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Tag Archives: classical Japanese grammar
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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Nothing but boss fights
(Pun) 人の振り見て我が振り直せ (Hito no furi mite waga furi naose; “Observe the behavior of others; correct your own”) Definition: An admonition to grow and improve by observing those around you. When you see good behavior, you should copy it; when you … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Analects, classical Japanese grammar, 直す, 論語, learning, mirror, negative example, positive example, 孔子, 人の振り
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Long before Tezuka or Dazai
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 Classic of Poetry, classical Japanese grammar, 玉を攻む, 詩経, learning, negative example, 他山の石, 他山之石
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If this post is too long, I can’t say I wasn’t warned
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 caution, classical Japanese grammar, 雉, 鳴かず, outspoken, tact, 撃たれまい
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Potholes are another story
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 blind, classical Japanese grammar, 盲, 蛇, fear, foolish bravery
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Does it flip when you’re old?
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 classical Japanese grammar, hard work, learning, life is short, Zhu Xi, 偶成, 学成り難, 少年老い易, 朱熹
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And now you understand 90% of every samurai movie
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 brave face, classical Japanese grammar, 高ようじ, Iroha karuta, pretense, 武士, 三船敏郎
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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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