalism. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, 無私, 私無し, 荘子, 莊周, selfless, unbiased, universal love, 兼愛, 庄周
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Exceeding fines
信賞必罰 shin.shou.hitsu.batsu Literally: fidelity – prize/reward – inevitable – punishment Alternately: Sure reward and certain punishment. Strict, unfailing, and proper apportionment of just deserts, both boons and banes. Notes: This phrase comes to us from the Han Feizi (the『韓非子』= Japanese … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, 韓非子, politics, prize, punishment, reward, rulership, 必罰, 信賞
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Men, said the Devil
…They don’t want to mend their own ways, but each other’s* 六国を滅ぼす者は六国なり (Rikkoku wo horobosu mono wa rikkoku nari; “The one who destroys the six countries, is the six countries”) Definition: When a nation falls, it usually isn’t ultimately due … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged blame, Chinese Antiquity, destruction, gaming, Grooks, self-awareness, 六国, 戦国, 滅ぼす者
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landofnudotcom 
Does this ring any bells?
Not for those who refuse to hear! 耳を掩い*て鐘を盗む (Mimi wo ooite kane wo nusumu; “To cover one’s ears and steal a bell”) *See Notes for an important comment on pronunciation! Definition: When you think you’ve hidden something – usually something … Continue reading →