君子の交わりは淡きこと水の如し

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Japanese

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Kanji in this term
くん
Grade: 3

Grade: 1
まじ
Grade: 2
あわ
Grade: S
みず
Grade: 1
ごと
Grade: S
on'yomi kun'yomi

Etymology

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Calque of Literary Chinese 君子之交淡如水 (jūnzǐ zhī jiāo dàn rú shuǐ) from Zhuangzi:

君子之交淡如水小人之交甘若醴 [Classical Chinese, trad. and simp.]
From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE
Jūnzǐzhījiāodànrúshuǐ, xiǎorénzhījiāogānruòlǐ. [Pinyin]
The friendship between men of virtue is clear like water (of no flavor, but free of harmful substances -- i.e. self-interest). The friendship between lesser men is sweet like wine (lacking true substance).

Can be analyzed as follow: 君子 (man of virtue) +‎ +‎ 交わり (friendship) +‎ +‎ 淡き (flavorless) +‎ こと +‎ (water) +‎ +‎ 如し (like).

Proverb

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(くん)()(まじ)わりは(あわ)きこと(みず)(ごと) (kunshi no majiwari wa awaki koto mizu no gotoshi

  1. true friendship between two people of accomplishment needs not be overly demonstrative