This file contains the collected Nihon-no-kotowaza #31-40 posted to nihongo@mitvma.mit.edu and sci.lang.japan between April and June 1994. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#31 ----------------------------- I saw another book on kotowaza while I was in Japan. It was called `Izumi no Kotowaza' (a fountain of proverbs) but I can't remember the author. He had attempted to give equivalents in English, French, and German. A good idea, but unfortunately a bit misleading sometimes. There was one proverb which I really liked (although the Japanese appeared to say something completely different!). It was: ``wise men make proverbs and fools repeat them'' :-) Anyway, here's a different one ... , ; , , '; ,,,;,,, ';, ; ; '; ,,;' ,; '' ; ; ';,;'' ; ; ; , ; ,;' ;' ; ;' ; ;' '' ,,,,; ;' ;, ; ,;';, ,;' '''''''''' '''' ''' ; ; , ; ,,;';';,, '''';'''''';'''' ; ; ,;' ; '; ' ; ' ;'''';''''''' ,; ;' '; ,,,,,,;,,,,,, ,;' ; ; ;' ; ,;' ,,,,,;,,,,,, ; ,;' ;' ,,;' ; ''' ,,;'' ,,,;'' ; ''' ''''';,,,,, '''''''''''''''' , , ; ,; ; '''''';''''''' ; , ; ''''';'''' ''''';'''''' ; ';, ; ; '''''''''''''''' ; ;, ; ; ;''''''''; ; ; ; ,'''';,, ;''''''''; '; ,; ' ;,' ; ,; ';, ;''''''''; ';' ' '''' ; ,,; (Tonari no shibafu wa aoi) Literally: the neighbour's lawn is green Meaning: ``the grass is always greener on the other side'' Notes: (1) the `wa' marks the neighbour's lawn, thus implying comparison. (2) `aoi' here means `is green', -i adjectives do not require a verb. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#32 ----------------------------- This one is quite difficult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ingen banji saiou ga uma) Literally: humans everything `Saiou' horse Meaning: All human affairs are like `Saiou's horse; One's fortune/luck is unpredictable and changeable. Notes: ``Saiou ga uma'' refers to an old story about a man and a horse, where what at first appears to be good luck turns out to be bad luck. (Maybe someone else can enlighten us on this story?) [...] I got a couple of replies to Nihon-no-kotowaza#32 relating the story of ``Saiou ga uma''. It appears that it was an old Chinese folk take about an old man called Sai (the `-ou', also read as `okina', means `old man'). The story goes that one day his horse broke down the fence and ran away. When his neighbours heard, they commiserated with him over his misfortune, but he said `How do you know this is not really good luck?'. A few days later the horse returned, bringing another horse with it. However when his neighbours congratulated him on his good luck, the old man said `How do you know this is really good luck?' Sure enough, some while later Sai's son falls while riding the horse, and breaks his leg. However this turns out to be good fortune when all the young men of the village are ordered to join the Emperor's army. Sai's son doesn't have to go since he has a broken leg. Thanks to Naoki Shibata and Karen S. Chung for replying. Also Dave Huntsman points out that the Canon Wordtank translates ``Ningen banji, saiou ga uma'' as ``Inscrutable are the ways of heaven''. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#33 ----------------------------- This one is for Mr Tomoyuki `Tanaka is my family name' Tanaka, who was wondering whether he should write his name as "Tanaka Tomoyuki" or "Tomoyuki Tanaka" when using Romaji. ,; ,,,,, ,,,,, , ,,,,, ,; ; ; ; ,; ,; ,,,,,,, ; ', ; ;'''; ; ,; ; ; ;' ;,,,; ; ', ; ,;, ,,,, ;' ; ; ; ; ; ;, ,,;'' ', '''; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;' ;, ; ;' ;,;'; ; ,,; ;,' ';,,,,,,, ,;' ';, ,;' ,;' '' ; ' ,,;' ';,, ''' , , ,; ,,,,, ,,,,, , '''''''';;'''' ,; ; ,; ; ; ; ,; ,; ,,,,,,, ,;' ; ''''';'''' ', ; ;'''; ; ,; ; ,; ; ; ;' ;,,,; ; ', ; ; ; ; ;' ; ; ; ; ;, ; ,'''';,, '''; ; ; ; ; ; ; ';,, ;,' ; ,; ';, ;' ;,;'; ; ,,; ;,' ';,,,,,,, ''' ' '''' ,;' '' ; ' ,; ;, ,; ';,, ,; ; ; ''' '' , ''''';''''' ''''''';' ;' , ; ,' ,;; ; ;'''' ,;,, ; ; ; ,;' ; ; ;';,; ,;' ;, ; ,;' '';,,, ''''' (Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae) Literally: Entering the village, obey the village Meaning: ``When in Rome, do as the Romans'' Notes: (1) the `wa' topicalizes the first clause, so this could be translated `Concerning entering a village, ...' or more naturally `When entering a village ...' (2) `gou' is a village or district or country (3) `shitagae' is the direct imperative of `shitagau' (to obey). -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#34 ----------------------------- This `kotowaza' came to mind when I visited Japan recently -- it seems that `hanami' is usually just a good excuse for eating and drinking lots :-) (Thanks to John Allen for reminding me). ; ; ; , , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,, ''''';'''';''''' ; ; ; ; , ; ,;' ,' ,' ;''''' ; ; ; ,,,,,,,;,, ; ,;' ,' ; ,, ; ; , ; ; , ; ; ,,,,,,,;,,,,,,,, ,'; ;,;'' ; ;' ; ; '; ; ; ; ' ; ; ,''''';,, ;' ; ; ; ; ; ; , ; ,; '';, ,;' ; ''' ; ; ; ';,,,;' ''''' ''' '''''''''''''' ,,; (Hana yori dango) Literally: dumplings rather than flowers Meaning: people are generally more interested in the food than the flowers (ie: the practical over the aesthetic) Notes: the particle `yori' is used for comparison, eg: ``Igirisu yori Nihon wa atatakai desu''(Japan is warmer than England). -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#35 ----------------------------- Here's one that I just learned from the back of a packet of `kakinotane' (rice cracker and peanut snack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ade kuu mushi mo suki-zuki) Literally: knotweed eating insect also various tastes Meaning: There is even an insect which likes to eat knotweed, ie: ``there's no accounting for tastes'' Notes: (1) `tade' is a bitter tasting plant (I've been told) (2) `kuu' is another (informal) reading for `taberu' (3) `suki-zuki' means various tastes (personal preferences), and is formed by doubling the kanji for `like', just as `toki-doki' (`sometimes') is formed by doubling the kanji for `time', and `tokoro-dokoro' (`here and there/various places') is formed by doubling the kanji for `place'. `Sore wa suki-zuki da' = `That's a matter of taste' -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#36 ----------------------------- , ; , ,,,, ,;, ; ';, ; ,;' ; ; ,;' ';, ;''';'''''' ,,;';';,, '; ; ;' ; ,',;' ''' ';, ,;' ; ,;' ; '; ,,,,,,,;,,,,,,,, ; ', ''''';' ,,,,,,,;,,,,,,,, ,; ;' '; ; ; ; ; ,,,,;,, ; ; ; ;' ; ,; ; ; ;,,,,,,,,,,, ;' '; ; ,;' ;' ,; ; , ; '' ; , ,;' ';, ''' ,,;'' ,,;' ';,,,;' ; ,;,,;''';, ,,;' ';,, ; ; , , ''''''''' '; ; '; ,,;' ; ';,;'' ; ,;' ; ;, ;' ; ,; '';,,,,,,,, ;, ', ,,;' '''''''''' '''' (Kouin ya no gotoshi) Literally: time, like an arrow Meaning: ``Time flies like an arrow'' (and fruit flys like a banana :-) ``Time and tide wait for no man'', ie: life is short. Notes: (1) `Kouin' is made up of two kanji: light and shade, hence the passing of time. (2) There is an implicit `wa' after `kouin'. (3) The phrase `X no gotoshi' can be translated as `like X' -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#37 ----------------------------- Here is a proverb about ``things which should be feared'' , , ; ''''';'''''' ,,,,,,,,,,,, ; ; ; ,, ;''''';''''''; ,,,,,,;,,,,,,, ,,;,, ; ,;'' ; ; ''' ; '''' ; ; ,,, ; ,,,, ; ; ,,;' ; ; ''' ' '''' ' ,,, ; ,,,, ' ; ; ; ; ;''''''''''''' ,,,,,,,,,,,, ;,, ; ; '' ; ''''''''''' ; ; ; ,;' ; , ,;'';'''';''';'' ,, ;'''';'''''; ,, ';,,,,,;' ' ,,;''' '';,,, '; ;,,,,;,,,,,; '; ; ; ; ,,,,,, ; ; , ; ,; ''''''';'''''''' ';'''';' ; ; ,;' ';, ; ; ,; ;'''';'''''; '; ;' ;''''; ,,;', ,';,, ;' ; ;' ''''';'''''' '''';''' ;,,,,; ;, ,; '' ;'; ''''';'''''; ,,,,;,,, ; ; ;, ,; ;' ';, ''''''';''''';'' ; ;, ';';'' ',;' ,;' ';, ''''';'''''' ,, ;' ; ', ,; ; , ,;'';, ,,;' ';,, ,,; '; '' ; ,; ',,; ,,,;'' '';,,, (Jishin, Kaminari, Kaji, Oyaji) Literally: Earthquakes, Thunder, Fires, Fathers Meaning: this proverb compares the traditional Japanese father with other things which are generally feared. -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#38 ----------------------------- This is more an idiom than a proverb ... ; ; ; ,,,,,,,, ;' ; ,,;';';,, ';''';' ,,;,,, ;' ;' ,;' ; '; ,,;,;,, ; ; ,'; ; ,; ;' '; ; ,; ;''''; ; ; , ; ;' ; ; '',; ;,,,,; ; ;' ;, ; ,;' ;' ; ,;' , ; ; ; ; ,,,,; ''' ,,;'' ,; ,;' ';'';' ; ,;'''' '; ' ,,;' ,;' ';, ; ,,,,,,,,,,,, ; ,,,,;,,,, ;''''''''''''' ; ; ,,,;,,,;,,, ''';''''' ,,,,,,,,,, ; ;,,,; ; , ; ,,,,,,,,, ; ; ; ;, ,; ';, ,;' ;' ';,;' ''''' '''''''''''''''' '' ,,,;'' '';,,, (Hotoke no kao mo san do) Literally: Buddha's face too three times Meaning: ``To try the patience of a saint'' -- even a Buddha's face will loose it's composure if you ask something too many times. Notes: (1) `hotoke' is kun-yomi, `butsu' is a common on-yomi. `Hotoke' is also used for a Buddha image. (2) Anoter common form of this idiom has `made' at the end: `hotoke no kao mo san do made' -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#39 ----------------------------- ,,,,,,,,,,,, ; ; ; ; ;''''''''''''; ; ,,, ; ',,,,,;,,,,,,' '''; ,;' ; ,,,,,,,,,, ;'; ,,' ',, ;;' ; ,; '; ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,; ; ,; ';, ,,,,,, ; ,;'; ; , ,;' ';, ; ; ; ; ',,;' '''''''''''''''' ,;' ';, '''''' ,,; ' , , ; ; ; , ; ,; ; ,,,,,,,;,,,,,,,, '';'' ,;,,;,,,, ,,;';';,, ; ''''';'''' ; ; ; ,; ; ,;' ; '; ; ; '; ;' '';'',,,,,;,,,,, ,; ;' '; ; ; '; ,;' ; ; ; ; ; ;' ; ; ,'''';,, ,;;, ;,, ;' ; '; ; ,;' ;' ;,' ; ,; ';, ,;' ';, ''' ,;' ; ';, ''' ,,;'' ' '''' ,,;'' '';,, ; ; ; ;'';''' ;''''; ''''''';'''''''' '' ; ; ; ;'''';'''''; ,,,,;,,,,; ; ;,,,,;,,,,,; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;'; ; ; '''''';''''' ;' '; ;,,,,; ; ; '; ,';, ,;' '' ,;' ';,,,,;' ' (San nin yoreba Monju no chie) Literally: if three people gather, Monju's wisdom Meaning: When three people get together they have the wisdom of Monju; or ``Two heads are better than one'' Notes: (1) Monju is a buddhist god of wisdom (2) `yoreba' is a conditional form of `yoru' (to visit), meaning `whenever [three people] get together' -------------------------- Nihon-no-kotowaza#40 ----------------------------- ,,,,,,,,,,,,, , ; ; ; ; '; , ; ,; ''''''';'''''''' ;'''''''''''' '; ,,;' ; ; ,; ;'''';'''''; ; ; ; ';,;'' ;' ; ;' ''''';'''''' ; ;,,, ;,,;' ,;' '' ;'; ''''';'''''; ; ; ; ;' ;' ';, ''''''';''''';'' ;' ; ; , ;, ,;' ';, ''''';'''''' '' ,,;''' ';,,;' '''''''''' ,,;' ';,, ,,; , , ; , ; ,; ; ,,,,;,,,, '; ; ;, ; ''''';'''' ; '; ,,;' '''';''', '; ; ; ''';''''' ';,;'' ,; ; '; ; ; ; , ,;' ; ; ' ; ,'''';,, ; ; ;' ;' ; ;,' ; ,; ';, ';, ,;' ;, ,;' ;' ' '''' ''''' '''''''''' ''' ';, ,,,,,,, ,,,,,, ,; , , ; '' ; ; ', ,' ,;' ' ' ;' ;''';'' ,', ,;' ; ,,,,,,, ;,,,;,, '' ; '' ,;' ,;''' '; ; ; ;';'; ';, ; '''''''; ;,;,; ';, ,,;' ; ; ; ; ; ; , ';, '''' ' ,;',,;'''; '; (He to kaji wa moto kara sawagu) Literally: Fart and fire, from the origin, make a fuss Meaning: With farts and fires, it is often the originator who kicks up a fuss (ie: complains loudest) +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | 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 | +------------------------------------------------------------------+