ことわざ・四字熟語 of the Week

Japanese
#1

Hey everyone! :wave:

I hope everyone is surviving the heat, and for those who live in places that stay cooler during the summer, I am very jealous of you!

Starting this week I thought that it would be a good idea to start a thread where I post a ことわざ・四字熟語 every week. I will be posting many kinds of ことわざ・四字熟語 (ranging from common to rare), but my main goal is to post common ones that could be used and ones that you may hear or read in the wild!

Goals :goal_net:

The main goal of this thread is to expose ことわざ・四字熟語 to our students.

Why?

The reason behind this is because as you start immersing yourself in native content, you may see them while reading or you may hear it in conversations, and knowing them before hand could save some potential headaches when trying to understand them. Since ことわざ・四字熟語 is rooted into our culture, learning them could potentially allow you to understand the Japanese culture and morals a little more.

As mentioned above, I will aim to post common ことわざ・四字熟語, but may switch it up at times and post more rare ones that I think are interesting.

ことわざ of the week :memo:

This week’s ことわざ is :

腐っても鯛。
くさってもたい

Translation:
Even if it rots, it’s still a sea bream. (A sea bream is a sea bream even if it rots)

Meaning:
A fine thing (product) will remain as a fine thing (product) even if the quality slightly declines.

Context:
鯛（たい）, sea bream, was and still is considered to be an expensive fish that is usually eaten in celebratory situations because they are thought to bring good fortune (めでたい). Due to this, their value and status stays higher than any other fish, even if it’s damaged or rotted.

When is it used?

It is usually used to express that someone or something still holds weight despite them being older or worn.

Example:

先生はもう引退して結構経つけど、やっぱり先生の踊りはすごいと思う。まさに腐っても鯛だ。

It’s been quite a while since sensei retired, but I still think his dancing is amazing. He’s truly a master of your craft.

Caution:

Due to the use of the word 腐る (to rot), depending on the context and the person it is used towards, it could sound a bit insulting since it emphasizes that they have aged or that their skills have slightly deteriorated.

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#2

Looking forward to these! My favourite 四字熟語 (used for study motivation) which no one seems to know: 一暴十寒

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#3

ことわざ of the week :memo:

This week’s ことわざ is :

河童の川流れ
かっぱのかわながれ

Translation:
Even a kappa can drown.

Meaning:
It doesnt’ matter how good you are at something, there will be times where you will fail.

Context:
河童（かっぱ）is a water type yōkai that lives in rivers. They are known to be very good swimmers because they spend most of their time swimming.

When is it used?

This proverb is usually used remind someone that even a master of something has their bad days, so they should not be too hard on themself. It is also used to express surprise when someone that is usually perfect makes a mistake.

Example:

いつもあんなに綺麗に歌ってる先生が音程を外すなんて信じられない。これこそ河童の川流れっていうやつか。

I can’t believe that my teacher, who always sings so beautifully, is out of tune. I guess this what you call a drowning kappa (I guess this is what it means when people say ‘Even the best swimmers drown’).

Related ことわざ:

猿も木から落ちる
さるもきからおちる

28 Likes
#4

Love ことわざ thanks for this mini series!

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#5

What an awesome topic for a weekly thread. I’m going to love learning about these.

My daft brain didn’t notice this thread last week and it looks like I missed the first ことわざ. Is it still OK if I ask a question about last week’s ことわざ? What I’m wondering is, should I worry about sensitivities when using 腐っても鯛 to describe a person’s performance? See, I’m sure it’s safe to use 腐っても鯛 when descibing a worn tool that still works great, but if I’m praising a person, won’t I be hit with a “who are you calling a rotten sea bream?” 口は災いの元, after all. :wink:

1 Like
#6

I hope you enjoy the series!

#7

You could definitely use 腐っても鯛 to describe a person’s performance! However, because 腐る does not have a positive nuance, it should not be used towards someone in a higher position or someone that is older than you. It is usually used towards peers or to talk about celebrities. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use it towards a 目上の人, especially if you have a good, friendly, casual relationship with them!

6 Likes
#8

Interesting! Thank you very much! :memo: :writing_hand:

2 Likes
#9

ことわざ of the week :memo:

This week’s ことわざ is :

塵も積もれば山となる
ちりもつもればやまとなる

Translation:
Even dust could form a mountain if they pile up.

Meaning:
Every little bit counts/Step by step

English Equivalent
Many a little makes a mickle.

Context:
It is said that this proverb came from a Mahāyāna Buddhist treatise called the Da Zhidu Lun. The original proverb that was written in the treatise was 微塵（みじん）も積（つ）もり積（つ）もれば、山（やま）となり動（うご）かせなくなる and was used to express that even the slightest anger or desire, when piled up, makes it harder for the soul to be saved. It was originally used with a negative nuance, but over time, it has been shortened and became common to use it with a positive nuance.

When is it used?

This proverb is used to to express that every little step taken towards a specific goal is a step taken in the right direction. It is usually used when someone wants to reassure someone (or themselves) that working towards a goal, even if it seems pointless, could lead them to accomplishment.

Example:

「５００円ぐらいならケチるな」と思うかもしれないけど、塵も積もれば山となる。

You might be thinking, ‘Don’t be so worried about saving 500 yen’, but every little bit counts.

You may also see this abbreviated as チリツモ.

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#10

ことわざ of the week :memo:

This week’s ことわざ is :

灯台下暗し
とうだいもとくらし

Translation:
The base of a lighthouse is dark.

Meaning:
It is easy to miss facts that are put in front of you. The more familiar something is, the harder it is to notice.

English Equivalent
It’s hard to see what’s under your nose.

Context:
People often think that this 灯台 refers to a light house, however it actually refers to a candle that was used during the Edo period to light up a room.

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Due to the design of the candle stand, it did not provide light directly under the stand.

When is it used?

This proverb is used in many situations where a person wants to express that they missed an obvious facts, or that they were too focused on something less important that they missed something more important.

Example:

友人達には感謝の気持を伝えていたが、自分の妻には全く伝えていなかったことに気づいた。まさに灯台下暗しだ。

I realized that I have been expressing my gratitude to my friends, but not at all to my own wife. It’s truly hard to see what’s under your nose.

Similar ことわざ

魚の目に水見えず
うおのめにみずみえず

13 Likes