Japanese Idiomatic Expressions #1

• 23/07/2008 - 00:00
• Author: Yuki Sakuma
• Japan
• 6 Comments
• Read in IT

Idiomatic expressions are linguistical phenomena present in almost every language. Each language has elaborated hundreds of them, and Japanese language has too!

    

Studying and analyzing the idiomatic expressions we can obtain a lot of information about the lifestyle and culture of a country. Below we have gathered a small list of Japanese idiomatic expressions.

MINORU HODO ATAMA NO SAGARU INAHO KANA
(MATURE RICE BOWS THE HEAD)
When the rice is mature and ready to be harvested, it lowers the spikes toward the soil. Japanese people compare this to how wisdom of age fills men with humility so they bow their heads in signs of respect for life and nature.

AME GA FURU TO YARI GA FURU TO
(EVEN IF IT RAINS OR UNDER FALLING ARROWS)

This expression reflects the firm intention of Japanese to reach their goals. Once the goal has been set, after a careful analysis of pros and cons, the project will surely be fulfilled. In English this is like “I’ll do it even if the sky falls Down”.

JUUBAKO NO SUMI O YOOJI DE TSUTSUKU
(GATHER THE RICE AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE BOX WITH A TOOTHPICK)
The juubako is a box that is used to serve the meal. After eating it, often grains of rice remain in the angles of the box. Only a fussy person would try to pick them with a toothpick. It’s like our “split hairs”.

ONAJI KAMA NO MESHI O KUTTA
(EATING THE RICE FROM THE SAME POT)
This expression means the sharing of the same experiences. Eating together creates a sort of bond of friendship and loyalty between those who literally “eat from the same pot”. Often used to reaffirm or to steady an old friendship from shared experiences.

SAJI WO NAGERU
(THROW THE SPOON)
It has the same meaning of “give up”, “surrender”. In ancient times doctors and pharmacists assigned to mix the substances used to make medications to cure the patients, exasperated from not finding the right mixture, would throw their measuring spoons in the air. From this, “throw the spoon” got the meaning of “give up”.

SANSHOO WA KOTSUBU DE MO PIRIRITO KARAI
(JAPANESE PEPPERS ARE SMALL BUT HOT)
Even if japanese peppers are very small, they are very hot. This expression means that size and height are not the only things that make someone strong or skillful.

SASHIMI NO TSUMA
(DECORATION FOR A SASHIMI DISH)
Even if nice, the small decoration that cames along with sashimi plates generally is left untouched. Some don't even notice its presence. Someone who is a “Sashimi no Tsuma” is a non-influential person in decisions, or other things in life.

Stay tuned to know other new Japanese expressions! Bye!