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Tag Archives: Iroha karuta
All ties weird and wonderful
A red thread binds them all? 縁は異なもの味なもの (En wa i na mono aji na mono; “A relationship is a strange thing, a wondrous thing”) Definition: The ties that bind two people together are mysterious, inexplicable, and often pleasantly weird. This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Chikamatsu Monzaemon, 異なもの, 縁, 近松, fated lovers, Iroha karuta, relationships, romantic destiny, unexpected, 味なもの, 浄瑠璃, 丹波与作待夜の小室節
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Forget little spoon; do you want to be the lid?
割れ鍋に綴じ蓋 (Warenabe ni tojibuta; “A mended lid on a cracked pot”) Definition: Everybody has their match; no matter how out-of-place a person may feel, there is someone out there who would make a good spouse, friend, or other sort of … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged a good match, 破れ鍋, 綴じ蓋, flaws, hot pot, imperfect, Iroha karuta, 割れ鍋
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When the bones are bad
…the rest is needed 骨折り損の草臥れ儲け (Honeori zon no kutabire mouke; “Bone-breaking loss and a profit of weariness”) Definition: Working hard without any reward. Bone-breaking labor with no fruits but exhaustion. A wasted effort or thankless task. Breakdown: It turns out … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged くたびれ, Classic of Poetry, exhaustion, 詩経, 骨折り, 诗经, Iroha karuta, Maren Morris, waste
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Kenshi’s gambit
背に腹は代えられぬ (Se ni hara wa kaerarenu; “The belly can’t take the place of the back”) Definition: If something is vitally important, than other things may need to be sacrificed on its behalf, even if they are also important in their … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 背に腹, 背より腹, gambit, hard choices, Iroha karuta, sacrifice, trivia
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Like an agate in the rough?
Or gold, silver, seashell, pearl, carnelian… 瑠璃も玻璃も照らせば光る (Ruri mo hari mo teraseba hikaru; “Lapis and quartz both shine if illuminated”) Definition: People of good character or exceptional ability will stand out and reveal their worth no matter where they go … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged いろはカルタ, 無量寿経, 照らせば光る, 玻璃, 瑠璃, Iroha karuta, lapis lazuli, meritocracy, quartz, 法華経
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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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Paul Ryan’s next plan for American health care
Nah, it would still cost rich people a bit of money. 二階から目薬 (Nikai kara megusuri; “Eye medicine from the second floor”) Definition: A frustrating situation where things don’t go as you want. Alternately, a roundabout way of doing things that … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 目薬, eye drops, frustration, Iroha karuta, useless, 尻炙る
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The sunny ant of the high seas
待てば海路の日和あり (Mateba kairo no hiyori ari; “If you wait, there will be ideal weather on the sea-routes”) Definition: Good things come to those who wait. Do your best to endure when things are bad, because they will get better. Even … Continue reading
Cheap is dear, but deer don’t cheep
For those counting, this is the 200th kotowaza! To celebrate, we’re… doing nothing special! 安物買いの銭失い (Yasumonogai no zeniushinai; “Losing money by buying cheap”) Definition: Especially cheap things tend to be poorly made; they fail to perform their functions properly, or … Continue reading
Hearing is dreaming, seeing is believing?
Speech is silver, experience is lead 聞いて極楽見て地獄 (Kiite gokuraku mite jigoku; “Hearing is heaven, seeing is hell”) Definition: When you only hear about something second-hand it may sound amazing, but experiencing it personally is another matter. Use this saying in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged hearsay, Iroha karuta, Naraku, reality, Sukhavati, 地獄, 極楽
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