Tag Archives: classical Japanese grammar

Long before Tezuka or Dazai

Posted on March 31, 2019 by

他山の石以て玉を攻むべし (Tazan no ishi motte tama wo osamu beshi; “One must polish one’s jewels with stones from other mountains.”) Definition: A command to take someone else’s mistakes as an opportunity to reflect on and improve your own ways. “One must … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If this post is too long, I can’t say I wasn’t warned

Posted on December 23, 2018 by

雉も鳴かずば撃たれまい (Kiji mo nakazuba utaremai; “Even the pheasant, if it doesn’t cry out, won’t be shot”) Definition: Said in response to times when someone caused problems for themselves by speaking when it would have been prudent not to. An admonition … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Potholes are another story

Posted on December 2, 2018 by

盲蛇に怖じず (Mekura hebi ni ojizu; “The blind do not fear snakes”) Definition: The ignorant have no way to judge the true danger of a situation, and so take risks that more knowledgeable people would avoid. “Fools rush in where angels … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does it flip when you’re old?

Posted on November 19, 2018 by

少年老い易く学成り難し (Shounen oiyasuku gaku narigatashi; “For a youth to age is easy, and to become a scholar is hard”) Definition: People should study hard when they’re young, because time is precious and fleeting. When you’re young you feel like you … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And now you understand 90% of every samurai movie

Posted on October 1, 2018 by

武士は食わねど高楊枝 (Bushi wa kuwanedo takayouji; “Even a warrior who hasn’t eaten uses a toothpick”) Definition: A destitute warrior who hasn’t eaten nonetheless acting like they have, in order to avoid revealing weakness to any potential enemies. By extension, putting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Waft your way to a win?

Posted on July 1, 2018 by

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 , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yinstring and Yangtwine

Posted on March 25, 2018 by

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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment