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Tag Archives: Iroha karuta
Too hot for a cold reading
“Philosophers / must ultimately find / their true perfection // in knowing all / the follies of mankind / -by introspection.” – Piet Hein, Grooks, “The Ultimate Wisdom.” 陰陽師身の上知らず(On’youji mi no ue shirazu;“The diviner knows not their own fate”) Definition: … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged blind spot, 知らない, divination, 陰陽師, 身の上, fortune-telling, Grooks, Iroha karuta, Onmyoudou, self-awareness
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The hammer of kindness
鑿と言えば槌(Nomi to ieba tsuchi;“When [asked for] a chisel, [one also brings a] mallet”) Definition: To be intelligent and thoughtful in all things – as a description, or as an imperative. If someone asks you to bring them a chisel, having … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged chisel, consideration, 鑿, hammer, Iroha karuta, mallet, understanding, 槌
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“Faith is believing in something when common sense tells you not to.”
For better or for worse… or for just vaguely smelly 鰯の頭も信心から(Iwashi no atama mo shinjin kara;“Even a sardine’s head, from faith”) Definition: Faith works in mysterious ways; faith is kind of weird if you stop to think about it. Even … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged イワシの頭, Buddhism, 鰯の頭, faith, fish heads, Iroha karuta, irrational belief, magical thinking, sardines, Setsubun, 信心
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Out of the wrong, something sweet
嘘から出た実(Uso kara deta makoto;“Truth that came from a lie”) Definition: Something that was said as a lie or joke turns out to be true after all. Note that this applies to coincidences and accidental truths, not “fake it ‘til you … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged まこと, Iroha karuta, irony, joke, lies, truth, unexpected result, 嘘から, 実
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Thoughtful social distancing
遠慮会釈en.ryo.e.shaku Literally: far – thought – meet – explain Alternately: Holding back and thinking of others; reserve and consideration. Notes: This is a compound of compounds; 遠慮 is “discretion,” “restraint,” and 会釈 is “thoughtfulness (for the sake of others.” These … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged お辞儀, bowing, careful thought, consideration, 遠慮, Iroha karuta, kludges, orthography, restraint, 会釈
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Maybe that’s why we always wear our hats
夜目遠目笠の内(Yome toome kasa no uchi;“Seen at night; seen from afar; wearing a hat”) Definition: This phrase asserts that women are most beautiful when seen in the dark, or from a distance, or when mostly obscured by something like a large … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 笠の内, 笠の下, 遠目, imagination versus reality, Iroha karuta, mind's eye, sexism, 夜目, 山越し, 山城の国畜生塚, 毛吹草
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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may
and sleds are still a-flying 若い時は二度無い(Wakai toki wa nido nai;“There is no second youth”) Definition: You only have your youth once, so it’s best to get out there and do stuff wholeheartedly while you still have the time and energy. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Citizen Kane, 若い内, 若い時, Iroha karuta, limited time, opportunity, Robert Herrick, Wen Xuan, youth, 当世銀持気質, 文选, 文選, 二度無い
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The only thing worse than kanabou
Like so. 鬼の女房に鬼神(Oni no nyoubou ni kijin;“For an oni’s wife, a female oni”) Definition: The woman who becomes an awful man’s wife will tend to be awful as well. A married couple will tend to resemble each other – even … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged たまかつま, たまがつま, 玉勝間, Iroha karuta, marriage, Motoori Norinaga, oni, 本居 宣長
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