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Tag Archives: classical Japanese grammar
Waft your way to a win?
身を捨ててこそ浮かぶ瀬もあれ (Mi wo sutete koso ukabu se mo are; “There are rivers that you cross by throwing away your body”) Definition: Sometimes facing danger head-on is the only way to escape it. There are times when you need to be … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical Japanese grammar, combat training, danger, 身を捨てる, safety, taking risks, 尤双紙, 浮かぶ瀬, 仮名草子
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Yinstring and Yangtwine
禍福は糾える縄の如し (Kafuku wa azanaeru nawa no gotoshi; “Good and ill fortune are entwined like (the strands of) a rope”) Definition: Good luck and bad luck are intimately and inextricably connected; you can’t have only one or the other. Every cloud … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical Japanese grammar, 禍福, 糾える縄, intertwined, Records of the Grand Historian, silver lining, 史記
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Book learnin’ minus brain learnin’ ain’t learnin’
But a rabbit-hole is just as dangerous. 学びて思わざれば則ち罔し (Manabite omowazareba sunawachi kurashi; “Study without consideration is nothing.”) Definition: No matter how much you study, if you don’t also think about the content of what you’re learning, you can’t actually reach … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Analects, classical Japanese grammar, 論語, study without consideration, unexamined knowledge, 則ち罔し, 学び, 思わざれば
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Pay it forward…
…until it comes back? 情けは人の為ならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu; “Compassion isn’t just for the sake of others”) Definition: Showing pity, mercy, or compassion for others isn’t just a favor you do to them; it’s for your own sake … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical Japanese grammar, compassion, what goes around, 情け, 人の為ならず
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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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A lost art?
和して同ぜず (Washite douzezu; “harmonize but not agree”) Definition: Cooperating, but only within reason. Making a point of getting along with others – but not when doing so would be at the cost of reason, truth, one’s individuality, or other important … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Analects, classical Japanese grammar, don't agree, harmonize, within reason, 同ぜず, 和して
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If you don’t study grammar, you won’t be able to confuse yourself with it
This one gets a bit technical, folks, so buckle up. 蒔かぬ種は生えぬ (Makanu tane wa haenu; “Unsown seeds do not grow”) Definition: “Nothing comes of nothing.” Things don’t happen without causes. You can’t expect to profit without doing any work. Breakdown: … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical Japanese grammar, 生えぬ, 蒔かぬ, nothing comes of nothing, seeds
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