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Tag Archives: Iroha karuta
Even super-firm
豆腐に鎹(Toufu ni kasugai;“A wood-clamp in tofu”) Definition: Attempting something that’s guaranteed to produce no meaningful response or results. An utterly ineffectual action, like using a construction-strength fastener on an ultra-soft material like tofu. Like talking to a brick wall, or … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged かすがい, 鎹, 豆腐, futility, ineffectual, Iroha karuta, 仮名文章娘節用
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A Scandanavian problem
惚れたが因果(Horeta ga inga;“The lover’s lot is karma”) Definition: For someone who has fallen in love, suffering because of it is an unavoidable part of human existence. When one is in love, pain is an inevitable result – in part due … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Buddhism, Iroha karuta, karma, love is sad, suffering, 因果, 惚れた
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Why the rich have a limited point of view
針の穴から天を覗く(Hari no ana kara ten wo nozoku;“To peer at the heavens through the eye of a needle”) Definition: Attempting to solve big, complicated problems or deal with issues requiring expertise, despite only having a small supply of knowledge. Trying to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Dunning-Kruger, eye of the needle, 針の穴, installing Linux, Iroha karuta, limits, mansplaining, overconfidence, 天を窺う, 天を覗く
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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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