Does your horse listen to you?―馬耳東風(ばじとうふう) (ba-ji-too-huu)

Yonakuni-uma 与那国馬 (よなくにうま) is one of the kind of endangered Japanese horses, which have been kept in Yonakuni Island, Okinawa Prefecture.

This phase is from a poem of the great Chinese poet, 李(り)白(はく) Li Bai (701-762 A.D.).

The literal translation is: an eastern breeze to a horse’s ear.

Ba-ji 馬(ば)耳(じ) is a house’s ear and too-huu 東風(とうふう) is an eastern breeze, which means a “spring” breeze and reminds you of a comfortable breeze.

A spring breeze is blowing through a horse’s ear. How nice! But they say only humans feel nice about the breeze and horses don’t care about it. Is it really so? How do you know horses don’t feel it agreeable.

How agreeable to have a spring breeze in fresh green!

However, if you have an objection like this, I can’t write any further about this phrase.

Horses must be indifferent to spring breezes. This phrase describes a scene that someone never listens to your opinions, preaches, lectures, advice, etc. You can use this expression when you’re annoyed at such attitude.

No need to pray to a horse’s ear―馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念仏(ねんぶつ) (uma-no mimi-ni nembutsu)

This is a similar proverb. Nembutsu 念仏 (ねんぶつ) is a prayer to Buddha. The English language also have a close phrase: A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.

Even though you pray a blessed prayer to horses, they don’t care about it. It’s a waste of time. This proverb goes back to 江戸(えど)時代(じだい) Edo Period (around 1700 A.D.).

I can't hear you!

● いつも注意(ちゅうい)しているのに、きみには馬(うま)の耳(みみ)に念仏(ねんぶつ)だな。 (Itsumo chuui-shi-te iru-no-ni, kimi-ni-wa uma-no mimi-ni nembutsu-da-na.)

I always give advice to you, but “a nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse.”

Uma 馬 (うま) is used for several expressions.

Uma-ga a-u 馬(うま)が合う(あう)

The origin of how this phrase came is not sure, but possibly it describes the scene that a horse moves, getting along well with its rider.

● 彼女(かのじょ)とは10(じゅう)年来(ねんらい)の仲(なか)だよ。馬(うま)が合う(あう)んだね。 (Kanojo-to-wa juunen-rai-no naka-da-yo. Uma-ga a-u-n-da-ne.)

I’ve known her for ten years. She’s really my soul sister.

Uma-ga a-u 馬が合う (うまがあう): GOOD CHEMISTRY among them.

● あの人(ひと)たちは本当(ほんとう)に馬(うま)があうね。うらやましいな。 (Ano hito-tachi-wa hontoo-ni uma-ga a-u-ne. Urayamasi-i-na.)

They really get along well, don’t they? I envy them.

● あの二人(ふたり)はピッタリね。馬(うま)が合って(あって)いるのね。 (Ano hutari-wa pittari-ne. Uma-ga at-te-iru-no-ne.)

They click. They have a good rapport.

Uma-zura 馬面 (うまづら) is a horse-like face.

● 馬(うま)が合う(あう)人間(にんげん)とは親しい(したしい)間柄(あいだがら)になるものだ。 (Uma-ga a-u ninguen-to-wa shitashi-i aida-gara-ni naru mono-da.)

Good chemistry helps make a good relationship.

Uma-zura 馬面(うまづら)

Uma-zura 馬面(うまづら) is a long face like a horse. Zura 面(づら) is a face. So it’s just a horse face. You should not use this expression except behind their backs, of course.

Doko-no uma-no hone どこの馬(うま)の骨(ほね)

Hone 骨 is bones. The literal translation is “Which horse do the bones belong to?”

This expression is referred mockingly to a person whose identity or origin is unknown or not disclosed.

● あいつはどこの馬(うま)の骨(ほね)だかわからない。(Aitsu-wa doko-no uma-no hone-da-ka wakara-na-i.)

I have no idea who the hell the guy is.

Do you have a monkey friend?

Chiku-ba-no tomo 竹馬(ちくば)の友(とも)

Chiku-ba is a pair of bamboo stilts. The friend of bamboo stilts?

Yes. The bamboo stilts represent the times when you were small and played with bamboo stilts.

You may have some friends who have been ones since you played on stilts with.

We made stilts of bamboo a long time ago although they’re of plastic or steel now.

● 彼(かれ)は竹馬(ちくば)の友(とも)なんです。 (Kare-wa chikuba-no tomo-nan-de-su.)

He’s been an old friend since I was small.