Skip to content

Essay

  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2300】Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari (人生山あり谷あり - Life Has Its Ups and Downs)

Feb 7, 2024 13:58
Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari

In a long life, there are hardships as well as joys.

This idea is sometimes expressed as jinsei yama ari tani ari (人生山あり谷あり) in Japanese.

・Jinsei (人生) means "life."
・Yama (山) means "mountain."
・Ari (あり) means "there is."
・Tani (谷) means "valley."

Therefore, the literal meaning of this phrase is "In life, there are mountains and valleys."

Here, "mountains" metaphorically represent hardships, and "valleys" represent enjoyable times.

It can be translated into English as "Life has its ups and downs."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2299】Neko wa Kotatsu de Maruku Naru (猫はこたつで丸くなる - Cats Curl up under the Kotatsu)

Feb 6, 2024 11:19
Neko wa Kotatsu de Maruku Naru

Yesterday, I introduced the most famous Japanese children's song about snow, Yuki (雪), commonly known as Yuki ya Konko (雪やこんこ).

One of the most famous parts in this song is inu wa yorokobi niwa kakemawari, neko wa kotatsu de maruku naru (犬は喜び庭駆け回り　猫はこたつで丸くなる).

・Inu (犬) means "dog."
・Yorokobi (喜び) means "joy."
・Niwa (庭) means "yard."
・Kakemawari (駆け回り) means "to run around."
・Neko (猫) means "cat."
・Kotatus (こたつ) is a traditional Japanese warming device.
・Maruku naru (丸くなる) means "to curl up"

Therefore, the meaning of these lyrics is "dogs run around the yard with joy, and cats curl up under the kotatsu."

This song symbolizes the perception in Japan that dogs are resistant to the cold, whereas cats are weak against it.

However, this is not always true.

By the way, on snowy days, I also wish to curl up under a kotatsu like a cat in the song.

【No. 2298】Yuki ya Konko (雪やこんこ - Come, Come, Snow)

Feb 5, 2024 21:58
Yuki ya Konko

It is snowing today.

One of the most famous songs about snow in Japan is Yuki ya Konko (ゆきやこんこ).

Yuki ya Konko is a children's song that has been introduced in elementary school textbooks throughout Japan.

In addition, during the winter season, trucks selling heating oil often drive around towns while playing this song. Therefore, most Japanese have heard this song and can sing it.

Since yuki (雪) means "snow," and konko (こんこ) means "come come," the literal meaning of yuki ya konko is "Come, come, snow."

In other words, it is a song for welcoming the snowfall.

However, some regions or people may not welcome snow.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2296】Dōjō Suru nara Kane wo Kure (同情するなら金をくれ - Give Me Money If You Feel Pity)

Feb 3, 2024 21:16
Dōjō Suru nara Kane wo Kure

When facing severe financial difficulties and receiving sympathy or kind words from someone, the Japanese may have the following phrase in mind.

Dōjō suru nara kane wo kure (同情するなら金をくれ).

・Dōjō syry (同情する) means "pity."
・Nara (なら) means "if" or "rather than."
・Kane (金) means "money."
・Kure (くれ) means "to give."

Therefore, this phrase literally means, "Give me money if you feel pity."

This phrase became extremely popular in Japan due to its appearance in the hit 1994 drama Ie Naki Ko (家なき子 - "A Child Without a House").

The impact was significant, especially because it was a line from a small child, and the phrase was selected as one of the buzzwords of the year in 1994.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2295】Oya no Sune wo Kajiru (親のすねをかじる - Depending on Parents)

Feb 2, 2024 23:51
Oya no Sune wo Kajiru

The Japanese idiom oya no sune wo kajiru (親のすねをかじる) describes an adult who is unable to live independently and relies on their parents.

・Oya (親) means "parent."
・Sune (すね) means "shin."
・Kajiru (かじる) means "to gnaw."

Therefore, the literal meaning of oya no sune wo kajiru is "to gnaw one's parent's shin."

Of course, it does not mean physically gnawing one's parent's shin.

Since sune is an important part of the body, it is sometimes used as a metaphor for labor or money earned from work.

In other words, this idiom means to depend on money earned by one's parents, as if gnawing it.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2294】Kuchi wa Wazawai no Moto (口は災いの元 - Out of the Mouth Comes Evil)

Feb 1, 2024 23:30
Kuchi wa Wazawai no Moto

Carelessly saying what you think can lead to unexpected and disastrous outcomes.

The proverb kuchi wa wazawai no moto describes this concept.

・Kuchi (口) means "mouth" or "source of speech."
・Wazawai (災い) means "misfortune" or "calamity."
・Moto (元) means "cause."

Therefore, the literal meaning of kuchi wa wazawai no moto is "the mouth is the cause of misfortune."

This idiom originates from a passage in the Chinese Buddhist text "Fayuan Zhulin," which states kuchi wa wazawai no kado (口は禍の門).

Wazawau (禍) has the same reading and meaning as wazawai (災い).

In addition, kado (門, also read as 'mon') means "gate" or "entrance."

In other words, kuchi wa wazawai no kado implies that the mouth is the gateway to misfortune.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2293】Sensa Banbetsu (千差万別 - Divers)

Jan 31, 2024 15:31
Sensa Banbetsu

Everything is different, and the world is full of diversity.

The four-character idiom sensa banbetsu (千差万別) explains this concept.

・Sen (千) means "thousand."
・Sa (差) maans "difference."
・Ban/man (万) means "ten thousand."
・Betsu (別) means "distinction" or "difference."

Therefore, the literal meaning of sensa banbetsu is "a thousand differences, ten thousand distinctions."

Here, 千 and 万 represent large numbers.

This idiom originates in the context of Chinese Buddhist historical texts, where it was used to explain that the paths to enlightenment are different for each individual.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2292】Gakuburu (ガクブル - Shivering)

Jan 30, 2024 13:54
Gakuburu

The Japanese expression gakuburu (ガクブル) describes the state of one's body shivering intensely due to fear or cold.

Gakuburu is short for gaku gaku buru buru (ガクガクブルブル), a combination of two onomatopoeic words gaku gaku (ガクガク) and buru buru (ブルブル).

Both gaku gaku and buru buru describe a small shiver due to fear or cold, but gaku gaku is more often used to express a stronger shiver.

By combining these two terms, you can express even stronger fear or cold.

Incidentally, it is sometimes written with the shivering emotion "((((;゜Д゜)))," or "gkbr" is sometimes used instead of gakuburu.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2291】Koto Nakare Shugi (事なかれ主義 - A Fear of Rocking the Boat)

Jan 29, 2024 11:27
Koto Nakare Shugi

Many Japanese follow a principle known as koto nakare shugi (事なかれ主義).

Koto nakare shugi refers to a way of thinking or attitude that dislikes making waves and tries to maintain a calm situation.

・Koto (事) means "thing."
・Nakare is a term used to prohibit an action.
・Shugi (主義) means "principle."

Therefore, the literal meaning of koto nakare syugi is "a principle that prevents things from working."

In other words, it is a philosophy of acting so as not to get involved in trouble or problems.

Such an attitude of trying to maintain a calm situation is not inherently bad. However, a passive attitude of pretending not to see problems can lead to negative outcomes.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2290】Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari (弘法も筆の誤り - Even Homer Sometimes Nods): Part 2

Jan 28, 2024 21:12
Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari: Part 2

The Japanese proverb Kōbō mo fude no ayamari (弘法も筆の誤り) originates from the following anecdote:

One day, Kūkai (空海; also known as Kōbō) was requested to write characters on a plaque for the Ōtenmon (應天門) gate in Kyoto.

However, when the completed plaque was displayed, people found that the first stroke of the character Ō (應) was missing.

This incident is believed to be the origin of the proverb Kō bo mo fude no ayamari.

It is also said that Kūkai later threw the brush from beneath the gate and successfully added the missing stroke.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2289】Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari (弘法も筆の誤り - Even Homer Sometimes Nods): Part 1

Jan 27, 2024 18:26
Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari: Part 1

Yesterday, I introduced the proverb saru mo ki kara ochiru (猿も木から落ちる), which means that even skilled people in their field sometimes make mistakes.

There is a similar proverb, Kōbō mo fude no ayamari (弘法にも筆の誤り).

・Kōbō (弘法) refers to Kūkai (空海), a great Buddhist monk and master calligrapher in the Heian period.
・Fude (筆) means a writing brush used in calligraphy.
・Ayamari (誤り) means mistakes.

Therefore, the literal meaning of this proverb is "even Kōbō makes mistakes with his brush."

It implies that even a master calligrapher can make mistakes.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2288】Saru mo Ki kara Ochiru (猿も木から落ちる - No One Is Infallible)

Jan 26, 2024 16:23
Saru mo Ki kara Ochiru

Even the most skilled people in their field sometimes make mistakes.

Proverbs describing this concept are found worldwide, and there are several ones in Japan.

Among them, the most common proverb in Japan is saru mo ki kara ochiru (猿も木から落ちる).

・Saru (猿) means "monkey."
・Ki (木) means "tree."
・Ochiru (落ちる) means "to fall."

Therefore, the literal meaning of satu mo ki kara ochiru is "even monkeys fall from trees."

In other words, just as even monkeys who are good at climbing trees sometimes fall from trees, no one is infallible.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2287】Manaita no Koi (また板の鯉 - Someone Doomed to Their Fate)

Jan 25, 2024 18:26
The Japanese idiom manaita no koi (まな板の鯉) describes a situation where one cannot do anything and is completely at the mercy of others.

・Manaita (まな板) means "cutting board."
・Koi (鯉) means "carp."

Therefore, the literal meaning of manaita no koi is "carp on a cutting board."

If you put live carp placed on a cutting board, it will leap around.

However, the carp can easily faint by stroking its lateral line with a knife or tapping between its eyes.

The carp looks as if it has accepted its inevitable death, leading to the current meaning of this idiom.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2286】Senshi Bankō (千紫万紅/千思万考 - Multitude of Colors / Repetitice Thinking)

Jan 24, 2024 22:10
Senshi Bankō

The four-character idiom senshi bankō (千紫万紅) describes a beautiful scenery of many flowers blooming or something having vivid colors.

・Sen (千) means "thousand."
・Shi (紫) means "purple."
・Ban/man (万) means "ten thousand."
・Kou (紅) means "crimson."

Therefore, the literal meaning of senshi bankō is "a thousand purples and ten thousand crimsons."

Here, sen (thousand) and man (ten thousand) represent many things.

Incidentally, there is a slightly minor homonym, senshi bankō (千思万考).

Shi (思) means "to think," kou (考) means "to consider," and senshi banko means to think about something over and over again.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2285】Kuchibashi ga Kīroi (くちばしが黄色い - Young and Inexperienced)

Jan 23, 2024 19:30
Kuchibashi ga Kīroi

The Japanese idiom kuchibashi ga kīroi (くちばしが黄色い) describes that someone is still young, inexperienced, and immature.

・Kuchibashi (くちばし) means "beak."
・Kīro/kīroi (黄色/黄色い) means "yellow."

Therefore, the literal meaning of kuchibashi ga kīroi is "one's beak is yellow."

Popular birds such as sparrows and crows have yellow beaks when they are chicks, which turn black as they mature.

In this idiom, a young and inexperienced person is metaphorically compared to a chick with a yellow beak.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2284】Ashita wa Ashita no Kaze ga Fuku (明日は明日の風が吹く - Tomorrow Is Another Day)

Jan 22, 2024 15:00
Ashita wa Ashita no Kaze ga Fuku

When you feel down due to unpleasant experiences, you may brood over that or worry about the future.

In such cases, remember the proverb asita wa asita no kaze ga fuku (明日は明日の風が吹く).

・Ashita (明日) means "tomorrow."
・Kaze (風) means "wind."
・Fuku (吹く) means "to blow."

Therefore, the literal meaning of this proverb is "the tomorrow's wind will blow tomorrow."

In other words, since tomorrow will be a different day, you should let things go as they will, and there is no need to be worried.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2283】Shatei (舎弟 - Henchman)

Jan 21, 2024 15:06
Shatei

Someone's younger brother or someone treated like a younger brother can be referred to as shatei (舎弟).

・Sha (舎) is a humble prefix used for a relative.
・Tei (弟) means "younger brother."

Originally, shatei literally meant a younger brother or a younger brother-in-law.

However, it has become widely used in gang groups like the yakuza to refer to henchmen or younger members of the organization.

This may be the reason why we rarely see the word shatei used to mean a younger brother today.

Please be careful when using this term in daily conversation.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2282】Mo ni Fukusu (喪に服す - Mourning): Part 2

Jan 20, 2024 18:58
Mo ni Fukusu: Part 2

During the period of mo ni fukusu (喪に服す - "mourning"), there are various things that should not be done.

For example, visiting shrines, participating in celebratory events like weddings, going on trips or leisure activities, celebrating the New Year, and making significant purchases.

In my recent entry, I introduced the Japanese culture of writing nengajō (年賀状 - "New Year's greeting card") to be delivered on January 1.

However, during the period of mourning, one should not write nengajō either.

Instead, mochū hagaki (喪中はがき - "mourning postcard") is sent in November or December to inform others that they are currently in mourning.

Those who receive a mourning postcard usually reply after the New Year with kanchū mimai (寒中見舞い - "winter greeting card").
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2281】Mo ni Fukusu (喪に服す - Mourning): Part 1

Jan 19, 2024 20:26
Mo ni Fukusu: Part 1

In Japanese culture, after the death of a loved one, people refrain from their activities to mourn for a certain period. This is called mo ni fukusu (喪に服す).

Since mo (喪) means "mourning," and fukusu (服す) means "to spend," mo ni fukusu literally means "to spend time in mourning."

When expressing this concept as a noun, it becomes fukumo (服喪).

In addition, the period of mourning is called mochū (喪中) or fukumochū (服喪中) using chū (中 - meaning "during").

Generally, the mourning period lasts 12 to 13 months for a spouse or first-degree relative and 3 to 6 months for a second-degree relative.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 2280】I no Naka no Kawazu Taikai wo Shirazu (井の中の蛙大海を知らず - A Big Fish in a Little Pond)

Jan 18, 2024 18:30
I no Naka no Kawazu Taikai wo Shirazu

People living in a small world, lacking in knowledge and experience, cannot understand the vast world beyond them and the perspective of others.

The proverb i no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu (井の中の蛙大海を知らず) expresses this idea.

・I (井) means "well."
・Naka means "inside."
・Kawazu (蛙) means "frog."
・Taikai (大海) means "ocean."
・Shiru/shira (知る/知ら) means "to know."
・Zu is a negative suffix.

Therefore, the literal meaning of this proverb is "A frog in a well does not know the ocean."

As you can imagine, a frog living in a well cannot know or understand the ocean outside.

In this proverb, a frog in a well is a metaphor for a person with a narrow perspective.