Kotowaza of the day: In defense of dilly-dalliance

Japanese:

子馬の朝駆け

Romanized:

Kouma-no asagake

Meaning of Japanese:

Like a colt that exuberantly dashes out in the morning, and is soon out of breath

English equivalent:

Haste makes waste
Too much of a good thing (is not good)

Related:

Slow and easy

Goodbye, unsightly spam?

I just turned on word verification for Blogger comments because two spamlets appeared within a minute of posting the last kotowaza.

But, in the process of deleting them, I discovered that clicking the trash can icon a second time allows you to remove the comment forever. Good to know.

Kotowaza of the day: Teensy weensy

Japanese:

雀の涙

Romanized:

Suzume-no namida

Meaning of Japanese:

Sparrow's tears

English equivalent:

Chicken feed
A pittance
A drop in the bucket

Kotowaza of the day: Wanna hear something low?

Japanese:

伏せる牛に芥

Romanized:

Fuseru ushi-ni akuta

Meaning of Japanese:

Throw dirt on a lying cow

English equivalent:

To kick a man when he's down
Rub salt in a wound
Piss on (someone's) grave

Related:

Twist the knife

Kotowaza of the day: The Joy of Pawn Sacrifice

Japanese:

負けて勝つ

Romanized:

Makete katsu

Meaning of Japanese:

Suffer a loss to win in the end

English equivalent:

Stoop to conquer
Sometimes the best gain is to lose

Related:

To lose the battle but win the war

Kotowaza of the day: Unbending faith is bliss

Japanese:

非学者論に負けず

Romanized:

Higakusha ron-ni makezu

Meaning of Japanese:

An ignorant man never yields in the face of reason.

English equivalent:

A wise man changes his mind, a fool never.

Related:

God said it, (I believe it,) that settles it.

Kotowaza of the day: But can you walk the walk?

Japanese:

畳の上の水練

Romanized:

Tatami-no ue-no suiren

Meaning of Japanese:

Swimming practice on the tatami mat

English equivalent:

Knowledge without practice makes but half an artist
A mere scholar, a mere ass

Related:

(verb) much, or just read about it?
Armchair quarterback, etc.

Kotowaza of the day: Should be seen and not heard?

Japanese:

黙り虫壁を通す

Romanized:

Damari-mushi kabe-wo toosu

Meaning of Japanese:

Quiet bugs (worms) bore holes through the wall

English equivalent:

Still waters run deep
Beware of a silent dog and still water (and a still enemy)
Never trust a tailor that does not sing at his work (, his mind is of nothing but filching)

Kotowaza of the day: Homeland security edition

Japanese:

文事ある者は必ず武備あり

Romanized:

Bunji aru mono-wa kanarazu bubi ari

Meaning of Japanese:

A learned man is always well prepared for war

English equivalent:

??

Related:

He that makes a good war makes a good peace
Walk Speak softly and carry a big stick

Random pics #14-17: Repetition

This may bring charges of premature celebration, but in anticipation of our nomination for "Longest string of more-or-less repetitive posts to a weblog or other amateur easily-updated website of interest to few outside a small, fanatic audience," we're going to break stride today at dailysoy by bringing back a long-lost element - visuals. Pictures. Fotografias digitales. Don't worry, to avoid spraining anything we'll ease into it by building on today's theme of repetition.


Repetition as Agent of Climate Control


A farm of genetically-engineered window a/c units just a block or two from the East River in Brooklyn Heights.


Repetition as Protection from the Elements


Typical residential tile roof in mainland Japan, wet from a recent rain


Repetition as Aesthetic Choice, Complexly Layered


Detail of the double skin on a Dior boutique (this one in Ginza, Tokyo, although a new store in Osaka appears to share the overall external appearance). Viewed from a bit more distance, it takes on this pattern. And when the pattern is broken for a sidewalk-level window display, it is done so in technicolor.


Repetition as Meditation Aid


Rock garden at Daisen-in temple in Kyoto's Daitokuji complex.

There oughta be a special license class for these beasts

Last weekend we made a little getaway to Albany, to take our minds off thing$ and to experience more of our new home state. Over the course of the 3-hour drive up, we witnessed the aftermaths of about half a dozen car accidents - every single one of them involving an SUV rear-ending another vehicle.

I have two theories to explain this persistent characteristic:
1. The worst drivers on our roads can't resist buying the largest "passenger vehicles"
2. SUV drivers have made a collective decision to take out their gas pump frustration on smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles and their penny-pinching owners

Any alternate theories would be appreciated, and will no doubt advance the cause of science.

Kotowaza of the day: Labor Day weekend special

Japanese:

怠け者の節供働き

Romanized:

Namakemono-no sekku-bataraki

Meaning of Japanese:

Lazy men work hard only during the festival, while others are resting

English equivalents:

Idle folks have the most labour
The lazy man works twice