1. |
Aisatsu wa toki no ujigami |
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挨拶は時の氏神 |
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あいさつはときのうじがみ |
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Greetings are those who turn up at the right moment to help. |
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2. |
Akusai wa hyaku-nen no fusaku |
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悪妻は百年の不作 |
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あくさいはひゃくねんのふさく |
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A bad wife spells a hundred years of bad harvest. |
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3. |
Ame futte ji katamaru |
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雨降って地固まる |
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あめふってじかたまる |
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After the rain, earth hardens. (Adversity builds character) |
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4. |
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暗中模索 |
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あんちゅうもさく |
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Searching in the darkness. |
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5. |
Anzuru yori umu ga yasashi |
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案ずるより産むが易し |
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あんずるよりうむがやさし |
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Attempt is sometimes easier than expected. |
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6. |
Baka wa shinanakya naoranai |
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馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない |
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ばかはしななきゃなおらない |
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Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured. |
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7. |
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傍若無人 |
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ぼうじゃくぶじん |
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Behaving as if there are no people around you. (Selfish) |
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8. |
Daidou shoui |
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大同小異 |
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だいどうしょうい |
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Big similarity, small difference. (Similarities outweigh the differences) |
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9. |
Deru kugi wa utareru |
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出る杭は打たれる |
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でるくぎはうたれる |
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The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. |
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会者定離 |
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えしゃじょうり |
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No encounters without separations. |
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11. |
Fukusui bon ni kaerazu |
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覆水盆に帰らず |
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ふくすいぼんにかえらず |
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Spilt water will not return to the tray. |
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Gishin anki |
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疑心暗鬼 |
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ぎしんあんき |
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A doubtful mind creates devils in the dark. (Fear) |
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13. |
Gojuppo hyappo |
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五十歩百歩 |
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ごじゅっぽひゃっぽ |
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An unimportant difference between 50 steps and 100 steps in the long distance. |
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14. |
Gongo doudan |
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言語道断 |
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ごんごどうだん |
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Leaving someone speechless in shock. (Unforgiving) |
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15. |
Haisui no jin |
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背水の陣 |
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はいすいのじん |
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Pitching a camp against a backdrop of sea, river, and lake. (Strong determination) |
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16. |
Huhen hutou |
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不偏不党 |
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ふへんふとう |
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No deflections, no parties. |
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17. |
Hyappatsu hyakuchuu |
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百発百中 |
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ひゃっぱつひゃくちゅう |
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One hundred shootings, one hundred hits. |
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18. |
Ichijitu senshuu |
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一日千秋 |
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いちじつせんしゅう |
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One day passing like a thousand autums. (A very long day) |
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19. |
Ichimou dajin |
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一網打尽 |
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いちもうだじん |
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Arresting all criminals with one net. |
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20. |
Iku douon |
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異口同音 |
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いくどうおん |
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Different mouths, same sound. (Many saying the same thing about a certain matter.) |
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21. |
I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu. |
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井の中の蛙大海を知らず |
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いのなかのかわずたいかいをしらず |
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A frog in a well does not know the great sea. |
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22. |
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以心伝心 |
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いしんでんしん |
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Heart-to-heart communication. |
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23. |
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一石二鳥 |
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いっせきにちょう |
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Killing two birds with one stone. |
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一触即発 |
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いっしょくそくはつ |
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Quick blowup with a single touch. |
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Ittou ryoudan |
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一刀両断 |
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いっとうりょうだん |
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Being bold or sharp is like breaking something in two with a sword. |
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26. |
Jakuniku kyoushoku |
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弱肉強食 |
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じゃくにくきょうしょく |
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The strong eat the weak. |
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27. |
Jibou jiki |
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自暴自棄 |
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じぼうじき |
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Hurting oneself, abandoning oneself. |
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28. |
Jigou jitoku |
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自業自得 |
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じごうじとく |
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My acts, my receivings of the results. |
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29. |
Jousha hissui |
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盛者必衰 |
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じょうしゃひっすい |
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No glories without fadings. |
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30. |
Juunin toiro |
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十人十色 |
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じゅうにんといろ |
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Ten men, ten colors. |
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31. |
Kachou fuugetsu |
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花鳥風月 |
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かちょうふうげつ |
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Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon. (Learning about yourself) |
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32. |
Kaeru no ko wa kaeru |
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蛙の子は蛙 |
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かえるのこはかえる |
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Child of a frog is a frog. |
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33. |
Kankotsu dattai |
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換骨奪胎 |
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かんこつだったい |
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Changing the content by understanding the good and old things. |
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34. |
Kinka gyokujou |
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金科玉条 |
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きんかぎょくじょう |
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A law like a gold, a law like a crystal. (A rule a man never violates.) |
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35. |
Kishi kaisei |
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起死回生 |
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きしかいせい |
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Waking from death and returning to life. (To make a complete return) |
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36. |
Koshi tantan |
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虎視眈々 |
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こしたんたん |
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An attitude like a tiger's is one watching the pray with vigilance. |
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37. |
Koutou mukei |
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荒唐無稽 |
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こうとうむけい |
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Illusion-promoting. |
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38. |
Kyouten douchi |
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驚天動地 |
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きょうてんどうち |
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Something that surprises the heaven and shakes the land. |
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39. |
Nanakorobi yaoki |
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七転び八起き |
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ななころびやおき |
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Stumbling seven times but recovering eight. |
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40. |
Neko ni katsuobushi |
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猫に鰹節 |
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ねこにかつおぶし |
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Letting one's guard down (The cat can't resist stealing a fish). |
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41. |
Neko ni koban |
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猫に小判 |
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ねこにこばん |
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Gold coins to a cat. (Unappreciation) |
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42. |
Nokorimono ni wa fuku ga aru |
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残り物には福がある |
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のこりものにはふくがある |
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Luck exists in the leftovers. |
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43. |
Saru mo ki kara ochiru |
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猿も木から落ちる |
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さるもきからおちる |
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Even monkeys fall from trees. |
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44. |
Seiten no hekireki |
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青天霹靂 |
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せいてんのへきれき |
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A sudden thunder in the blue sky. (Unpredictable) |
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45. |
Sessa takuma |
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切磋琢磨 |
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せっさたくま |
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Enabling oneself like cutting, edging, polishing, sanding a wood or crystal. |
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46. |
Shimen soka |
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四面楚歌 |
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しめんそか |
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A song by enemies that echoes from four directions. |
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47. |
Shiri meturetsu |
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支離滅裂 |
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しりめつれつ |
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Uncoupling from the supporting point and disappearing with splitting up. (Incoherent) |
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48. |
Shuchi nikurin |
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酒池肉林 |
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しゅちにくりん |
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The ponds of liquor, the woods of women. |
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49. |
Taiki bansei |
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大器晩成 |
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たいきばんせい |
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Great men succeed in their later years. |
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50. |
Tantou chokunyuu |
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単刀直入 |
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たんとうちょくにゅう |
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Charging into the enemy line with a sword. (Directly) |
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51. |
Unsan mushou |
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雲散霧消 |
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うんさんむしょう |
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Disappear without a trace. |
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52. |
Ugou no shuu |
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烏合の衆 |
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うごうのしゅう |
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Sheep without a shepherd. |
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