This file contains the collected Nihon-no-kotowaza 21-30 posted to nihongo@mitvma.mit.edu and sci.lang.japan during March 1994. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#21 ----------------------------- This is one that I should pay more attention to ... ,;,,,,,, ; ; ; , , ; ; ,;' ,' ; ;, ,; ; '''''''''''''; '''';''', '; ; ''''';'''' ,,,,,,,,,,,; ,; ; '; ; ; ; ; ; ' ; ; '''''';''''' ;' ; ; ,'''';,, ; ; '; ,';, ,;' ;' ;,' ; ,; ';, ,;' ';,,,,;' ' ''' ' '''' ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ; ; ; ; ,,, ; ,,,,,, ; '''; ,;' ; ; ; ; ; ;;' ; ; ; ; ; ,; ; ; '''''' ; ,;'; ; , ; ; ; ',,;' '''''''''''''' ' (Isogaba maware) Literally: If hurried, go around Meaning: When hurried it is often faster to take a roundabout route, (ie: ``more haste, less speed'') -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#22 ----------------------------- ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,, ; ; ; ,; ,;''''; '''''''';;'''' ;''''';''''''; ; ,; '' ',,' ,;' ; ';, ; ';, ; ; ; ,,;' '';,, ,,,, ,; ; ' ; ' ; ; ; ,,,,;,,, ,,;'' ', ; ; ';, ; ';, ; ; ; ; ; ; ;, ; ' ; ' ; ; '' ''''';'''' ,;' ';,, ; ' ,,; ; ; ''' ''' , , ; ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ; ,,,,,,,,, ; ; ; ,, ; , ; ,,,,,,;,,,,, ,;' ,,;,, ; ,;'' ; ; ,,,,;,,,,, ; ; ,;' ; ,,;' ; ; ; ; ; '''''';''''' ,;''''';, ; ; ; ; ; ;''''; ; ; ,;' '; ;,, ; ; '' ; ; ; ; ,''''';,, ,'';, ; ,;' ; , ; '''''' ; ; ,; '';, ;, ; ,;' ';,,,,,;' '''''''''''''' ''''' ''''''' (Ame futte ji katamaru) Literally: rained on ground hardens Meaning: adversity builds character; this is one of the kotowaza which aging relatives impart to newlyweds :-) Incidentally, the BBC showed Alan Parker's ``Come see the Paradise'' this week. It's a film about the internment of Japanese-Americans during the second world war. I spotted two kotowaza (actually given in English) ``nana korobi, ya oki'', and ``nakitsura ni hachi''. The corrected versions of the first twenty idioms and proverbs from this series are now available from the following ftp sites. There is also a file there with the EUC code for them all. USA: ftp.uwtc.washington.edu [128.95.202.40] pub/Japanese/Kotowaza AUSTRALIA: ftp.cc.monash.edu.au [130.194.1.106] pub/nihongo/kotowaza EUROPE: kuso.shef.ac.uk [143.167.25.1] pub/japanese/kotowaza UK: aiai.ed.ac.uk [192.41.105.5] timd/kotowaza -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#23 ----------------------------- Here's another version of ``buta ni shinju'' ,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , ; ; ,,;';';,, ; ; ,; ,,,,,,, ;'''';'''' ,;' ; '; ;''''''; ; ;,,,,;,,,, ,; ;' '; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;' ; ;''''''; ; '''''''''''; ; ,;' ;' ; ;,,,, ; ; ,; ;, ;, ;, ; ''' ,,;'' ,,,,;''''''; ;,' ';,,,,,,, ' ' ' ',;' ; ' ,;, ; ; ,;' ';,, ;' ; ,,;'',,,,,,'';,, ;' ;' ,,,,,,,,,, ,'; ; ,; ; ; , , ,, ' ; ;' ;, ; ; '; ,';, ; ; ,,,,; ,;' ';,,,,;' ' ; ,;'''' '; (Uma no mimi ni nembutsu) Literally: a sutra (Buddhist prayer) in a horse's ear Meaning: a wasted effort; ``pearls before swine'' -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#24 ----------------------------- ,; , ; ,, ; ,,,,,,,,, ,;,,,;, ;''' ''';''''''' ,;' '' ' ;, ,; ;,,,;,, ,;' ;'''''; '''' ,;'; ; ''; ,;''''';, ;,,,,,; , ,; ; ,' '; ,;' '; ; ; ;,,;' ; ; ,' ,; ,'';, ; ;'''''; ; , ',,,'' ,,; ;, ; ,;' ; ,; ';,,;' ''' ''''''' ,,,,,,,;,,,,,,, , , ,,,,;' ; ,' ,;,,,;,, ,; ; ;'''''' ; ;,'; ';,,,;,,, ; ''''';'''' ; ; ; ; ; ;,,,;,,,, ; ; ; ; ; ; ',;,,,,,, ; ; ; ; ;, ; ;,,,,,,; ; ,'''';,, ; ; ; ;' ;,,,,,,;,,, ;,' ; ,; ';, ;' ; ;, ' ,' ; ; ', ,; ' '''' ,; ; ;, ; ,,,, ,,,;' ; ,,,,;'''' ; ; ';''; ,; ,,,,,,,,;,,,,,,, ; ,, ; ,' ,;,,;,;, ; ,;'''',,;'' ; ', ,,,,,,,; ,;'';, '' ,;'; ; ; ,,,,,,,; ; ; ,;' ; ; ; ', ';,,,; ;, ; '' ; ; ' ;, ,; ''''''''' ; ;' ',,,; ' ,,;' (Nou aru taka wa tsume wo kakusu) Literally: the hawk with talent hides its talons (`nou' is talent, and modifies `taka' hawk) Meaning: well, fairly obvious really ... a wise man keeps some of his talents in reserve; one shouldn't show off; the person who knows most often says least. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#25 ----------------------------- This kotowaza is well known ... ; ,,,,,,,,, ,;, , , ; ; ; ,;' ,; ';,'''';''' ,; ; ; ; ; ,;' ,;,,,,' ; ; ''''';'''' ''''';'''''' ,;''''';, '' ; ; ; ; ; ,;' '; ''';''' ; ; ; ; ; ; ,'';, ; ;, ; ; ; ; ,'''';,, ; ; ; ;, ; ,;' ' ;,,, ; ;,' ; ,; ';, '''''''''''''' ''''''' ,,;'' ,,; ' '''' ; ; ; ,,,,,,,,, ; '''''';''' ,,,,;,,, ; ,,, ,;' ''';'' ; ; ,,,,, '''; ,;' ; ,;' ; ; ,; ;;' ; ,;''''';, ,,,;'' ; ; ,; ; ,;' '; ; ; ;' ,;'; ; , ,'';, ; ; ; ,; ;, ; ',,;' ;, ; ,;' ,,; ,,; ' '''''' ' ''''''' (Deru kugi wa utareru) Literally: the nail which sticks out will get hammered Notes: (1) `deru' (to come out/stick out) modifies `kugi' (nail) (2) `utareru' is the passive form of `utsu' (to hit/strike) (3) sometimes `kui' (stake) is used instead of `kugi' Meaning: used to encourage conformity. NB: This kotowaza is used by some people (who should know better) to make glib generalisations about Japanese culture! -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza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nna sannin yoreba kashimashii) Literally: if three women visit, noisy Meaning: wherever three women gather it is noisy Notes: (1) this is a sort of pun, since the kanji for `kashimashii' (noisy/boisterous) is made up of three small kanji for woman. Interestingly, the meaning of this kanji in compounds usually implies craftiness or wickedness. Eg: kanjin = villain/scoundrel; kampu = adultress. (2) `yoreba' is a conditional form of `yoru' = to visit/drop in. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#27 ----------------------------- Here's a good `earthy' expression for you ... (``How *not* to impress your girlfriend's parents'' Part I) ,,,,,,,,,,,,, ; , , ; ; ,,,,;'''' '''';' ;, '''''''';;'''' ;'''''''''''' ; ,, ,;' ;';, ,;' ; ; ; ,;'''',,;'' ,; ; '' ,,,, ,; ; ;,,, ;,,;' '' ,;'; ; ; ,,;'' ', ; ; ; ; ,;' ; ; ,; ; ;, ;' ; ; , ;, ';, ,,; ,;' ';,, '' ,,;''' ';,,;' ''''''''' ''''' ''' ''' ,,,,,,,,,,,,, ; ; ; ; ;''';'''';'''; ; ; ;'''''''''''' ',,;' ; ' ';,;'';'';,, ; ; ''' ; '''''' ,;, ; ;, ; ''';''''; ,,;'';''''''' ,; '; ;' ; ; ; ; ''' ;'''''' ; ';' ,; ;' ;' ; , ;'''''' ',,;''; ,,; '' ,,;' ',,; ; ''' (He wo hitte, shiri tsubome) Literally: breaking wind, closing buttocks Notes: (1) `he' can also be read `onara', a fart (2) `tsubomeru' is to make narrow or to shut (3) the linking of two `-te' form verbs like this gives the idea of doing X and then doing Y Meaning: there's no use squeezing your buttocks after you have farted; ``no use shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted'' -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#28 ----------------------------- I was pleasantly surprised to find this kotowaza in Edict ''''';''';'''''' ; ,; ;, , ;''';''';''''; ; , ,,;' ';,, ,; ,,,,,,, '';''';''''''' '''''; ;, ,;' '' ''';'''''; '' ; ,;' ,;';'''';'' ,; ;;,'' ,,;' ; ; '',; ;''''; ,; ; ;, ''' ''' ; ,;; ';'''' ,; ; ';, ;'';''';'''; ; ; ; ,,;'''';' ,;' ; ';,, ; ; ; ; ;,' ';,,,,,,, ; ,,,;'';,,, ,,; '''''''''''''''' ' ,, ,,,,,,,,, ';, ; ; ; '; ; ; '' ,,,,,,,,;,,,,,,, ;,,,,,,, ;' ; ,,,, ; ; ,; ; ,,,,,,, ,;'';, ; ,; '; ,; ,;''' '; ; ; ;,; ,;;, ; ';,,,; ,; ,,;' ';,, ,,;' ,; ,;' ',,,,,,,,,,, '''' ,,;' (Fuku sui bon ni kaerazu) Literally: overturned water doesn't return to the tray Meaning: What's done is done; ``There's no use crying over spilt milk'' Notes: (1) `fuku-sui' is a compound made up of two ON readings: the KUN reading of `fuku' is `kutsukaesu' = to overturn; and the KUN reading for `sui' is of course `mizu' (2) `bon' is the same character as in the `obon' festival. (3) the `-zu' ending in `kaerazu' is a negative (like `-nai'). -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#29 ----------------------------- Similar to yesterday's one ... ; ; ; ; ; ; , ''''';'''';''''' ''''';'''';''''' ,,,;,, ,,,,;,,,, ,; ,,,,,,, ,, ;,,,,, ,' ,' ; ; ; ''' ,;', ,;' ,' ; ,, ;;', ';'''''; ; ';,, ,,;';,, ,'; ;,;'' ,'; ' ';, ,;' ; ''' ''' ' ; ; ,' ; ';' ; ; ,;' ;'''''; ; ; , ; ,;';, ;,' ';,,,,,,, ,;' ;,,,,,; ; ';,,,;' ; ,;' ';, ' ; ,,,,,,, ';, ; ; ; ; ; ,,,,,,; ; '' ,,,,,,,,;,,,,,,, ; ; ,,,,,,; ;' ; ; ; ,,,,,,,,,,, ; ,,,,,,, ,;'';, ; ; ; ; ; ,;''' '; ; ; ; ;''';'''; ; ';,,,; ;' ; ; ; ,,;' ,; ,, ,;' ' ; '' '''' ,,;' '; ,,,,,, ; ,;, ; ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, , , ; ; ; ,,,,;,,,, ,; '; ';''''';' ; '''';' ;, ; ; ; ,' ,;,,,, ,,;,,,;,, ;'''';'''''; ,;' ;';, ;''; ;,,,;,,, ; ,,,,,,, ;,,,,;,,,,,; ,; ; '' '; ; ; ; ,; ''';''' ;,,,,,; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; '; ,; ;, ; ; ;,,,,,; '';'''''''''';'' ; ,; ;,,; ;' ,;;, ' ;,, ; ; , ; ; ';, ,,; '' ,;' ';, ,;'' ,,;' ',,; ; ,,; ''''' ,,,,, ,,,,,,,, ';, ;, ; ; ; ; ; ,; ; ; '' ,,,,,;,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,;,,,,,,, ;,,,; ,;' ,,; ;' ;, ; ; ; ,,,,,,, ; ,,,,,,, ';, ,;'';, ; ; ; ; ,;''' '; ,'''''''';, ; ; ''''' ;,,,,,; ; ; ';,,,; , , , , ,,;' ';,, ,; ,;' '; '; ';, '''' ''''''' ,,;' (Rakka eda ni kaerazu, hakyou futatabi terasazu) Literally: fallen blossom doesn't return to the branch, a broken mirror can not be made to shine. Meaning: what's done is done; ``There's no use crying over spilled milk'' Notes: (1) the `ra' in `rakka' is the kanji for `otosu' (to drop/let fall), but can also be read as `ochi' (the punchline of a joke) and is also the `ra' in `rakugo' (traditional funny story telling). (2) `hakyou' is a compound of `yaburu' (to tear/break) and `kagami' (mirror) (3) `futatabi' means again/once more (4) `terasu' is a verb meaning to shine on/illuminate (eg: `teriagaru' to clear up after rain), and `-zu' is a negative ending similar to `-nai'. Interestingly the kanji is also used for shyness. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#30 ----------------------------- ,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,, ,,,, ,,,;' , ,,;,,, ; ; ';''; ,; ; '''''''';;'''' ;'''; ; ; ; ,' ,;,,;,;, ; ,;' ; ; ;''''; ; ', ,,,,,,,; ; ,; ''''' ;,,,,; ; ; ,,,,,,,; ; ; ;, ,; ; ; ; ; ', ; ,; ;, ;,;,, ';'';' ; '' ; ; ' ;, ', ,,;' ';,, ''' ,;' ';, ; ;' ',,,; ' '''' ''' ,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,, ,,,;' ;, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ';''; ,; ,,,,,;,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,;,,,,,,, ;'''''''''''' ; ,' ,;,,;,;, ;, ; ; ; ; ', ,,,,,,,; ';, ,;'';, ; ''';''''; ; ; ,,,,,,,; ,'''''''';, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ', ; ';,,,; ;' ;' ; , ; '' ; ; ' ;, ';,, ,; '' ,,;' ',,; ; ;' ',,,; ' ''''''' ,,;' (Atama kakushite, shiri kakusazu) Literally: cover/hide your head, and not cover your bottom Meaning: Don't cover your head but expose your bottom, ie: you have to be careful not to expose your weak point while attempting to protect yourself. +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Tim Duncan, AI Applications Institute, University of Edinburgh, | | 80 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1HN, Scotland, United Kingdom. | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Tel: +44 31 650 2747 Email: timd@ed.ac.uk FAX: +44 31 650 6513 | +------------------------------------------------------------------+