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+--- Thread: kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? (/thread-19.html)
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - mhaellix - 2007-10-12
Just wondering if anyone knows of a website where you can search the meanings of Kotowaza/proverbs. I've seen a couple of websites, but they don't offer search functions, just a list of the available proverbs.
There's one Kotowaza that I've been searching for awhile now:
Te no hira ni kaesu youni
手の平にかえすように。
I don't know which kanji was used for kaesu. Truth is, I don't even know if this can be considered as a kotowaza.
宜しくお願いします
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - yorkii - 2007-10-12
here's a site i refer to for Kotowaza: click I don't think the one you mentioned is included.
also, the Yahoo dictionary (at least) has some kotowaza included in it: click
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - JimmySeal - 2007-10-12
Hm, I was just thinking about kotowaza the other day and what a nice learning tool they are.
But I've searched for your sentence using various permutations of kanji on Google and can't seem to turn up anything
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - Katsuo - 2007-10-12
Try Googling 手のひらを返すように.
Akiyama's book "Japanese Idioms" includes 手の裏を返すように, which means "suddenly". (Literal meaning: "Just like flipping the back of one's hand"), so the meaning may be related to that.
Edit: ALC's dictionary gives the meaning of 手のひらを返すように as "without scruple // without turning a hair"
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - mhaellix - 2007-10-12
Thanks everyone, especially Katsuo, I searched for that and this is how the sentence is:
手のひらを返すように様に遠ざかった
So I guess it can be translated as:
All of a sudden, that friend kept his distance from me. (well in the context of the story)
Yappari, I'm still no good with particles. =(
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - kazelee - 2009-05-16
http://www.ymknu200719.com/kotowaza/
Proverbs and such...
Was gonna start a new thread, but did a search and found this one.
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - theasianpleaser - 2009-05-16
There's a Japanese proverb that says "A good wife follows 3 steps behind her husband".
My wife ignores me when I quote this
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - kazelee - 2009-05-16
theasianpleaser Wrote:There's a Japanese proverb that says "A good wife follows 3 steps behind her husband".I think it means she should watch his back...
My wife ignores me when I quote this
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - aaronvanvalen - 2009-05-16
猿も木から落ちる is my favourite, although I don't know that many
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - harhol - 2009-05-17
You might wanna check out Kodansha's book of basic idioms. 900 entries grouped systematically, tons of example sentences w/ intermediate grammar. Pretty cheap compared to other text books as well, I think mine was £15.99.
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - Rina - 2012-08-25
塵も積もれば山と成る。
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - gibosi - 2012-08-25
just heard this yesterday: 嘘も方便
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - Bokusenou - 2012-08-25
I use this one a lot (it even lets you search for an English proverb and will find Japanese equivalents!), but most of the time I just Google "(kotowaza I want to know) 意味" and that works.
kotowaza/proverbs/phrases? - Crispy - 2012-08-25
mhaellix Wrote:There's one Kotowaza that I've been searching for awhile now:Katsuo already kinda cleared this up already but just to clarify...
Te no hira ni kaesu youni
手の平にかえすように。
I don't know which kanji was used for kaesu. Truth is, I don't even know if this can be considered as a kotowaza.
宜しくお願いします
手の平を返すように and 手の裏を返すように mean different things in literal terms but as far as proverbs/idioms go they're the same and both are used, I suppose it depends on which you prefer. It's used for when a person's feelings or attitude change really easily or abruptly, i.e. as easy as flipping your hand to show the opposite side.
友達Aが、最近手の裏を返したように冷たくなった。