Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Hungry Samurai sticks toothpick out of his mouth.
Japanese translation:
武士は食わねど高楊枝
Added to glossary by
Hiromi Kobayashi
Jun 11, 2004 03:55
19 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
Hungry Samurai sticks toothpick out of his mouth.
English to Japanese
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Common cliche
I would like to know what is an equivalent cliche in English. Due to the nature of this expression I would like to hear British colleagues' opinions as much as I can though I appreciate other English speaking professionals just as well.
The title is rough translation of Japanese common cliche and by itself makes no sense for most of you. So here's my explanation:
Samurai is Japanese equivalent of the "Knight" in England. He must have a lord to serve, to be employed. However under some circumstances he may be unable to have the lord (out of job). As a result this proud man go very hungry. But he is not supposed to show his hunger (or any human weakness for that matter as stoicism is one of his virtues), so he goes around outside with toothpick sticking out of his mouth not giving people a chance to think he is hungry. You may say that is a vain pride.
Is there similar cliche in Britain?
The title is rough translation of Japanese common cliche and by itself makes no sense for most of you. So here's my explanation:
Samurai is Japanese equivalent of the "Knight" in England. He must have a lord to serve, to be employed. However under some circumstances he may be unable to have the lord (out of job). As a result this proud man go very hungry. But he is not supposed to show his hunger (or any human weakness for that matter as stoicism is one of his virtues), so he goes around outside with toothpick sticking out of his mouth not giving people a chance to think he is hungry. You may say that is a vain pride.
Is there similar cliche in Britain?
Proposed translations
(Japanese)
| 4 | One must put on a brave display even in adversity. |
Hiromi Kobayashi
|
| 5 | 武士は食わねど高楊枝 |
Hiroyasu Satoh (X)
|
| 4 | Too proud to beg |
Manako Ihaya
|
| 3 | Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt |
miyot
|
Proposed translations
7 hrs
Hiromi Kobayashi
Japan
Japan
Native in Japanese
Japan
Licensed English tour guide, interpreter
Native in: Japanese 
Works in: English to Japanese, Japanese to English
Related KudoZ points
:
2
Selected
One must put on a brave display even in adversity.
On the following reference page, you can find these three similar phrases:
1)
One must put on a brave display even in adversity.
2)
Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.
3)
It is better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt.
1)
One must put on a brave display even in adversity.
2)
Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.
3)
It is better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt.
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "みなさんありがとうございました。まず最初にお礼をもうしあげます。そのうちRomromさんのものが探しているものにいちばん近いと思いましたが、２点しかあげられないのは、じつは私のミスで、English-EnglishにすべきところをまちがってEnglish-Japaneseのカテゴリーにしてしまったからです。ほんとうはネイティヴからうかがいたかったので。もとはいうまでもなく、daisukeさんが指摘してくださったとおりです。"
2 hrs
武士は食わねど高楊枝
There is maximum held in Japan: 武士は食わねど高楊枝(Bushi-Wa Kuwanedo
Takayohji)
A samurai puts honor and pride above anything else.
A samurai, even when starving acts as if his stomach is full.
Maximum: One must put on a brave display even in adversity.
Referred to: EIJIRO
Takayohji)
A samurai puts honor and pride above anything else.
A samurai, even when starving acts as if his stomach is full.
Maximum: One must put on a brave display even in adversity.
Referred to: EIJIRO
2 hrs
Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt
I know you want answers from native speakers of English, but I couldn't help but search the internet for answers to your very interesting question. I found "Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt" in the first website (also in http://www.kikkoman.co.jp/homecook/chie/kotowaza/yu.html), and I also found "A proud heart in a poor breast has sorrows in life" in the second website below, though I didn't find many other examples.There was a different version that goes "A proud heart in a poor breast gives its owner little rest", too.
I've never heard these proverbs and am curious to know what native speakers think.
Also, when I did a search on the second one using the search terms "proud heart" and "poor breast", I found some websites on Scottish proverbs. Does it come from Scotland? Does anybody know?
One thing I noticed about the two proverbs is that both seem to clearly say that being too proud is bad, whereas the Japanese proverb does not necessarily say so; it kind of makes fun of a person who is too proud.
I've never heard these proverbs and am curious to know what native speakers think.
Also, when I did a search on the second one using the search terms "proud heart" and "poor breast", I found some websites on Scottish proverbs. Does it come from Scotland? Does anybody know?
One thing I noticed about the two proverbs is that both seem to clearly say that being too proud is bad, whereas the Japanese proverb does not necessarily say so; it kind of makes fun of a person who is too proud.
Reference:
http://www.hi-ho.ne.jp/~asawa/proverb.htm
http://www.geocities.co.jp/HeartLand-Renge/3564/geodiary.html
12 hrs
Manako Ihaya
United States
United States
Native in English
&
Japanese
Works in field
United States
Best of both Japanese and U.S. worlds
Native in: Japanese , English
Works in: Japanese to English, English to Japanese
Too proud to beg
朝目覚めてこのフレーズが浮かびました。日常会話にも自然に使われるフレーズです。逆に"Ain't too proud to beg"なんて歌もありましたね。ちなみに"put on a brave display even in adversity"をGoogleすると日本語のサイト4件が見つかるだけですが（つまり、意味は通じても実際の英語圏ではcurrencyがない）"too proud to beg"は20,900件ありました。遅ればせながら、ご参考になれば、と思いまして。
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