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Translating Japanese...

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Dartful Dodger:
"...of two men who love each other, you are the one who plays the woman."

ChoiceStriker:

--- Quote from: Dartful Dodger on May 09, 2008, 06:25:43 pm ---"...of two men who love each other, you are the one who plays the woman."

--- End quote ---
LOL!  That'd be an awful lot for just those two characters. 

*shifts into uber-geek mode* 

Although, there is an enormous range of sayings / idioms in Japanese called yoji-jukugo (四字熟語 - literally, four character idiom) that say an awful lot with just those four characters.  For example, three "mottos" of 19th century Japan were "Sonnō jōi" (尊王攘夷 - "Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians"), "Bunmei kaika" (文明開化 - "Civilization and enlightenment"), and "Fukoku kyōhei" (富国強兵 - "Rich country, strong army").  So just four characters can represent some broad ideals.

But there are other sillier and more literal examples still in use today, such as: "Isseki nichō" (一石二鳥 - "One stone, two birds"). 

And thus concludes your history lesson for the day. :)

Malenko:
I'm just happy I was partially right. Thats what I get for learning Japanese from some one whos first language is mandarin Chinese :p

danny_galaga:
cool info (",)

the example you gave here is interesting. who would think such different cultures as english and japanese would share a saying...


--- Quote from: ChoiceStriker on May 09, 2008, 07:02:40 pm ---

But there are other sillier and more literal examples still in use today, such as: "Isseki nichō" (一石二鳥 - "One stone, two birds"). 

And thus concludes your history lesson for the day. :)

--- End quote ---

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