Tag Archives: Iroha karuta

Verweilst du in der Welt, sie flieht als Traum

(Goethe) 京の夢大阪の夢(Kyou no yume Osaka no yume;“Capital dreams; Osaka dreams”) Definition: Dreams are mysterious and one can’t expect them to make any sense. Alternately, dreams are where one’s desires are most easily manifested; or by extension, a statement that different … Continue reading

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Squeezed by one’s vices

Crunch crunch crunch 粋が身を食う(Sui ga mi wo kuu;“Worldly pleasures devour the man”) Definition: Too much pleasure will destroy you. A man, specifically, who spends all his time and money on dissolution with geisha (i.e. entertainers who provide music, song and … Continue reading

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Don’t look a gift friend in the mouth

Turns out that’s kind of rude with humans too, eh 背戸の馬も相口(Sedo no uma mo aikuchi;“Even a back-entrance horse has a friend”) Definition: “Even an unruly horse can be tamed.” Even the most unfriendly, poorly-socialized person can become relatively cooperative if … Continue reading

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No rest for the nebbish

The wicked all too often have a surfeit of leisure 貧乏暇なし(Binbou hima nashi;“Poor, no rest”) Definition: The poor have no free time; when you’re poor, you have to work constantly just to meet your needs and stay alive. When you’re … Continue reading

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Smaller than an apple, at least

目の上の瘤(Me no ue no kobu;“A lump over the eye”) Definition: An eyesore; metaphorically, a person you don’t want to meet, usually because they always seem to get in your way and cause problems. Especially used for someone of higher social … Continue reading

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On covering your butt

Both literally and metaphorically… not that a fundoshi actually covers much of the butt…. 義理と褌欠かされぬ(Giri to fundoshi kakasarenu;“Underwear and courtesy cannot be left lacking”) Definition: In the old days, it was acceptable for men doing hard labor to strip down … Continue reading

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Bells with clappers and bells without

A grand excuse 竿の先に鈴(Sao no saki ni suzu;“A bell on the end of a pole”) Definition: Something especially noisy; a huge racket; by extension, when someone talks far too much. A pole is long and thin and often kind of … Continue reading

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Suddenly, given the bird

Imagine if it did just literally “stand up,” though! 足下から鳥が立つ(Ashimoto kara tori ga tatsu;“A bird takes flight at one’s feet”) Definition: An expression of startlement. Something happens suddenly close at hand, or someone abruptly begins doing an activity, especially if … Continue reading

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Only a failure to see

–Malcolm Muggeridge 闇夜に鉄砲(Yamiyo ni teppou;“A gun on a dark night”) Definition: Doing things at random without any clear plans or information. Taking shots in the dark without even a target, much less the ability to see and aim at one. … Continue reading

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Actually, don’t put a lid on it

Keep your mouth open and face the music 臭い物に蓋をする(Kusai mono ni futa wo suru;“To put a lid on something stinky”) Definition: Stopgap measures to hide misdeeds, scandal, or other inconvenient realities. The tactic is temporary, but that doesn’t stop some, … Continue reading

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