Table Of Content101 Japanese
Idioms
ng Japanese Lan
rough Popular Fhras
ae 0 Migakea
Beane
“to Polish Ones Arms"
Here Are 101 Keys to
scr aath a beau ne
Grdostepen,
ach damon n both orsonsec ond
‘ccampaneday an snaraten arahen jaoque fo
tom rears. oe Sete crcguee ater unsermnarg
serotonin tora weath a
raise snc roman yore
Ceres onan ind oreo
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PORT BOOKS
101 Japanese
Idioms
Understanding Japanese Language and
Outture Through Popular Phrases,
Michsel L. Maynard
Senko K. Maynard
IMlustrations by Toki
massrom sooxs
Contents
Profoce v
Section One: Wigme
Relating to Nature 1-24
Things That Grow: Gomasuri = Hana ai Arashi
Hana yor! Dango = Imo Ina Ka] 0 rau Yoo
2 fweanu ga Homa © Korogary Ishi ni Koke Musozu
= Minory hodo Atama’ no Sagaru lnah Kana
1 Nemawashi Nemo fla ma Nai = Sokare
© Sanshoo wa Kolsubu de ma [Pvt] Korat > Tokane
no Hana 2 Toko 0 Watta Yoo - Un Fula Yorabo
Tas no Kage,
Water, Wind, ond Clouds: Ame go Furco to Yer
ga Futoo lo 9 Ame Futte li Katomoru > Kaze no
Tayori © Kuro © Teukamu Yoo 3 Mira ni Nagacu
8 Mizu no Awa» Mizu 0 Ula Yoo." Mizu Shooboi
2 Yoleishi ni Mizu
Idioms
Greatures Large and Small 25-46
Ashimoto bora Toi ga Tatu
fano-0 Nobosu 2 Karite Kio Neko no Yoo » Neko
imo Shakushi mo ¢ Nelo ni Keban = Neko na Hits
"Neko ne Te mo Kartal & Ona Ano na Muna
8 Suzume na Namido « Tas Tor fo 0 Nigocaz
3 Teury no Hllokoe 2 Ua no Hone
Fish, Frogs, and Others: Gomame no Hagithir
“s Hochi na Su @ Taulusta Yoo ” Mippan Dolo =! 0
Nok ne Kawazu [Toler 9 Shiraau] © Ka no Naku
Yoong Kos 2 Manco no Ue no Kor 2 Mush no ki
© Nokitsura ni Hachi= Soba 0 Yomu & ade Kou
‘Mushi ma Sulizuk
Section Three
‘The Human Body
‘bola mo Fkubo © Aguro 0 Kaku & Ashimata 6 Miry
1 Ashi Arau # Alama ga Sogary = Awoseru Kao ga
Noi a Horager e Ishin Denshin © Koo go Hiri
© Kofam ga Somar ® Koshi ga Pika * Mimi go Ho
{ Ryooyaku Kochi i Nigashi = Shinzoa ga Teuyoi
© Shirl Me de Miu © Tau no Kawa go Atsul > Udo
© Migake 2 Ushiregam 0 Pikareru Omoi
5 Ushiroyubi o Sasareru Yoo
Section Four: atoms
rom One to Ten and More 66-76
CChiri mo Tsumorebo Yom fe Naru © Happoo Bin
= Hita Hata Agery = Hilor Zumeo o Toru Ishi no Ue
fimo Sannen * Jaunin Toiro & Nimaijta 0 Tsvkou
Nino Ashe Fums 9 Onn Sannin Yoreba
Kephinsit © Seman Vere eno Ce
P Sushizume
Bection Five: iaioms
rom Place to Place 77-82
‘Ang go Attra Hoirtai «Ishibashi o Tatete Watery
5 'Kusowoke » Onobor#san 0 Sumeba Miyoko
1 Wear n Fune
Seotion Bix: Ietoms
‘More Cultural Keys 83-101
‘Asameshi Mae © Boka wo Shinonokya Naoranai
© Chan-Pon «Dery Kui wa Ulorory © Hakoi’ Musume
' Juuboko no Sumi [Yoo del Tevsuky = Kotaboo 6
Kalsugu © Kooin Ya no Gotoshi = Koshikoke © Kuso!
‘Mano ni wa Futa 0 Surv» Madogwa Zaku " Noren
i Udeosh Ono Koma no Meshi o Kuta © Sj
agers 3 Sashimi no Tsuma © Sade no Shia.” Suna
aka Yoo © Toon © Ow Wushu no Bio
Indexes
Idioms Usted by key image: 215
Idioms listed alphabetically ar
Preface
The picturesque, idkomotcphrove coptures the te
teronce ofc socey eter hon ih pune! procic
description. Soying’ for example in Japanese ws
podked lhe suai to donee the moring commeter
fini a more color nan ik
preferable way of saying,“ was very crowded.”
As, poce ie eh” hse) come
recy from the cure; virtely ery Joponese
Know thot suse packed Highly n boxes ypc
ad toe ut sah shops Sel at ven tte
Thus fhe hom moot ai eine
rapport. A mosiery of Joponexe Moms wl help you
Underfond the cole and spook a more uthente
Se of loponese.
‘When you us idioms sch os suzhizume among
your Jepontse finds, coleoques, end bute
‘ssocioey, you create emohonal Bonds that bring you
loser toa cahure, See the Japanese ote
ondioned tobe thet no people ouside ofthe
Sopanese lands rely know or core dooply cbowt
ihe culture, your se of loponere com nthe
ppropriate content wil both astound ond delight
them. More import, yur command of Japanese
idioms can load to & deoper undestondng othe
Jopanese people
In this book, we induce 101 popular Jopanese
idioms and expressions thot ye boleve oro both
interesting nd sult students of Japenese
language and culure. Each idiom iss troduced in
Romani, flloved by Joponere orhograpy, ond
‘hana eral randaon. Liesl randetons ore
albert since combined wth the vel hey lead
You he source of he phot, wih ones dey
ut of Japanese mihology, nature imagery. animal
ssciaony or he human body as metophon
We hove purposely translated suzume no namida
cs “tears of a sporrow" for example, because suzume
no nama literal ond naturaly—and in @ Jopanese
tray, says “amell”” Hod we translated it loosely to
Imean "a tad” @ great deol ofthe flavor and fextvre
(Fhe phrase would have been losin the rendoring.
“Obr ieral translations of Jopanese idioms are
“wht st ths book apar from other books on tis
{ame subject. In edaltion, Bodkground iformation on
the origin or popular usoge of each idiom offers,
‘lucie insights into Jopanese culture.
‘We have also added « sale fat to provide
content in yhich he idiom is generally used. To ost
{ou in studying the longuage, sample tex is presented
{Tihves sages: Romanzaton, lopanese orthography,
‘and finally English. Translations and narratives ore the
‘authors’ personel interpretations
"The Book con be reed from beginning to end in
cone siting, or can be read in whatever order you
{hooee. For handy reference, an elphobeical Index of
{dioms as well or on index of idioms orgerized by key
images are provided
xtra study fin: After you've looked at exch
centr, go through the book 9 second fime ane place
Sourhond over the Yop port ofthe lefthend page
Beef you con recite he idiom in Jepanese simply by
looking atthe ilusraion
“Ths book is intended for anyone who has an
interest in leorning more abaut the Japanese
languoge and culture. Whether you are currently
fnvaled in a Japanese longuage course, are
planning a trp fo Japan, ae curious about Joponese
Dhilosopty, oF simply want to get To know
‘Jour Japanese lands beter you will refer to
Trroiilgy of sor Japanese toms cgcn
and agein
Michae! L. Maynard
Senko K. Maynard
Section One
Relating to
Nature
Things That Grow 1-15 [° ~
Water, Wind, and
Clouds
“sesame grinding”
Gngratiating oneself, apple-polishing,
overtly flattering, toadying, sucking up to
one’s superiors)
\When@ person makes on overly ingratiting remark, he
cor thei "grnding rerome toed.” Others eal anton to
‘he gomesur thor by eayng the word, by (nonverbal
imoking motion wih the st over the pol ofthe ether
Fran imoloing the grinding of rocsled waa neds
witha pestle an mortar), by doing both Like the
‘mony fesame feeds ground up inthe mortar, the person
ting Favor scling ta everthing fon).
Sample text:
(See: spokenfermalimate)
‘As Kotooson isi kobaricha ni sooth ac dea ye.
: Yonpon soo desu ko. Kolo samen ko zo gomasuel
0 yote kta n da lar, srororoknkerchoa mas
dlroo fo wo amctemaho bed r=
WAS AE OS ERIMIED LUTTE,
UT, LLETNF STU ees
PAEARRES EA) LER T
AAs Theor Mi: Kat is inlly going to be promoted fo
section chi
28; dost | Thought | ws thinking he would make section
‘het soon since he's been epple-paising forth pos!
‘ree yor.
rom moe
2B. a Y
Hana ni Arashi oe “Blossoms bring storms”
AGUS in (Life often brings misfortune at the time
of grest nappinees,)
‘his froitic insight io shortened version of tn
rmuragume, hana i aroe which i erally trorlced
"Cuts over the moon, orm over blonims” loll
seams thot misfortune loom Behind even the hoppies
Sample text
(Sie: spokenfcasalimele
‘As Kelon hte shuvkan de Kyun goshuin ga nyu fo
olin ee.
Bi: Showace ipa! a tekoro ni zaanen nee. Demo mon
"hana a arash” fo yuu kara da aro, kecyuv bo
imo unme! de shikala go noi wa ne.
PTW EAMARERBRO LS D2,
2 TCA)
BRIDE LAME TIL OHI
[As 14 fo0 bad. Only marie o week and her nen
° husband got hoepitlired.
8 Too bad, when sho wor 20 hoppy. Bul ox they sey
“ite efen brings misfortune at the fime of great
Ihoppiness.” W's spy fot. You cant halp
Hana yori Dango a
LV RAS
“Sweets are preferred to
flowers.”
(The practical is preferred over the
‘agathetie,)
Every spring on the dey of “lower viewing” Jopenese
Iradianlly fave fo the couse or ih parks to
cpprecite the beculy of nature. Ye human netue bing
‘thal, people sen fo show considerably more interest
inthe food than in the flower,
Sample text:
(Sie: spokenicasvaAfemele, 8=mele)
‘As tj da wa, Aechan tora sekkaky ohanor nit nen,
fabete hoki
Als, omae wa yoppari
yori dango 20 tou do
hefebibod( IEIRICRROI,
2: Mi, II HEEL AOS 4 7
[As Qh boy, Al-can is only interested in food, while we
‘ama 2 apprecate the cherry blossom troce in full
loom.
rs the practical ever
Imo [no Ko] 0 Bay i
C& .\, “like washing [a bucketful
- Arau Yoo a of] potatoes”
HOF) I LI See
Jam-packed, mobbed with people)
Summee weekends at the baseh in open ore impossible
The beaches oe so coved tha! you can hardly make
space for your beach mat. When hordes of people pay in
the waist deep ocean waters, weve afer wave jis ther
into each cher Ths commotion resembles a wooden
buch of potatoes sloshing eround while bing washed
by the agitator. Usage rested to water-related wanes
Sample text:
[Spe weineneformal
Shchigatu gejun no achiyoob, naluyasum ai hota
rede, kodomezure no kazoku ga ookt, bets yokujoo wo
Ime {no bo] © arau yoona konzolbur te nat
EN PUDEMI, MAAS KOT, HERO
5 HEARNE (OF) EAD £5 OMLRN Eo
Since wes a Sunday toward the end of oly ond some
voc, thee ware a lot oF fame with kts, ond the
bach wes jampacked,
“a? Iwanu ga Hana & “Not saying is the flower?”
(Gome things are better left unsaid; silence
is golden.)
Since ene can never realy “take beck” what ane ays,
there ica high premium en thinking hing tough before
pening ane’ mouth. Mach harm and nonsense can reat
from i-chosen ward. Thus the phivphical observation
that ”Net saying i the wer
Semple tox
(She: spokenicasuafomele)
A: Koren wo yoppari hin shite oko to omou no.
1: Sco re. “Iwamu ga hana’ He lotowaze mo ove ne.
A: Gitte mnie
& 2b. Tamme)
A think keep i see! rom hi.
8, That's good, You row the prover "Sionee it
golden.”
