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【No. 1922】Ron yori Shōko (論より証拠 - Practice Is Better than Precept)

Jul 31, 2021 13:05
Ron yori Shōko

When actual evidence is shown, things become clearer, and we don't need to argue and think about it repeatedly.

To explain this fact, you can use the Japanese proverb ron yori shōko (論より証拠).

Since ron (論) means "opinion" or "view," yori (より) means "more/better than," and shōko (証拠) means "evidence," ron yori shōko literally means "evidence is better than opinions."

This proverb can be translated into English as "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," "Practice is better than precept," or "Seeing is believing."
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【No. 1921】Tsukiyo ni Chōchin Natsu Hibachi (月夜に提灯夏火鉢 - Unnecessary)

Jul 30, 2021 15:47
Tsukiyo ni Chōchin Natsu Hibachi

In yesterday's post, I introduced the idiom tsukiyo ni chōchin (月夜に提灯), which means something unnecessary or useless.

You can also add natsu hibashi (夏火鉢) to this and say tsukiyo ni chōchin natsu hibachi (月夜に提灯夏火鉢).

Since natsu (夏) means "summer" and hibachi (火鉢) means "(traditional Japanese) brazier," the literal meaning of natsu hibachi is "a brazier in summer."

A brazier in summer is unnecessary and useless, just as tsukiyo ni chōchin.

Actually, both tsukiyo ni chōchin and natsu hibachi have the same meaning, and saying them together doesn't change the meaning.

In other words, the term natsu hibachi itself may be unnecessary and useless.
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【No. 1920】Tsukiyo ni Chōchin (月夜に提灯 - Unnecessary)

Jul 29, 2021 14:29
Tsukiyo ni Chōchin

Unnecessary or useless things are sometimes described as tsukiyo ni chōchin (月夜に提灯) in Japanese.

Since tsuki (月) means "moon," yo (夜) means "night," and chōchin (提灯) means "(traditional Japanese) lantern," the literal meaning of tsukiyo ni chōchin is "a Japanese lantern on a moonlit night."

"Moonlit night" here refers especially to "a night with a full and bright moon."

Such a night is already bright enough, so lanterns are unnecessary.

However, in my opinion, a scene with a traditional Japanese lantern on a moonlit night is atmospheric and attractive.
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【No. 1919】Shita-tsuzumi wo Utsu (舌鼓を打つ - Smacking One's Lips)

Jul 28, 2021 21:36
Shita-tsuzumi wo Utsu

In yesterday's post, I introduced the phrase hō ga ochiru (頬が落ちる), which means that something is very delicious.

To explain the same meaning of hō ga ochiru, you can also use the slightly more archaic phrase, shita-tsuzumi wo utsu (舌鼓を打つ).

Since shita (舌) means "tongue," tsuzumi (鼓) means a traditional Japanese hand drum, and utsu (打つ) means "to beat," the literal meaning of shita-tsuzumi wo utsu is "to beat one's tongue dram."

When eating something delicious or being satisfied with a delicious meal, we sometimes click our tongues unconsciously.

This sound is similar to the sound of beating tsuzumi, hence this expression emerged.
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【No. 1918】Hō ga Ochiru (頬が落ちる - Very Delicious)

Jul 27, 2021 11:01
Hō ga Ochiru

To describe that something is very delicious, you can use the Japanese phrase hō ga ochiru (頬が落ちる).

Since hō/hoho (頬) means "cheek" and ochiru (落ちる) means "to drop," the literal meaning of hō ga ochiru is "one's cheeks drop."

It is thought that this phrase came from the fact that when you eat something delicious, you feel a sensation as if your cheeks are pulled due to the secretion of a large amount of saliva.

You can also say hoppeta ga ochiru (ほっぺたが落ちる), by using the slang term hoppeta (ほっぺた - meaning "cheek") instead of hō/hoho.
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【No. 1917】Kame no Kō yori Toshi no Kō (亀の甲より年の功 - Experience Counts)

Jul 26, 2021 12:06
Kame no Kō yori Toshi no Kō

Elders' experience and knowledge are very valuable and should be respected.

The Japanese proverb kame no kō yori toshi no kō (亀の甲より年の功) expresses this fact.

Kame (亀) means "turtle," the former kō (甲) means "shell," yori (より) means "more than," toshi (年) means "old," and the latter kō (功) means "rich experience" or "long years."

That is to say, the literal meaning of kame no kō yori toshi no kō is "(You should respect) elders' rich experience more than the turtle shell."

To tell you the truth, kame no kō (亀の甲) here was added for arranging the rhythm of this phrase, and it has any deep meaning.
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【No. 1916】Me wo Sankaku ni Suru (目を三角にする - Getting Angry with a Stern Glare)

Jul 25, 2021 15:50
Me wo Sankaku ni Suru

When someone gets angry and lifts the corners of his/her eyes up, it can be described as me wo sankaku ni suru (目を三角にする) in Japanese.

Since me (目) means "eye," sankaku (三角) means "triangle," and suru (する) means "to make," the literal meaning of me wo sankaku ni suru is "to make one's eyes triangular."

This phrase came from the fact that when the corners of one's eyes are lifted up with fury, the eye shapes approach triangles.

For example, you can say kare wa me wo sankaku ni shite okoru (目を三角にして怒った - ​"He got angry with a stern glare.")怒る
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【No. 1915】Oni no Me ni mo Namida (鬼の目にも涙 - Tears from the Hardest Heart)

Jul 24, 2021 12:31
Oni no Me ni mo Namida

Is there anyone around you who is an cruel and scary like an ogre?

Although it may be difficult to imagine, even such a person could sometimes shed tears out of pity or compassion for someone.

When you see such a scene, you can use the Japanese proverb, oni no me ni mo namida (鬼の目にも涙).

Since oni (鬼) means "ogre," me (目) means "eye," namida (涙) means "tears," the literal meaning of oni no me ni mo namida is "tears in the ogre's eyes."

These days, I think that this proverb is often used when a strict person cries.
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【No. 1914】Benkei ni Naginata (弁慶に薙刀 - Adding Wings to a Tiger)

Jul 23, 2021 12:08
Benkei ni Naginata

In yesterday's post, I introduced the idiom oni ni kanabō (鬼に金棒), which means "making an already strong person even stronger by adding something."

There is another idiom that has the same meaning: Benkei ni naginata (弁慶に薙刀).

Benkei (弁慶) refers to Musashibo Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶), a monk in the late Heian period (around the 12th century), who has a large body and monstrous strength, and defeat many samurai.

Benkei was skilled in the use of naginata (薙刀), a long-handled sword, and it is said that the combination of Benkei and the naginata was terrifying.

You can also say oni ni kanabō, benkei ni naginata (鬼に金棒、弁慶に薙刀), by connecting the two idioms.
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【No. 1913】Oni ni Kanabō (鬼に金棒 - Adding Wings to a Tiger)

Jul 22, 2021 18:02
Oni ni Kanabō

When an already strong person or thing becomes stronger by adding something, it can be described as oni ni kanabō (鬼に金棒) in Japanese.

Since oni (鬼) means "ogre" and kanabō (金棒) means "metal rod," the literal meaning of oni ni kanabō is "giving a metal rod to an ogre."

As you can imagine, a strong ogre becomes incredibly strong when he obtains a weapon such as a metal rod.

The word oni (鬼 - "ogre") has a vicious image, however, the proverb oni ni kanabō is usually used in a positive sense.

For example, you can use it in the following way: 'iro-iro na taikai de yoku yūshō shiteiru tenisu-bu ni, orinpikku keiken no aru kōchi ga funin shite kita. Masani oni ni kanabō da.' (いろいろな大会でよく優勝しているテニス部に、オリンピック経験のあるコーチが赴任してきた。まさに鬼に金棒だ。 - meaning "The tennis club, which often wins various tournaments, has a new coach, a former Olympian. This club is going to be incredibly strong.")
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【No. 1912】Chi ga Sawagu (血が騒ぐ - Excited)

Jul 21, 2021 19:11
Chi ga Sawagu

When you get excited that you can't stay still, it can be called chi ga sawagu (血が騒ぐ).

Since chi (血) means "blood" and sawagu (騒ぐ) means "to make a fuss," the literal meaning of chi ga sawagu is "one's blood makes a fuss."

This expression is a metaphor for someone who is very excited.

Of course, you can say just chi ga sawasu to express excitement. In addition, you can also say edokko no chi ga sawagu (江戸っ子の血が騒ぐ - meaning "my bloodline from Edo period makes me excited") or matsuri-zuki no chi ga sawagu (祭り好きの血が騒ぐ - meaning "my festival-loving blood makes me excited") by adding a word to describe your birth or nature.
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【No. 1911】Shōgi Daoshi (将棋倒し - Human Avalanche)

Jul 20, 2021 16:58
Shōgi Daoshi

An accident where many people fall down one after another in a chain is sometimes referred to as shōgi daoshi (将棋倒し) in Japanese.

Shōgi (将棋) is a Japanese board game similar to chess, and daoshi/taoshi (倒し) means "to knock down," the literal meaning of shōgi daoshi is "knocking shogi down."

Shogi pieces are usually thick pentagonal boards, and you can make them stand.

In a game called shōgi daoshi, shogi pieces are made to stand at regular intervals, and they are knocked down in a chain, like dominoes.

From the scene of shogi pieces falling one after another, the term shōgi daoshi came to mean "an accident where people fall in a chain."
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【No. 1910】Tashō (多少 - Some)

Jul 19, 2021 11:48
Tashō

I often use the word tashō (多少) in my daily life.

Since ta (多) means "many" and shō (少) means "few," the literal meaning of tashō is "many or few."

When tashō is used as a noun, it has its literal meaning.

On the other hand, when tashō is used as an adverb, it means "just a little" or "some."

Personally, tashō is used more often as an adverb than as a noun.

If you want to express "just a little" or "some" in a more formal way or written language, you can use jakkan (若干).
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【No. 1909】Kazahana (風花 - Snow Flurry)

Jul 18, 2021 17:37
Kazahana

On a sunny day, when snow falls fluttering, or when snow on mountains flurries by the wind, we sometimes refers to the snow as kazahana (風花) in Japanese.

Since kaza/kaze (風) means "wind" and hana (花) means "flower," the literal meaning of kazahana is "wind flowers."

This term describes the flurry of snow as flower petals dancing in the wind.

In addition, as such snow melts quickly, kazahana can also be used as a metaphor for something ephemeral.

Kazahana is a little old-fashioned, so it is rarely used these days, but when you see such snow, please try to use this beautiful expression.
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【No. 1908】Nirunari Yakunari (煮るなり焼くなり - Whatever You Want)

Jul 17, 2021 11:52
Nirunari Yakunari

When you do not care how you are treated or what punishment comes to you, you can use the phrase nirunari yakunari (煮るなり焼くなり).

Since niru (煮る) means "to boil" and yaku (焼く) means "to grill," the literal meaning of nirunari yakkunari is "boiling or grilling."

This phrase implies that you are an ingredient that has given up on survival.

In most cases, it is used something like nirunari yakunari sukinishiro (煮るなり焼くなり好きにしろ), by adding sukinishiro (好きにしろ - meaning "do whatever you want").

However, I think that this phrase is mostly used in movies or comics, and I have never seen anyone use this in real life.
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【No. 1907】Nijū Gosai (二汁五菜 - Two Soups and Five Dishes)

Jul 16, 2021 11:01
Nijū Gosai

In my post yesterday, I Introduced ichijū sansai (一汁三菜), which is the traditional Japanese meal.

On the other hand, there is another type of meal, nijū gosai (二汁五菜). Nijū gosai is a menu for the traditional and formal Japanese meal called honzen ryōri (本膳料理).

Since ni (二) means "two," jū (汁) means "soup," go (五) means "five," and sai (菜) means "dish," nijū gosai literally means "two soups and five dishes."

Honzen ryō used to be a meal for welcoming guests in the samurai world, but these days, it is almost exclusively used on ceremonial occasions.

Incidentally, the pronunciation nijū gosai is the same as 二十五歳, which means "twenty-five years old."
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【No. 1906】Ichijū Sansai (一汁三菜 - A Traditional Japanese Meal)

Jul 15, 2021 19:20
Ichijū Sansai

Do you have a well-balanced diet?

In Japan, ichijū sansai (一汁三菜) is often adopted as a menu for daily meals.

Since ichi (一) means "one," jū (汁) means "soup," san (三) means "three," and sai (菜) means "dish," the literal meaning of ichijū sansai is "one soup and three dishes."

In most cases, ichijū means "miso soup," and sansai consists of one main dish such as meat or fish, and two side dishes such as vegetables, mushrooms, or seaweed.

If you add rice as a staple food to ichijū sansai, it becomes a traditional Japanese meal.
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【No. 1905】Tokyo Tokkyo Kyokakyoku (東京特許許可局)

Jul 14, 2021 12:12
Tokyo Tokkyo Kyokakyoku

Today, I would like to introduce a Japanese tongue twister, Tokyo tokkyo kyokakyoku (東京特許許可局).

Tokyo means "Tokyo" (read as 'toukyou'), tokkyo (特許) means "patent," and kyokakyoku (許可局) means "approval office," the literal meaning of Tokyo tokkyo kyokakyoku is "Tokyo patent approval office."

Can you say this phrase quickly? (I can't.)

Tokyo tokkyo kyokakyoku was created just as a tongue twister, and such office does not exist.

There is also a more difficulty version, Tokyo tokkyo kyokakyoku kyokuchō (東京特許許可局局長), adding kyokuchō (局長 - meaning "Director General").
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【No. 1904】Nagai Me de Miru (長い目で見る - Taking a Long View)

Jul 13, 2021 08:48
Nagai Me de Miru

To make a decision by considering not only the present situation but also the future is expressed as nagai me de miru (長い目で見る) in Japanese.

Since nagai (長い) means "long/long-term," me (目) means "eye/view," and miru (見る) means "to look at," the literal meaning of nagai me de miru is "to look at something with long-term view."

Note that me ga nagai (目が長い) does not mean that the eye width is physically long.

In English, it can be translated as "in the long run" or "to take a long view."
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【No. 1903】Ashi ga Bō ni Naru (足が棒になる - One's Legs Are Tired)

Jul 12, 2021 22:19
Ashi ga Bō ni Naru

When you walk or stand for a long time and get so tired that you feel stiffness in your legs, the situation can be expressed as ashi ga bō ni naru (足が棒になる) in Japanese.

Since ashi (足) means "leg," bō (棒) means "stick," and naru (なる) means "to become," the literal meaning of ashi ga bō ni naru is "one's legs become sticks."

This phrase came from the fact that when you feel tired in your legs, they become stiff and immobile like sticks.