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【No. 2047】The Meaning of Dog: Part 1

May 30, 2023 21:17
The Meaning of Dog: Part 1

In my post yesterday, I used the phrase kaisha no inu (会社の犬).

The literal meaning of kaisha no inu is "corporate dog," but it actually means "corporate slave."

This is derived from the fact that Japanese people have an image of dogs as "obedient to their owners."

The Japanese word inu (犬 - meaning "dog") can also be used in another sense, such as "spy."

This is derived from the image of (police) dogs snooping around someone and reporting the results to their owners.

To be continued in part 2.
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【No. 2046】Shachiku (社畜 - Corporate Slaves)

May 29, 2023 16:40
Shachiku

I would like to believe that I am not a shachiku (社畜).

Shachiku is a slang term that combines the words kaisha (会社 - meaning "company") and kachiku (家畜 - meaning "livestock"), and it refers to people who work as if they were slaves for the company.

It literally means livestock-like people who are tamed by their companies.

To express the same meaning as shachiku, you can also use the word inu (犬) and say kaisha no inu (会社の犬).

It implies someone is an obedient dog that works for the company, always following orders without question.
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【No. 2045】Kyūshi ni Isshō wo Eru (九死に一生を得る - Having a Narrow Escape)

May 28, 2023 12:02
Kyūshi ni Isshō wo Eru

Have you ever survived a critical situation where the chances of survival were meager?

In such a situation, you can use the Japanese phrase kyūshi ni isshō wo eru (九死に一生を得る).

Since kyū (九) means "nine," shi (死) means "death," isshō (一) means "one," shō (生) means "life," and eru (得る) means "to get," the literal meaning of this phrase is "to get one life out of nine deaths."

In other words, if the same situation were to occur ten times, you would be dead nine times and survive only once. It is miraculous that you survived this time.
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【No. 2044】Muri ga Tōreba Dōri Hikkomu (無理が通れば道理引っ込む - Might Makes Right)

May 27, 2023 16:19
Muri ga Tōreba Dōri Hikkomu

If forceful, unreasonable demands pass, the reason or justification may be no longer valid.

To describe such a situation, you can use the Japanese proverb, muri ga tōreba dōri hikkomu (無理が通れば道理引っ込む).

Since muri (無理) means "unreason," tōre/tōru (通る) means "to pass," dōri (道理) means "reason," and hikkomu (引っ込む) means "to step back," the literal meaning of this proverb is "When unreasons pass, reasons will step back."

In other words, when strong power or authority forces unreasonable demands to pass through, the thoughts of reason and justification will step back.
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【No. 2043】Kishi Kaisei (起死回生 - Turnning Around a Hopeless Situation)

May 26, 2023 16:44
Kishi Kaisei

To recover from a hopeless situation and come back to life is called kishi kaisei (起死回生) in Japanese.

Since ki (起) means "to rise," shi (死) means "death," kai (回) means "to back," and sei (生) means "life," the literal meaning of this four-character idiom is "to rise from death and back to life."

Originally, this idiom literally meant a revival of the dead.

Now it has the meaning of recovering from a hopeless situation.

Incidentally, the idioms kishi (起死) and kaisei (回生) have the same meaning as kishi kaisei, respectively.
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【No. 2041】Nido Oshiete Ichido Shikare (二度教えて一度叱れ - Think before You Strike)

May 24, 2023 18:34
Nido Oshiete Ichido Shikare

I believe that educating children is very difficult.

The Japanese proverb, nido oshiete ichido shikare (二度教えて一度叱れ), refers to the education of children.

Since nido (二度) means "twice," oshiete (教えて) means "to teach," ichido (一度) means "once," and shikare (叱れ) measn "to scold," the literal meaning of this proverb is "teach twice, scold once."

In other words, it says that you should teach your children several times before scolding them.

I found "Mint ere you strike" as an English translation of this proverb, but this phrase is a bit old-fashioned. I think it would be better to use a modern style, like "Think before you strike."
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【No. 2040】Genjitsu Tōhi (現実逃避 - Escapism)

May 23, 2023 10:58
Genjitsu Tōhi

I sometimes find myself wanting to take what is known as genjitsu tōhi (現実逃避).

Genjitsu tōhi (現実逃避) is an attempt or a state of mind to escape from what one has to do in reality.

Since genjitsu (現実) means "reality," and tōhi (逃避) means "escape," the literal meaning of this idiom is "escape from reality."

Genjitsu tōhi is a natural behavior caused by stress or anxiety, but it can also make you suffer further.

If you get into this situation, you must be brave enough to accept reality and try to step forward to escape it.
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【No. 2039】Abata mo Ekubo (痘痕も靨 - Love Sees No Faults)

May 22, 2023 16:02
Abata mo Ekubo

When you fall in love with someone, you may even see the one's faults as if they were advantages.

The proverb abata mo ekubo describes such a situation.

Abata (痘痕) is a pockmark that remains after smallpox has been cured, and ekubo (靨/えくぼ) is a dimple that appears when people smile.

In other words, abata mo ekubo represents a situation where one is so in love with someone that pockmarks, the remains of disease, look like dimples.

In English, this proverb can be translated as "Love is blind" or "Love sees no faults."
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【No. 2038】Hin sure ba Don suru (貧すれば鈍する - Poverty Dulls the Wit)

May 21, 2023 12:20
Hin sure ba Don suru

If one becomes terribly poor, one's brain may not work very well due to the hardship of life.

The proverb hin sure ba don suru (貧すれば鈍する) can describe such a situation.

Since hin (貧) means "poor," and don (鈍) means "dull," hin sure ba don suru literally means "If you are poor, you will be dull."

Note that this proverb by no means says that being poor is always a bad thing.

It says that being poor could negatively influence a person's natural abilities.
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【No. 2037】Kreki mo Yama no Nigiwai (枯れ木も山の賑わい - Anything Is Better than Nothing)

May 20, 2023 15:54
Kreki mo Yama no Nigiwai

The idiom kareki mo yama no nigiwai can describe a situation where even a something uninteresting is better than nothing.

Since kare (枯れ) means "withered," ki (木) means "tree," yama (山) means "mountain," and nigiwai (賑わい) means "vibrancy," the literal meaning of kareki mo yama no nigiwai is "withered trees are also the vibrancy of a mountain."

Even withered trees can become a part of the mountain's decoration, which means that anything is better than nothing.

Note that this idiom is basically used for oneself, and it is impolite to use it for others.
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【No. 2036】Nurete de Awa (濡れ手で粟 - Easy Profit)

May 19, 2023 12:05
Nurete de Awa

A situation where one gains a lot of profit easily without hardship can be described as nurete de awa (濡れ手で粟).

Since nure (濡れ) means "wet," te (手) means "hand," and awa (粟) means "millet," the literal meaning of nurete de awa is "millet with wet hands."

If you try to grab millet grains with wet hands, many of them will stick to your hands.

This is why the phrase has the meaning of easy profit.

Personally, I feel a little uncomfortable in a situation where many millet grains are sticking to my hands.
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【No. 2034】Inochi Atte no Monodane (命あっての物種 - While There Is Life, There Is Hope)

May 17, 2023 13:12
Inochi Atte no Monodane

It goes without saying, nothing is possible without life, and there is nothing to be achieved after death.

In other words, if there is life, there is always hope.

This can be described as the proverb, inochi atte no monodane (命あっての物種).

Since inochi (命) means "life," atte no (あっての) means "to be nothing without," and monodane (物種) means "origin of things," the literal meaning of inochi atte no monodane is "origin of things is nothing without life."

You can use this proverb as a warning to avoid life-threatening behavior.
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【No. 2032】Saki ga Omoiyarareru (先が思いやられる - Being Worried about the Future)

May 15, 2023 19:40
Saki ga Omoiyarareru

When you are worried that a bad situation is about to happen in the future, you can say saki ga omoiyarareru (先が思いやられる).

Since saki (先) means "future," and omoiyarareru (思いやられる) is the combination of omoiyaru (思いやる - meaning "to be worried") with the spontaneous auxiliary verb reru (れる), this phrase means "to be worried about the future."

In most cases, omoiyarareru is used with words describing the future.

For example, you can say yukusue ga omoiyarareru (行く末が思いやられる) by replacing saki with yukusue (行く末 - meaning "future/fate").
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【No. 2031】Tou ni Ochizu Kataru ni Ochiru (問うに落ちず語るに落ちる - The Tongue Is Ever Turning to the Aching Tooth)

May 14, 2023 23:27
Tou ni Ochizu Kataru ni Ochiru

When people are asked about their secrets by others, they are wary and reluctant to talk about them, but when they begin to tell their own stories, they tend to spill the beans.

Such a situation can be described as tou ni ochizu kataru ni ochiru (問うに落ちず語るに落ちる) in Japanese.

Since tou (問う) means "to ask", ochi/ochiru (落ちる) means "to spill out," zu (ず) is a negative suffix, and kataru (語る) means "to tell," the literal meaning of tou ni ochizu kataru ni ochiru means "when one is asked, one does not spill out, when one tells, one spills out."

You can also say only the latter part, kataru ni ochiru (語るに落ちる).
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【No. 2030】Nanka (なんか - Somehow)

May 13, 2023 16:09
Nanka

Young Japanese people often use the adverb nanka (なんか/何か) in daily conversation.

For example, you can say 'nanka samuku nai?' (なんか寒くない？ - "Isn't it somehow cold?").

Here nanka describes a situation where the reason is unclear, which could be translated as "somehow."

It is a useful expression that can be used at the beginning of various contexts, but note that it is also a casual expression used mainly by young people.

In formal situations, you can use nandaka (何だか) instead of nanka.

In any case, be careful not to overuse these expressions.
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【No. 2029】Jinji wo Tsukushite Tenmei wo Matsu (人事を尽くして天命を待つ

May 12, 2023 23:27
Jinji wo Tsukushite Tenmei wo Matsu

Have you ever been in a situation where you have done everything you could and are just waiting for the results?

The proverb jinji wo tsukushite tenmei wo matsu (人事を尽くして天命を待つ) can describe such a situation.

Since jinji (人事) means "what human beings can do," tsukusu (尽くす) means "to do one's best," tenmei (天命) means "fate," and matsu (待つ) means "to wait," the literal meaning of this proverb is "to do everything that one can do and wait for the fate."

In other words, after doing your best, you should just wait for the result with a peaceful mind.

This proverb has its origins in an ancient Chinese book.
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【No. 2028】Kodomo wa Kaze no Ko (子供は風の子 - Children Are Open-air Creatures)

May 11, 2023 11:25
Kodomo wa Kaze no Ko

When I was a child, I used to wear short-sleeved shirts and short pants even in winter.

As such, I often heard the proverb, kodomo wa kaze no ko (子供は風の子).

Since kodomo (子供) means "children," kaze (風) means "wind," and ko (子) also means "children," the literal meaning of kodomo wa kaze no ko is "children are children of the wind."

In other words, this proverb says the fact that children play outdoors even on a windy winter day or the teaching that children should be so.
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【No. 2027】Oi no Tenarai (老いの手習い - It's Never Too Late to Learn)

May 10, 2023 22:42
Oi no Tenarai

Trying new things is very important no matter how old you get.

The proverb, oi no tenarai (老いの手習い), can describe such a situation.

Since oi (老い) means "old," and tenarai (手習い) means "learning a skill," oi no tenarai literally means "older people learn a skill."

It is also possible to say rokujū no tenarai (六十の手習い), using rokujū (六十 - meaning "sixty years old)".

In recent years, with the aging of the population, it is also sometimes said as hachijū no tenarai (八十の手習い), using hatijū (八十 - meaning "eighty years old").

In the future, using hyaku (百 - meaning "one hundred years old"), hyaku no tenarai (百の手習い) may also come to be used.
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【No. 2026】Shōji wa Daiji (小事は大事 - Big Things Have Small Beginnings)

May 9, 2023 13:52
Shōji wa Daiji

We should be aware that even small things could become significant things.

The proverb shōji was daiji (小事は大事) describes such a situation.

Since shō (小) means "small," ji (事) means "thing/matter," and dai (大) means "big," the literal meaning of this proverb is "a small thing is a big thing."

In other words, we should consider small things synonymous with big things and be reminded not to neglect them.

In English, it can be translated as "Big things have small beginnings" or "From small beginnings come great things."
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【No. 2025】Iwanu ga Hana (言わぬが花 - Silence Is Gold)

May 8, 2023 13:52
Iwanu ga Hana

Sometimes it is better to be modest and say less rather than saying everything that comes to mind.

The proverb iwanu ga hana (言わぬが花) describes such a situation.

Since iwa/iu (言わ/言う) means "to say," nu (ぬ) is a negative suffix, and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of iwanu ga hana is "to say nothing is a flower."

In other words, by deliberately not saying anything (or saying less), one can create a modest and graceful atmosphere like a flower.

A similar English proverb is "Speech is silver, silence is golden."