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かふく
禍福
は
あざな
糾
える
なわ
縄
の
ごと
如
し。 kotowaza
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good (literally: good luck and bad luck are intertwined like the strands of a rope).
Note that あざなう is an archaic verb of the
四段活用
type. Although あざなえる is the same as the modern
potential
form, in archaic Japanese the inflection means “to have twisted strands”, not “can twist strands”.
kotowaza Japanese proverb (kotowaza)
Grammar and points of interest
verb potential form verb potential form
 
ability to do; can / cannot do
禍福は糾える縄の如し。
如し（ごとし）, ごとく, ごとき 如し（ごとし）, ごとく, ごとき
 
like; as if; as though
禍福は糾える縄の如し。
Conjugations and inflections
  糾える is the potential form of 'u' godan verb 糾う   ALL INFLECTIONS
You can find a detailed explanation of this sentence in the Joy o' Kanji essay on 隆   VIEW
You can find a detailed explanation of this sentence in the Joy o' Kanji essay on 糾   VIEW
Words
か ふ く 1
noun
fortune and misfortune; prosperity and adversity; good and evil; weal and woe
(click the word for examples and links)
あ ざ な う 3
to twist (something)
(click the word for examples and links)
り
り 1
Most common form: 利
noun
advantage; benefit; profit; interest
(click the word to view an additional 1 form, examples and links)
な わ 2
Most common form: なわ
noun
1. rope; cord
2. policeman's rope  (see also: 御縄)
(click the word for examples and links)
Most common form: 若し
auxiliary verb
like; as if; the same as  (see also: 如き)
(click the word to view an additional 2 forms, examples and links)
Kanji
禍
カ calamity   
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咼
gossip; dishonest   
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冋
wide mouth
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冂
wide
口
コウ   ク   くち mouth   
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礻
ジ   シ   しめす to show   
福
フク    fortune, blessing   
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畐
フク    fill   
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一
イチ   イツ   ひとつ    ひと- one   
田
デン   た rice field   
糾
キュウ    twist   
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丩
connect; 'join the vine'   
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丨
stick   
糸
シ   いと thread   
縄
ジョウ   なわ rope   
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亀
キ   かめ turtle   
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电
electricity
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乚
second   おつ    
日
ニチ   ジツ   sun; day   ひ    -か    
⺈
corner
如
ジョ   ニョ    same   
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女
ジョ   ニョ   ニョウ   woman; female   おんな woman   め woman   
Flashcards
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More info on this sentence: Google Japan ⇗ Sentence translate
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