KANAE

Stories behind words

Behind these expressions lies a story — a fable, an anecdote, a figure. To know the tale is to understand why the word endured.

14 entries

By form All ProverbsFour charactersUntranslatable wordsStories behind wordsHaiku · By theme PatiencePerseveranceWorkDisciplineRelationsCourageHumilityLearningLifeSetback & ReboundNatureTime ·
  1. 249 The spear and the shield.
  2. 248 Legs on a snake.
  3. 247 Painting the dragon's pupil.
  4. 250 Three in the morning, four at night.
  5. 244 Suspicion fills the dark with phantoms.
  6. 243 Enemies of Wu and Yue in the same boat.
  7. 076 Everything in life is like the old man's horse.
  8. 187 Returning in a cloud of dust.
  9. 182 You cannot take the tiger's cub without entering its den.
  10. 189 A resolute will pierces even rock.
  11. 121 Begin with Kai.
  12. 153 The old fool moves the mountain.
  13. 017 The frog at the bottom of the well knows nothing of the great ocean.
  14. 026 Spilled water does not return to the tray.