Languages studying dumblr

花より団子

Dango Over Flowers

Practicality Over Aesthetic

“ピンヒールよりブーツの方が好きです。”

“花より団子ですね。”

強い光は形を見失わせるが

優しい光は形を際立たせる

Bright light obscures shapes,

A home with a cat needs no sculpture.

— Wesley Bates

（even if the cat is a little chubby）

猫のいる家には彫刻はいらない

—ウェズリー・ベイツ

1杯のコーヒーからはじまるのは

"Spring - Children's Paradise" Nagoya City Higashiyama Zoo Visitation Memorial Match

Yamanaka rindo sign

Machiko Hasegawa

ことわざ are Japanese proverbs, and I have listed some basic proverbs, their equivalents in English, and a rough translation of the meanings of the Japanese phrase.

There is a test for ことわざ called the ことわざ能力検定 (ことわざのうりょくけんてい) and these are some of the phrases that appear in level 8 or 8級 (10 being the lowest level). Try one or two of these out the next time you speak with a native Japanese speaker!

Additional ことわざ (こと検8級): 19 | 20 More ことわざ (こと検9級): 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 Even More ことわざ (こと検10級): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

猿も木から落ちる

さるもきからおちる

Even monkeys fall from trees

Even experts make mistakes.

触らぬ神にたたりなし

さわらぬかみにたたりなし

Leave the gods untouched and no curse will come

Stay away from trouble and you avoid problems.

三人寄れば文殊の知恵

さんにんよればもんじゅのちえ

Two heads are better than one

Three people together have the wisdom of Monju (the boddhisatva who represents wisdom).

失敗は成功のもと

しっぱいはせいこうのもと

Failure is the foundation of success

You learn from mistakes and improve.

親しき仲にも礼儀あり

したしきなかにもれいぎあり

Even among close friends, there is etiquette

Be respectful even with people you know well.

知らぬが仏

しらぬがほとけ

Ignorance is bliss

Not knowing is Buddha.

好きこそ物の上手なれ

すきこそもののじょうずなれ

What one likes, one will do well

People improve at things they enjoy.

雀百まで踊り忘れず

すずめひゃくまでおどりわすれず

Habits from youth remain for life

A sparrow never forgets dancing even at 100.

急いては事を仕損じる

せいてはことをしそんじる

Haste makes waste

Rushing causes mistakes.

背に腹はかえられぬ

せにはらはかえられぬ

In an emergency, necessities come first

One cannot substitute the back for the belly.

備えあれば憂いなし

そなえあればうれいなし

Forewarned is forearmed

If prepared, there is no worry.

そうは問屋がおろさない

そうはとんやがおろさない

It won't be that easy

There's this peculiar realm of equipment called "lime-based association," where things like a cat wearing a hat or kittens with gloves stand out as distinct from other gear. If you encounter a cat wearing a hat, it's wise to treat the situation with proper respect - these are formidable beings.

ホシザキシャクジョウの花