This Chinese proverb comes from an old story from some time before 476 BC. Learn the meaning of “fuminfukyu” here, “jimonjitou” here and “yujufudan” here. Want more? Follow our weekly Yojijukugo Japanese Idiom series, published every Friday. A person who respects self-restraint will be valued in a company. 克己復礼を重んじる人物は、会社では重宝される。 Kokki-fukurei wo omonjiru jinbutsu wa, kaisha de wa chouhou sareru. Try to be empathic/altruistic and do the right thing. 利他の精神で、克己復礼を心がけよう。 Rita no seishin de, kokki-fukurei wo kokorogakeyou. People who smoke while walking lack the spirit of self-restraint. 歩きタバコをする人は、克己復礼の精神が欠けている。 Aruki tabako wo suru hito wa, kokki-fukurei no seishin ga kaketeiru. You’ll be much more likely to use the word 我慢 (gaman) in daily conversation if you’re talking about general self-restraint, but this is a handy expression when you want to emphasize the social aspect for your self-control. 傍若無人 Boujaku-bujin (antonym) Acting outrageously as if there were no one else around, arrogance, audacity Using “kokki-fukurei” in a sentence 我田引水 Gaden-insui (antonym) Drawing water for one’s own field, acting selfishly 気随気儘 Kizui-kimama (antonym) As one pleases 私利私欲 Shiri-shiyoku (antonym) Desire to act only in one’s own self-interest, selfish desires 勝は己に克より大なるはなし Katsu wa onore ni katsu yori dainaru wa nashi The best victory is conquering oneself (paraphrased from Plato) 無欲無私 Muyoku-mushi Unselfish and impartial 無欲恬淡 Muyoku-tentan Indifferent to worldly gain 引っ込み思案 Hikkomi jian Reserved, introverted, withholding (generally negative meaning) 隠忍自重 Innin-jichou Behaving with patience and prudence, putting up with something To paraphrase, it means overcoming one’s own desires and returning to politeness is the essence of humanity.įun fact: Confucius is called 孔子 (Koushi) or 孔夫子 (Koufushi) in Japanese. ![]() It’s a positive quality that describes and encompasses a life driven by empathy for others.Ĭonfucius replies, “To restrain oneself and return to the rites.” One of the stories in the book features a dialogue between Confucius and a student as they discuss ren, a virtue that reflects upon humanity and benevolence in society. This expression originally appears in The Analects (also known as The Analects of Confucius ) a collection of Confucius teachings compiled by the philosopher’s students after his death. This can, in turn, be read as overcoming the self return to etiquette. ![]() If we break it down further to individual characters, we get 克 (koku overcome), 己 (ki self), 復 (fuku restore, return to) and礼 (rei manners). Literal translation and kanji breakdown: Kokki-fukurei is a compound of two smaller idioms, 克己 (kokki self-control) and 復礼 (fukurei conforming to societal norms). Meaning: exercising self-restraint and conforming to the rules of etiquette and society, self-control, abstention, self-discipline, curbing one’s own desires to obey rules and regulations. Though the roll-out of vaccines is moving forward in Japan, it seems prudent to continue with kokki-fukurei - the act of curbing one’s own desires for the sake of society at large. ![]() People were asked to refrain from going outside (外出自粛 gaishutsu jishuku) for the greater good. When the Covid-19 pandemic started last year, one of the keywords bouncing around was 自粛 (jishuku self-restraint).
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