Nov 16, 2005

Kotowaza of the day: The road to heaven is paved with Advertising Dollars

Japanese:
聞いて極楽見て地獄

Romanized:
Kiite gokuraku mite jigoku

Meaning of Japanese:
Paradise (heaven) on hearsay, hell on sight
Sounds like heaven but looks like hell

English equivalent:
Fame is a liar

Nov 10, 2005

Kotowaza of the day: Kick 'em when they're down, revisited

Japanese:
踏んだり蹴ったり

Romanized:
Fundari kettari

Meaning of Japanese:
Stomping on, and then kicking somebody

English equivalent:
To add insult to injury
Out of the frying pan into the fire

Related Kotowaza:
泣きっ面に蜂

Nov 4, 2005

Kotowaza of the day: Take the plunge

Japanese:
案ずるより産むが易い

Romanized:
Anzuru yori umu ga yasui

Meaning of Japanese:
Childbirth is easier than the anticipation
An attempt is sometimes easier than expected

English equivalent:
The anticipation is worse than (the reality)
We have nothing to fear but fear itself

Related:
Just do it

Related Kotowaza:
千里の道も一歩から

Nov 2, 2005

Kotowaza of the day: Bah, Humbug!

Japanese:
金は三欠くにたまる

Romanized:
Kane wa sankaku ni tamaru

Meaning of Japanese:
Money (wealth) is accumulated by deficiencies in three character traits*

English equivalent:
Muck and money go together

Related:
(Love of) Money is the root of all evil

*Namely, humanity, sociability, and loyalty to obligations