#Japanese Proverbs

[tokidokitokyo]

ことわざ 19/?

ことわざ are Japanese proverbs, and I have listed some basic proverbs, their equivalents in English, and a rough translation of the meanings of the Japanese phrase.

There is a test for ことわざ called the ことわざ能力検定 (ことわざのうりょくけんてい) and these are some of the phrases that appear in level 8 or 8級 (10 being the lowest level). For the time being, try one or two of these out the next time you speak with a native Japanese speaker!

More ことわざ (こと検9級): 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 Even More ことわざ (こと検10級): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

青い鳥

あおいとり

happiness taken for granted

from the play The Blue Bird, where two siblings search for the bluebird of happiness while the bluebird was actually in a cage in their home all along

足元から鳥が立つよう

あしもとからとりがたつ

① suddenly

② without warning; out of nowhere

the way birds take off from under foot as you approach

虻蜂取らず

あぶはちとらず

one who runs after two hares will catch neither

a spider trying to get both flies and bees catches neither

蟻の穴から堤も崩れる

ありのあなからつつみもくずれる

little strokes fell great oaks

a hole dug by an ant can collapse a dam

蟻の歩み

ありのあゆみ

a snail's pace

an ant's walking pace

蟻の這い出る隙もない

ありのはいでるすきもない

a tight perimeter

so tight there is no space for an ant to crawl out

生き馬の目を抜く

いきうまのめをぬく

sharp as a tack

rip out the eye from a living horse

鶍の嘴の食い違い

いすかのはしのくいちがい

a difference of opinion; a discrepancy

a difference of opinion that doesn't line up like the bill of a crossbeak (bird)

鼬ごっこ

いたちごっこ

a game of cat and mouse

playing weasel

鼬の最後っ屁

いたちのさいごっぺ

hitting the panic button

a weasel's last-ditch fart

犬に論語

いぬにろんご

like talking to a wall

teaching the Analects of Confucius to a dog

犬の尾を食うて回る

いぬのおをくうてまわる

chasing your tail

a dog running in circles trying to bite its tail

犬は人に付き猫は家に付く

いぬはひとにつきねこはいえにつく

a dog is loyal to its master, a cat, to its home

a dog sticks by a person and a cat sticks with its home

犬は三日飼えば三年恩を忘れぬ

いぬはみっかかえばさんねんおんをわすれぬ

dog is man's best friend

feed a dog for 3 days, it won't forget that kindness for 3 years

烏合之衆

うごうのしゅう

a disorganized mob

like a group of crows together (also 烏合の衆)

牛に引かれて善光寺参り

うしにひかれてぜんこうじまいり

serendipity

from a story where an old lady sees the neighbor's cow pull her garment off the clothesline, so she chases it and ends up visiting Zenkoji Temple, where she is enlightened

牛の歩み

うしのあゆみ

a snail's pace

a cow's walking pace

牛を馬に乗り換える

うしをうまにのりかえる

to trade a loser for a winner

switch from riding a cow (slow) to riding a horse (fast)

有象無象

うぞうむぞう

the unwashed masses

all manner of beings having form or lacking form

鰻の寝床

うなぎのねどこ

a long, narrow interior

an eel's bed

鰻登り

うなぎのぼり

① upward momentum

② skyrocketing; going through the roof

a rising line that looks like an eel

鵜の真似をする烏

うのまねをするからす

a poor man's …

a crow imitating a cormorant

鵜呑みにする

うのみにする

�� to take at face value

② to swallow hook, line and sinker

to swallow something whole like how a cormorant eats

鵜の目鷹の目

うのめたかのめ

search like a hawk

cormorant eyes and hawk eyes (birds that search for prey from the sky and dive in for the kill)

馬が合う

うまがあう

to get along well; to have a lot in common

like a perfect match of rider and horse

馬には乗ってみよ人には添うてみよ

うまにはのってみよひとはそうてみよ

walk a mile in someone else's shoes

ride a horse or spend time beside a person before you judge them

馬の背を分ける

うまのせをわける

raining here but clear the next town over

like how rain will divide a horse's back, water runs down one side and the other stays dry

馬の耳に念仏

うまのみみにねんぶつ

like talking to a wall

speaking Buddhist prayers into the ear of a horse

梅に鶯

うめにうぐいす

goes together like spaghetti and meatballs; goes together like eggs and bacon

goes together like plums and nightingales

燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや

えんじゃくいずくんぞこうこくのこころざしをしらんや

the small-minded cannot comprehend the ambitions of the great

how can small birds like swallows and sparrows understand the will of large birds like geese and swans

老いたる馬は道を忘れず

おいたるうまはみちをわすれず

an old horse never loses its way

an old horse never forgets the road home

鸚鵡返し

おうむがえし

parroting; blindly repeating

returning words like a parrot

陸に上がった河童

おかにあがったかっぱ

a fish out of water

a kappa up on land

同じ穴の狢

おなじあなのむじな

of the same stripe

badgers of the same hole

鬼が出るか蛇が出るか

おにがでるかじゃがでるか

what horrible fate awaits us…?

will a demon come out? or just a snake?

鬼の居ぬ間に洗濯

おにのいぬまにせんたく

while the cat's away the mice will play

laundry while the demon is not here (demon is a metaphor for the head of the household; 洗濯=命の洗濯 meaning to take a load off and relax)

鬼の首を取ったよう

おにのくびをとったよう

beaming with pride

like you took the head of the demon

鬼も十八、番茶も出花

おにもじゅうはち、ばんちゃもでばな

to everything there is a season

even demons are lovely at 18, a flower blooms even from Bancha (coarse tea)

尾鰭が付く

おひれがつく

embellished; a tall tale

a story with a tail fin stuck on

[christiancornelius]

[linusjf]

Japanese proverb: Great teacher

Fleeting (1 of 2) (Photo credit: Brett Jordan) “Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher.” —Japanese proverb.

[libearyn]

You Say

Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this…

[classycookiexo]

[brettesims]

Zen Christmas 🎄✨

[queen-cdm]

"If it's not yours, don't take it. If it's not right, don't do it. If it's not true, don't say it. If you don't know, shut up"

[falseandrealultravival]

Free Haiku-16: Contradictory Japanese proverbs

@Try wrapping yourself in a long belt: If someone is stronger than you, follow them without resisting.

@Even a tiny insect has a soul: Even the smallest or weakest people cannot take away their sense of independence.

These proverbs have the exact opposite meaning.

2024.11.07

相反する日本のコトワザ

＠長いものには巻かれよ：自分より強い者には、抵抗せず従うのがよい。

＠一寸の虫にも五分の魂：小さい者、弱い者であっても、独立心を奪うことはできない。

ちょうど反対の意味のコトワザである。

[a-girl-and-her-quotes]

Japanese Proverb

[tokidokitokyo]

ことわざ 17/?

ことわざ are Japanese proverbs, and I have listed some basic proverbs, their equivalents in English, and a rough translation of the meanings of the Japanese phrase.

There is a test for ことわざ called the ことわざ能力検定 (ことわざのうりょくけんてい) and these are some of the phrases that appear in level 9 or 9級 (10 being the lowest level). For the time being, try one or two of these out the next time you speak with a native Japanese speaker!

ことわざ (こと検9級): 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 More ことわざ (こと検10級): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

眉を顰める

まゆをひそめる

to furrow your brow

furrow your brow

緑の黒髪

みどりのくろかみ

lustrous black hair

black hair with a greenish sheen

身に染みる

みにしみる

to be deeply moved; to have wind/cold pierce the body

a feeling that permeates the body

身につまされる

みにつまされる

to be touched by another's plight

feel a pinch of guilt on your body

身の毛がよだつ

みのけがよだつ

hair-raising; spine-tingling

have your body's hair stand up in fear or from cold

耳が痛い

みみがいたい

hitting close to home

accurate criticism that is painful to the ear

耳が早い

みみがはやい

in the know

ears are quick to receive new information

耳に入れる

みみにいれる

to inform

put into someone's ear

耳に胼胝ができる

みみにたこができる

to hear ad nauseum

told something so much it creates calluses in your ears

耳に付く

みみにつく

irritating or annoying (sound)

a sound that sticks in the ear

耳寄りな話

みみよりなはなし

a topic of interest

talk that makes ears approach

耳を疑う

みみをうたがう

to doubt your own ears

doubt your ears

耳を貸す

みみをかす

to lend an ear

lend an ear

耳を傾ける

みみをかたむける

to listen closely

tilt your ear over to listen

耳を澄ます

みみをすます

to focus your attention (and listen)

clear out your ears

耳を揃える

みみをそろえる

to get the money together (to pay a debt)

arrange the ears (edges) of your coins

身を入れる

みをいれる

to give it your all

put in your whole body

身を切られる思い

みをきられるおもい

heartrending

a thought that cuts your body

身を削る

みをけずる

to work yourself sick

whittle away your body with work

身を粉にする

みをこにする

to work hard without complaint

work your body into powder

身を立てる

みをたてる

to make something of yourself; to make it on your own

raise up your body

胸が痛む

むねがいたむ

to feel great sympathy

chest in pain

胸が一杯になる

むねがいっぱいになる

to be overcome with emotion

chest like a cupful of joy or sadness

胸が躍る

むねがおどる

excited; psyched up

chest dancing with joy or in anticipation

胸が騒ぐ

むねがさわぐ

to feel uneasy

chest disturbing you with feeling something bad is going to happen

胸がすく

むねがすく

to be relaxed, worry-free

chest clear of worry

胸が詰まる

むねがつまる

to feel uneasy

chest stuffed with sadness or worry

胸に刻む

むねにきざむ

to take something to heart

engrave on your chest

胸を痛める

むねをいためる

to cause someone emotional distress

cause pain in another's chest

胸を打つ

むねをうつ

to touch someone's heart

strike someone's chest

胸を借りる

むねをかりる

to train with a superior

in sumo, to borrow someone's chest is to have the honor of training with them

胸を撫で下ろす

むねをなでおろす

to let out a sigh of relief

rub down your chest and let go of worries

胸を膨らませる

むねをふくらませる

to be wide-eyed and full of hope

inflate your chest with hope or joy

目から鱗が落ちる

めからうろこがおちる

to have the scales fall from your eyes

to have the scales fall from your eyes

目から鼻へ抜ける

めからはなへぬける

sharp as a tack

from a story where a craftsman enters the eye of a Buddha statue to affix the eye from inside. since he’s trapped he has the brilliant idea to escape through the nose of the statue.

目から火が出る

めからひがでる

to see stars

sparks coming out of your eyes

目が利く

めがきく

to be discerning

effective eyes

目が肥える

めがこえる

to be discerning

eyes grown fat with experience and knowledge

目頭が熱くなる

めがしらがあつくなる

to tear up with emotion

eyes and head warm with emotion

目が高い

めがたかい

to be highly discerning

so learned, it's as if your eyes are surveying from high above

目が無い

めがない

① to have no eye for something; ② to lose objectivity

① have no eye for something; ② no eye for, or blind to, reality

目が回る

めがまわる

to be extremely busy

so busy your eyes are spinning

目くじらを立てる

めくじらをたてる

to needlessly nitpick

raise up the speck in the corner of someone's eye for all to see

目糞鼻糞を笑う

めくそはなくそをわらう

the pot calling the kettle black

eye crud laughing at snot

目と鼻の先

めとはなのさき

extremely close together

as close as the space before your eye and nose

目に余る

めにあまる

to be unforgivable, unable to be overlooked

too much for your eyes to handle

目に物見せる

めにものみせる

to teach someone a lesson; to show someone what's what

show something before someone's eyes

目の色を変える

めのいろをかえる

to put on your game face

change the color of your eyes to indicate seriousness or anger

目の上の瘤

めのうえのこぶ

a thorn in your side; a pain in the butt

a person whose existence is like a lump above your eye

目の黒いうち

めのくろいうち

while you still live; while you still draw breath

while your eyes are still black (grey/white pupils indicate death)

目の毒

めのどく

something you really don't need to see right now

poison for the eyes because it will trigger craving/desire or cause discomfort

目も当てられない

めもあてられない

a sight that is too much to bear

so horrible, eyes can't hold witness to it

目もくれない

めもくれない

to completely ignore

not give an eye (attention) to something

目を疑う

めをうたがう

to not be able to believe your own eyes

doubt your eyes

目を奪われる

めをうばわれる

to be captivated

have your sight stolen and held captive by something

目を覆う

めをおおう

to cover your eyes

cover your eyes in fear

目を掛ける

めをかける

to show favoritism

place eyes upon, watch over someone

目を配る

めをくばる

to keep an eye on

distribute your gaze around the area

目を皿のようにする

めをさらのようにする

to widen one’s eyes in shock

make your eyes like plates

目を白黒させる

めをしろくろさせる

to be shocked and flustered

eyes darting so fast they look white and black

目を付ける

めをつける

to fix your gaze upon something

attach your eyes

目を盗む

めをぬすむ

to do something in secret

steal someone's eyes, act outside their vision

目を光らせる

めをひからせる

to keep careful watch

shine your gaze upon someone/something

目を引く

めをひく

to draw attention; to create a distraction

pull someone's gaze

目を細める

めをほそめる

to smile warmly

smile so that your eyes narrow

目を丸くする

めをまるくする

to open your eyes wide in shock

make your eyes round

目を見張る

めをみはる

to be impressed or moved emotionally

eyes open wide in pleasant surprise

目を剥く

めをむく

to have eyes wide in shock or anger

eyes peeled wide open

[simpleman193]

[onlychooo]

SHI. KAN.

😳😳😳

[rumik53]

My favorite Japanese proverbs

浅瀬に仇浪 - waves are noisier in shallow water

盛者必衰 - everything that blooms will inevitably fade

おにもじゅはちばんちゃもでば な - even bad tea has a flavorful first brew

深い川は静かに流れる - deep rivers move in silence

鯉の滝登り - a carp swimming against the current can become a dragon

にがしたさかなはおおきい - missing fish seems like a big one

[discoabc]

Hey! I was wondering what the title "to kill a bull" means or what it refers to. Btw Ik the rookie 9 all sort of have a lower opinion of si!kura but are there any specifics? Or is she just an extension of Ami rn. Also has Iruka noticed anything odd with her or is she firmly undercover?

So the title actually comes from a Japanese proverb “to kill a bull by straightening its horns”, the English equivalent to this being the remedy is often worse than the disease it cures.

The reason I chose it is because at the time tkab was originally being published, a lot of si/oc-insert fics had main characters that were trying to stop bad things in the canon from happening. In turn, that inspired me to make an oc who was a lot more selfish - basically the title is tkab!sakura turning to those other si/oc-inserts and saying “you guys are idiots, trying to fix things will only get you killed” AKA don’t be the remedy.

(I actually just looked through my notes for the first original chapter and my working title was twisted flower so I am glad I was a little more creative lmao)

Regarding your other questions, I think they may have to remain unanswered for now as my answers would probably reveal a bit too much about future chapters! It will all certainly get explicitly covered in the fic at some point however

[pekingin-ankka]

Some solid progress was made again tonight. And the next time I resume writing.. well, there's been a fair bit of happiness in the story so far. But from this point on things will get serious and won't go so well. Yeah.. it's Clockwerk time.

Fukanō o kanō ni suru no wa doryoku da. It is effort that makes the impossible possible.

[buchi-to-pichi]

Second installment of Pichi's Proverbs! This one's a little more complicated to write out than the last.

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