mountain – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Feb 09, 2024Feb 11, 2024 Chinese Classic of Poetry, gem, misbehaviors, mistakes, mountain, Polish, proverb, reflection, stone, tazan no ishi

Tazan no Ishi (他山の石 – Drawing a Lesson)

Tazan no Ishi 他山の石 The mistakes and misbehaviors of others can be used as materials to polish oneself and for Read More

Culture Essay Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Feb 07, 2024Feb 11, 2024 hardships, idiom, Japanese, Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari, joys, life, mountain, proverb, valley

Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari (人生山あり谷あり – Life Has Its Ups and Downs)

Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari 人生山あり谷あり In a long life, there are hardships as well as joys. 長い人生、つらいこともあれば、楽しいこともあります。 This idea Read More

Art Corrected Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language

Toru Jan 11, 2024Jan 13, 2024 ancient Chinese legend, dragon, experience, idiom, mountain, negative connotation, sea, sly, thousand, umisen yamasen

Umisen Yamasen (海千山千 – Experienced and Cunning)

Umisen Yamasen 海千山千 The four-character idiom umisen yamasen (海千山千) describes someone who has many years of experience, knows everything good Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jul 25, 2023Jan 02, 2024 ba, challenging, Japanese expressions, koeru, mountain, norikiru, overcome, peak, yama, yamaba

Yamaba (山場 – A Challenging Situation/Climax)

Yamaba 山場 Today, I overcame the most challenging day in recent months. 私は今日、恐らくここ数ヶ月で最も厳しい時期を、なんとか乗り越えました。 In such situations, you can use the Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Proverb Uncorrected

Toru May 20, 2023Jan 02, 2024 decoration, idiom, Japanese, meaning, mountain, phrase, politeness, tree, vibrancy, withered

Kreki mo Yama no Nigiwai (枯れ木も山の賑わい – Anything Is Better than Nothing)

Kreki mo Yama no Nigiwai 枯れ木も山の賑わい The idiom kareki mo yama no nigiwai can describe a situation where even a Read More

Business Culture Essay Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Apr 16, 2023Jan 02, 2024 deep, fukai, high, mountain, price fluctuations, stock market, takai, tani, valley, yama

Yama Takakereba Tani Fukashi (山高ければ谷深し – What Goes Up Must Come Down)

Yama Takakereba Tani Fukashi 山高ければ谷深し Today I would like to introduce a saying, yama takakereba tani fukashi (山高ければ谷深し). 今日は「山高ければ谷深し」という教訓を紹介します。 Since Read More

Corrected Essay Etymology Idiom

Toru Mar 22, 2021Jun 01, 2021 0 Comments auspicious, bird, call, cuckoo, echo, mountain, old, prosperous, quiet, town

Kankodori (閑古鳥 – Cuckoo)

Kankodori 閑古鳥 In my post yesterday, I explained that cuckoos are not very auspicious in Japan. 昨日の投稿で、「カッコウ」は日本であまり縁起が良くないと説明しました。 A cuckoo is Read More