Idiom and metaphor in go

   

Books translated from Japanese sometimes contain idioms from the original language. I am particularly interested in those for which the translator has difficulty finding an English equivalent.

For example: "exchanging shadow for substance" is one of my favourites

Anyone know which Go book this is from?

Please add any you know about.

Ishida Vol. 1 contains a few which are common in English:

"stepping into the lions den" - (Biblical origin?)

urusainaa it's not this you are thinking of is it?

"koketsu ni harazunba koji wo ezu" If you don't go into the tigers den, you'll never catch a cub.

tderz: I remember having heard Once you ride a tiger, it might be difficult to get off (again).

"fanning the flames" - (probably ancient)

"strikes a discordant note" - (musical metaphor)

There are of course many references to parts of the body - belly, nose, ear, head, eye and shoulder for example (see Anatomical terms). However these words are probably direct translations.


This is a copy of the living page "Idiom and metaphor in go" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2009 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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