On the Same Wavelength

四字熟語(Japanese idioms)「以心伝心」英語訳(English translation)

When you meet someone else’s eyes and you just know what the other is thinking about or about to say so you can make a mental connection with the other person, you say…
「以心伝心」 ishin denshin

以心伝心なんで、言葉がなくても伝わるんです。すごく波長が合うんですよ。
ishindenshin nande, kotobaga nakutemo tsutawarundesu. sugoku hachoga aundesu.
We can read each other’s minds and often share information without speaking, because we are very much on the same mental wavelength.

以:by means of
心:heart, mind
伝:communicate, pass down
心:heart, mind

It originally refers to Zen secrets passed down by means of mental communication between priests and their disciples. The disciples try to read master’s mind. Zen priests don’t often turn to oral or written instructions to pass on Zen secrets.  It might bear some literal resemblance to Augustine’s phrase: Cor ad cor loquitur. It’s about the personal relationship between God and human beings through prayer. Just as eyes speak to eyes, heart speaks to heart in a silent conversing.

元々は、師と弟子が心を通い合わせて伝わる禅の奥義のこと。弟子たちは師の心を読もうとする。禅の奥義は、口伝などに頼らない。アウグスティヌスの”Cor ad cor loquitur(心と心がしゃべる)”に通じるところがある。祈りを通じた神との対話であり、視線を交わすように、沈黙の会話によって心と心を結ぶ。

Without Cutting Corners

四字熟語(Japanese idioms)「一生懸命」英語訳(English translation)

When your friend is not sure about her efforts and is thinking of taking an easy way out in her reckless haste, you say…

「一生懸命」 issho kenmei

言い訳もせず、ズルもせず、とにかくがんばるしかないでしょ。一生懸命やっていれば、いつか報われるから。
iiwake mo sezu, zuru mo sezu, tonikaku gambarushika naidesho. isshokemmei yatteireba, itsuka mukuwarerukara.
With no excuses, without cutting corners, just do your best, believing all the hard work will eventually pay off.

一生:a lifetime
懸命:devotedly, desperately, to commit one’s whole life
 Originally, 一所懸命
 一所:one place, one plot of land
 懸命:devotedly, desperately, to commit one’s whole life

After establishing the new military headquarters (what is referred to as the shogunate) in Kamakura, the first shogun laid out the feudal system. Under the system, the shogun guaranteed the ownership of land; in return, samurai warriors pledged their loyalty and work hard to secure their land. Over time, the emphasis on securing land has changed into that on a once-in-a-lifetime significance or effort. There has been the strong undertone of feudal loyalty and moral integrity throughout the ages, even in these modern days.

幕府と呼ばれる武家政権を鎌倉に確立した後、将軍は封建制度を整えた。将軍が所領を保証する代わりに武士たちは忠誠を誓い、土地の確保に励んだ。やがて、所領確保から、一生に一度ぐらいの重要性や努力を強調するようになった。それ以来、現代においても、封建的な忠誠心や、正直さを強調する流れが続いている。

Flawless Completion Is Something Undesirable

兼好『徒然草』「すべて、何も皆、事のととのほりたるは悪しきことなり」英語訳

Learning is something of a journey with no perfection in sight.

すべて、何も皆、事のととのほりたるは悪しきことなり。し残したるを、さてうち置きたるは、おもしろく、生き延ぶるわざなり。

In everything, flawless completion is something undesirable. Intriguing is leaving something incomplete so that there is room for growth. – Kenko Ramblings

何事においても、すべてが完璧に整い仕上がっているのは、よろしくない。未完成なままであるのが、味わい深く、伸びしろがあるのだ。

With all knowledge and experience you have, you still get your skills radar chart showing that you lack a particular skill(s), which means that what you get is something far from the perfect hexagonal chart. You still lack fluency. You get the feeling of missing something, a rough and coarse texture. Dents and repairs. But it’s through your yesterday’s embarrassments and surprise over cultural gaps that you gain insights. That’s what makes growth possible. Assured, decided and committed to what really matters, you let the greatness shine through. That’s the beauty of imperfection.

外国語を学ぶことは、終わりのない旅。知識と経験を積み重ねていっても、自分の能力にばらつきがあって、均整のとれた外国語の姿は見えてこない。滑らかさというより、何かが欠けているような、いびつでざらっとした手触り。でこぼこで、つぎはぎだらけ。しかし、恥ずかしい失敗や、異文化とのギャップに対する驚きが、多くの気づきをもたらしてくれるのも事実。そこに人間としての成長の余地もある。そう信じて何かに懸命に取り組むとき、「不完全の美」が光を放つ。

Late Bloomer

四字熟語(Japanese idioms)「大器晩成」英語訳(English translation)

When you feel frustrated about catching up to your peers and hard-pressed to flourish, you say…

「大器晩成」 taiki bansei

I’m having a hard time now, but I believe I’m kind of a late bloomer and my talent will present itself later on, right?

今は苦労してるけど、きっと大器晩成型なんだよ。いつか才能が開花するって。
imawa kuro shiterukedo, kitto taikibanseigata namdayo. itsuka sainoga kaikasurutte.

大:big, great
器:bowl, capacity
晩:evening
成:to become

Just as making a big bowl takes a great deal of time, a person of great talent often bloom late in their career.

大きな器を作るのには多大な時間がかかる。同じように、偉大な才能も後になって開花するものだ。

Jack-of-all-trades

四字熟語(Japanese idioms)「器用貧乏」英語訳(English translation)

When you feel you are quick in understanding how things work and mastering new skills but feel scattered or overwhelmed by multiple interests or assigned tasks, you say…

「器用貧乏」 kiyo bimbo

I’m kind of a Jack-of-all-trades type person. Any managers find it handy to have me around, but I don’t think I’m going to make a successful career.

器用貧乏なタイプだから、どんな上司からも重宝がられるけど、このままだと大成しなさそう。
kiyoubinbo na taipu dakara, donna joshi karamo chohogarareru kedo, konomama dato taisei shinasaso

器用:versatile, good with one’s hands
貧乏:poor

If you’re versatile enough to understand and master skills quickly enough, you will be a “grease guy” for the team and be expected to volunteer unpopular tasks. It will be a great contribution to making their groups better off, but you will not be a specialist, become unsure about life-long passions or career path and end up making smaller success in your own career than you would otherwise.
どんな仕事も素早く理解して身に着けることができる器用な人は、組織の「潤滑油」的扱いをされ、人がやりたがらない仕事を任されたりする。組織が回るという意味では大きな貢献となるが、専門家とはなれず、自分の進む道がわからなくなり、自分自身のキャリアとしての成功も小さくなる。

No Encounter is Ever Wasted

四字熟語(Japanese idioms)「一期一会」英語訳(English translation)

When you are really appreciative of, inspired by and connected to someone or something through this and that chance meeting, you say…

「一期一会」 ichigo ichie

No encounter is ever wasted. You know, just make the best of every encounter with care and commitment.
どんな出会いも一期一会だから。その出会いを大切にしないとね。
 donna deai mo ichigoichie dakara. sono deaiwo taisetsuni shinaitone

一:one
期:period, chance
一:one
会:encounter, meeting

Originally referring to desirable attitude at the tea ceremony, it indicates that you must serve tea to this person whole-heartedly, believing that you will never see this person again or there will be no other ceremony exactly the same as the one you have today. Take every encounter as a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

元々は、茶席における望ましい態度のことで、心をこめて目の前の人にお点前をするということ、その人にもう二度と会うことはない、または、どのような茶会であっても二つとして同じ茶会はないという考え。どんな出会いも一生に一度のものと考えるように。