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【No. 2102】Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず - Don't Forget Your First Resolution) Part 2

Jul 24, 2023 16:19
Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu: Part 2

The other day, I introduced the proverb, shoshin wasuru bekarazu (初心忘るべからず), which means "Never forget the humble and serious attitude you had when you began to learn."

This proverb comes from Zeami, a traditional performer during the Muromachi period.

Originally, this phrase consisted of three parts: Zehi no shoshin wasuru bekarazu (是非の初心忘るべからず), Tokidoki no shoshin wasuru bekarazu (時々の初心忘るべからず), and Rōgo no shoshin wasuru bekarazu (老後の初心忘るべからず).

The words zehi (是非) means "success and failure," tokidoki (時々) means "moment to moment," and rōgo (老後) means "old age."

That is to say, what Zeami was trying to say is that "One should never forget the first experiences at various stages of their lives, from the immature time when they repeated failures to their old age."
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【No. 2101】A Trial Lesson

Jul 23, 2023 12:59
A Trial Lesson

Yesterday, my university held an open campus, and I conducted a trial lesson as a teacher.

The content of the lesson was to give high school students hands-on experience in developing web applications.

However, it was difficult to provide each student with a computer for development.

After deep consideration, I decided to create an online source code editor and execution environment that can be used with smartphones and have students use them.

Although there were many concerns, such as the difficulty of writing codes on a smartphone and the load on the server, I could finish the trial lesson without any major trouble.

I thought it would be difficult to write source code on the narrow screen of a smartphone, but the high school students seemed to operate it very easily.
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【No. 2100】Jūmangoku Manjū (十万石まんじゅう)

Jul 22, 2023 20:25
Jūmangoku Manjū

Today, I bought jūmangoku manjū (十万石まんじゅう), a famous sweet of Saitama Prefecture.

Since jūman (十万) means "a hundred thousand," goku/koku (石) is the old unit of currency, which is now about 50,000 yen, and manjū (まんじゅう) is a kind of traditional Japanese cake, the literal meaning of jūmangoku manjū is "about five billion yen manjū."

I also bought a jūman gold manjū (10万ゴールドまんじゅう), a collaborative product with "Dragon Quest Walk" (the ingredients are the same as those of 'jūmangoku manjū').

According to Yuji Horii, the creator of Dragon Quest, the in-game currency "G (Gold)" is equivalent to about 100 yen.

That is to say, jūman gold manjū means "about ten million yen manjū."
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【No. 2099】Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず - Don't Forget Your First Resolution) Part 1

Jul 21, 2023 20:15
Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu: Part 1

Today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite proverbs, shoshin wasuru bekarazu (初心忘るべからず).

Since sho (初) means "first," shin (心) means "heart," and the combination shoshin (初心) means "the mind when one first begins to learn something."

In addition, wasuru/wasureru (忘る/忘れる) means "to forget," and bekarazu (べからず) means "to forbid something," the literal meaning of this proverb is "Do not forget to the mind when one first begins to learn something."

In other words, the important thing when learning something is to never forget the humble and serious attitude you had when you began to learn.
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【No. 2098】Makanu Tane wa Haenu (蒔かぬ種は生えぬ - Nothing Comes of Nothing)

Jul 20, 2023 18:54
Makanu Tane wa Haenu

We should not expect to get good results without taking action or making an effort.

To describe this, you can use the Japanese proverb, makanu tane wa haenu (蒔かぬ種は生えぬ).

Since maka/maku (蒔か/蒔く) means "to sow," nu (ぬ) is a negative suffix, tane (種) means "seed," and hae/haeru (生える) means "to grow," the literal meaning of this proverb is "a seed will not grow unless it is sown."

In other words, just as flowers will not bloom without sowing seeds, no good results will occur without your action.
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【No. 2097】Monzen Barai (門前払い - Turned Away at the Gate)

Jul 19, 2023 17:14
Monzen Barai

The action of turning away a visitor without meeting them is called monzen barai (門前払い) in Japanese.

Since mon (門) means "gate," zen (前) means "front," and barai/harai (払い) means "to expel," the literal meaning of this phrase is "to expel someone from the front gate."

Originally, this phrase meant the lightest banishment sentence during the Edo period, which involved expelling the offender from the front gate of the magistrate's office.

This has evolved over time to carry its current meaning.

If you are a visitor who is turned away without meeting anyone, you can say something like monzen barai wo kū (門前払いを食う), using the verb kū (食う), which means "to experience an undesirable situation."
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【No. 2096】Kata no Ni ga Oriru (肩の荷が下りる - Taking a Load off One's Mind)

Jul 18, 2023 13:29
Kata no Ni ga Oriru

Today, I felt relieved of one's burden a little.

The concept of having one's burden or responsibility relieved is expressed as kata no ni ga oriru (肩の荷が下りる) in Japanese.

Since kata (肩) means "shoulder," ni (荷) means "burden," and oriru (下りる) means "to get off," the literal meaning of this idiom is "a burden gets off one's shoulder."

Here, a burden on one's shoulder is a metaphor for one's responsibility or mental burden.

It can be translated into English as "to take a load off one's mind."
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【No. 2095】Chō yo Hana yo (蝶よ花よ - Bringing up with Affection)

Jul 17, 2023 09:55
Chō yo Hana yo

The Japanese phrase, chō yo hana yo (蝶よ花よ), can express a situation where parents raise their children with great care.

Since chō (蝶) means "butterfly," and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of chō yo hana yo is "(you are) a butterfly, a flower."

In Japan, both the terms "butterfly" and "flower" are used as metaphors for something delicate and beautiful, and they also carry the meaning of something to be cherished with great care.

As you can easily imagine, this phrase is usually used for daughters.
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【No. 2094】Isha to Miso wa Furui hodo Yoi (医者と味噌は古いほどよい - Experience Counts)

Jul 16, 2023 08:36
Isha to Miso wa Furui hodo Yoi

People and things that have experienced long years can be valuable and helpful.

To describe this fact, you can use the Japanese proverb, isha to miso wa furui hodo yoi (医者と味噌は古いほどよい).

Since isha (医者) means "doctor," miso (味噌) means "miso (bean paste)," furui (古い) means "old," and yoi (よい) means "better," the literal meaning of this proverb is "the older the doctor and miso, the better."

In other words, older and more experienced doctors are trustworthy, and miso tastes better with time.

If we were to turn it into a foreign proverb, it would be "the older the doctor and wine, the better."
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【No. 2093】Rakuin wo Osareru (烙印を押される - Being Branded)

Jul 15, 2023 14:34
Rakuin wo Osareru

To be subjected to a stigma that is difficult to erase is described as rakuin wo osareru (烙印を押される) in Japanese.

Rakuin (烙印) is a branding mark stamped on a criminal's forehead or a livestock's body, and is used as a metaphor for a mark that will never be erased.

In addition, osareru (押される) means "to be stamped," so the literal meaning of rakuin wo osareru is "to be stamped with a branding mark."

In other words, it refers to being marked with a stigma that cannot be erased for one's lifetime.
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【No. 2092】Kimazui (気まずい - Uncomfortable/Awkward)

Jul 14, 2023 22:56
Kimazui

I can easily create an kimazui (気まずい) atmosphere.

Kimazui is an adjective that describes a situation where you and the other person are uncomfortable; it just can be translated as "awkward."

Since ki (気) means "feeling" and mazui (まずい) means "uncomfortable," kimazui literally means "feel uncomfortable."

When you are in a kimazui atmosphere with someone, you may resolve the awkwardness by daring to say something like kimazui desune (気まずいですね - "It's uncomfortable, isn't it?").

However, please be careful, as it might make things even more awkward.
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【No. 2091】Hito wo Norowa ba Ana Futatsu (人を呪わば穴二つ - Chickens Come Home to Roost)

Jul 13, 2023 15:03
Hito wo Norowa ba Ana Futatsu

Have you ever thought about cursing someone to death?

In such a case, remember the following proverb.

Hito wo norowa ba ana futatsu (人を呪わば穴二つ).

Since hito (人) means "person," norowa/norou (呪う) means "to curse," ana (穴) means "hole," and futatsu (二つ) means "two," the literal meaning of this proverb is "when you curse someone, you need two holes."

If you curse someone to death, someone else will kill you in revenge, and two grave holes will be needed.

That is to say, this proverb is a reminder that if you harm others, it will finally come back to you.
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【No. 2090】Shinketsu wo Sosogu (心血を注ぐ - Devoting One's Life)

Jul 12, 2023 22:05
Shinketsu wo Sosogu

To devote one's life to something is expressed as shinketsu wo sosogu (心血を注ぐ) in Japanese.

Since shin (心) means "heart," ketsu (血) means "blood," and sosogu (注ぐ) means "to pour," the literal meaning of shinketsu wo sosogu is "to pour one's heart and blood into something."

In other words, it implies being so devoted to something that one pours one's entire mind and body.

Instead of shinketsu, you can also use shiryoku (死力) and say shiryoku wo sosogu (死力を注ぐ).

Shi (死) means "death," ryoku (力) means "power,' and shiryoku means "power when faced with death."
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【No. 2089】Take ni Suzume/Yanagi ni Tsubame/Momiji ni Shika (竹に雀/柳に燕/紅葉に鹿 - Match Made in Heaven)

Jul 11, 2023 11:48
Take ni Suzume/Yanagi ni Tsubame/Momiji ni Shika

In my post yesterday, I introduced the phrase "Ume ni Uguisu," which describes something harmonious or well-combined.

Expressions that carry similar meanings to this include take ni suzume (竹に雀), yanagi ni tsubame (柳に燕) and momiji ni shika (紅葉に鹿).

Since take (竹) means "bamboo," and suzume (雀) means "sparrow," the literal meaning of take ni suzume is "a sparrow with a bamboo."

Since yanagi (柳) means "willow," and tsubame (燕) means "swallow," the literal meaning of yanagi ni tsubame is "a swallow with a willow."

Since momiji (紅葉) means "autumn leaves," and shika (鹿) means "deer," the literal meaning of momiji ni shika is "a deer with autumn leaves."

These combinations are all used as high-scoring patterns in the Hanafuda (Japanese card game).
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【No. 2088】Ume ni Uguisu (梅に鶯 - Match Made in Heaven)

Jul 10, 2023 19:21
Ume ni Uguisu

The Japanese phrase, ume ni uguisu (梅に鶯), can describe something harmonious or well-combined, like a picturesque scene.

Since ume (梅) means "Japanese plum," and uguisu (鶯) means "Japanese bush warbler," the literal meaning of ume ni uguisu is "a Japanese bush warbler with/on a Japanese plum."

Have you ever seen a bush warbler perched on a branch of a plum tree?

I have only seen that in pictures or illustrations, but I think it is indeed a harmonious and beautiful combination.

Incidentally, there is a theory that this phrase was created by confusing "bush warbler" with mejiro (メジロ - meaning "Japanese white-eye"), which is similar to a bush warbler and is easier to find.
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【No. 2087】Iki Atari Battari (行き当たりばったり - Haphazard)

Jul 9, 2023 16:44
Iki Atari Battari

I sometimes spend a day just going with the flow without any plan.

Such an act can be described as iki atari battari (行き当たりばったり) in Japanese.

Since iki (行き) means "to go," atari (当たり) means "to bump," and battari (ばったり) is an onomatopoeic word that expresses something suddenly stops.

In other words, the literal meaning of iki atari battari is "to go, bump into something, and then stop." It has come to be used in the sense of "haphazard."
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【No. 2086】Tsura no Kawa Sen-mai Bari (面の皮千枚張り - Very Shameless/Audacious)

Jul 8, 2023 20:29
Tsura no Kawa Sen-mai Bari

People who are VERY shameless and audacious can be described as tsura no kawa sen-mai bari (面の皮千枚張り).

Since tsura (面) means "face," kawa (皮) means "skin," sen (千) means "thousand," mai (枚) is a counter suffix, and bari/hari (張り) means "cover," the literal meaning of this phrase is "a thousand layers of skin cover one's face."

The day before yesterday, I introduced another phrase, tsura no kawa ga atsui (面の皮が厚い - meaning "shameless/audacious"), using atsui (厚い - meaning "thick").

The etymology is the same: if one has multi-layered skin or a thick-skinned face, they lack facial expressions, making them look shameless and audacious.

If you have a thousand layers of skin on your face, no one might be able to see your emotions.
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【No. 2085】Kōgan/Kōgan Muchi (厚顔/厚顔無恥 - Shameless Audacity)

Jul 7, 2023 11:16
Kōgan/Kōgan Muchi

People who are shameless and audacious can be described with the term kōgan (厚顔).

Since kō (厚) means "thick," and gan (顔) means "face," the literal meaning of kōgan is "thick face."

The etymology of this term is the same as that of tsura no kawa ga atsui (面の皮が厚い) in my yesterday's entry.

You can also add muchi (無恥 - meaning "shameless") to kōgan and say the four-character idiom, kōgan muchi (厚顔無恥 - meaning "shameless and audacious").

This four-character idiom came from the oldest Chinese poetry, Shikyō (詩経 - "Shijing," also known as the "Classic of Poetry").
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【No. 2084】Tsura no Kawa ga Atsui (面の皮が厚い - Having a Thick Skin)

Jul 6, 2023 20:27
Tsura no Kawa ga Atsui

People who have no shame and are audacious are sometimes described as tsura no kawa ga atsui (面の皮が厚い) in Japanese.

Since tsura (面) means "face," kawa (皮) means "skin," and atsui (厚い) means "thick," the literal meaning of this phrase is "having thick skin on one's face."

Shameless and audacious people do not change their facial expressions even when they are criticized.

In other words, if one has a thick-skinned face, their facial expressions become scarce, making them appear audacious and shameless.
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【No. 2083】The Japanese Youth Slang Term 'Mi' (み) : Part 3

Jul 5, 2023 10:27
The Japanese Youth Slang Term 'Mi': Part 3

There are other youth slang terms that use the suffix mi, such as the following:

Suki (好き - "to like") → sukimi (好きみ - "liking")
Shindoi (しんどい - "painful") → shindomi (しんどみ - "pain")
Toutoi (尊い/とうとい - "precious") → toutomi (尊み/とうとみ - "preciousness")

The term toutomi is sometimes used as Toutomi Hideyoshi (尊み秀吉) by mixing it with the famous Japanese warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉), which then means "very precious" or "really splendid."

Another special example of using mi is babumi (バブみ).

The term babumi is coined by attaching mi to the onomatopoeia babu babu (バブバブ) or babū (バブゥ), which describes a baby's voice. For men, it means feeling maternal toward a younger woman; for women, it means feeling maternal within themselves when they see a childish man.