Those who stand out eventually get put in line. “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down”. This proverb can also be translated as “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Literally, the land strengthens after the rain. Very similar to “it’s no use crying over spilled milk”. That which happens twice shall happen a third time. By going after both the horsefly and the bee, one may not be able to catch neither. *This proverb is also known as: Abuhachi torazu (虻蜂取らず). Meaning that in doing 2 things at the same time, success will not be possible in either. Literally: he who chases after 2 rabbits will catch neither. Literally: choosing flowers over “dango” (typical rice flour dumpling Japanese sweet). It refers to caring more about the substance of things rather than just their appearance. Meaning that it is natural to make mistakes sometimes. This is a great proverb referencing to the importance of diligence and persistance through whatever one wants to accomplish in life. Rushing through a shortcut in order to finish something quickly but having a high probability of making a mistake, rather than taking the safe longer route.įall seven times, get up eight. *Fun fact: shrines usually have two “komainu” (guardian lion-dogs) at the entrance, one with an open mouth and one with its mouth shut, symbolizing this “aun no kokyu” connection with the shinto gods. Two people sharing the same mindset in harmony, as in being able to finish the other persons sentence or communicating without having to speak. So on this Sakura Tip we focus on some proverbs to continue going a little deeper into the Japanese culture while preparing for your next stay in Tokyo, Kyoto or in the beautiful costal area of Izu.
And even if you are just traveling around Tokyo or Kyoto, it is nice to be able to show the locals your interest in their culture and how well educated you are about it.
If coming to work or intern at a local Japanese company, your fellow workers may assume you know some of them already. If you plan to study Japanese in Japan, maybe your fellow students and teachers can share with you some of these. Every culture has its beliefs, customs and of course its proverbs.
0 kommentar(er)
