Monthly Archives: August 2017

Laugh ten million laughs

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Confanity

And then stop? 笑止千万 shou.shi.sen.ban Literally: smile – stop – thousand – ten thousand Alternately: Extremely absurd, ridiculous, stupid; pitiful, unfortunate. Notes: 笑止 refers to something funny – or stupid – or pitiable – or worrisome – or embarrassing, while … Continue reading →

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Like how Chelm was created, but almost entirely different

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Confanity

堪忍袋の緒が切れる (Kanninbukuro no o ga kireru; “The string on one’s bag of patience breaks”) Definition: Someone reaches the end of their patience and explodes. Running out of one’s ability to hold back and put up with something, especially after suppressing … Continue reading →

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Fat head, skinny tail

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Confanity

竜頭蛇尾 ryuu.tou.da.bi Literally: dragon – head – snake – tail Alternately: A strong or exciting beginning and a weak or dull ending. In with a bang, out with a whimper. Anticlimax. Alternately, something that looks impressive but in reality is … Continue reading →

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Sham shyness, ferocious fleeing?

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Confanity

In like a lamb, out like a lion 始めは処女の如く後は脱兎の如し (Hajime wa shojo no gotoku nochi wa datto no gotoshi; “The beginning is like a virgin, after is like a running hare”) Definition: A battle strategy that begins with a show … Continue reading →

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But in Bizarro World, everything is great!

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Confanity

If you live in a democracy, be in touch with your representatives. Even if you live in a country where things are going fine, be in touch and let them know you’re paying attention. It turns out that taking the … Continue reading →

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Hearing is dreaming, seeing is believing?

Posted on August 14, 2017 by Confanity

Speech is silver, experience is lead 聞いて極楽見て地獄 (Kiite gokuraku mite jigoku; “Hearing is heaven, seeing is hell”) Definition: When you only hear about something second-hand it may sound amazing, but experiencing it personally is another matter. Use this saying in … Continue reading →

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What we need now is a more dangerous boat…?

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Confanity

呉越同舟 go.etsu.dou.shuu Literally: Wu – Yue – same – boat Alternately: Enemies in the same place at the same time, especially facing a common danger, challenge, or foe. People who would normally fight, forced by circumstances to work together. Being … Continue reading →

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Why say good-bye

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Confanity

Hello, hello? ああ言えばこう言う (Aa ieba kou iu; “If (I) say this, (you) say that.”) Definition: Quibbling and back-talk. Arguing for the sake of arguing. No matter what advice or instruction one person gives, the other objects to as much of … Continue reading →

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Now flying at the speed of internet

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Confanity

流言蜚語 ryuu.gen.hi.go Literally: flow – word – cockroach – speech Alternately: Baseless rumors. Canards. Notes: The rare character 蜚 may be replaced with homophone 飛 (“fly”), but why would you want to do that?

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