Monthly Archives: January 2018

The good coyote?

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Confanity

(Or this one.) 権謀術数 ken.bou.ju-.ssuu Literally: authority – scheme – technique – number Alternately: A plan or strategy to fool people. Wiles; trickery; Machiavellianism. Notes: Apparently this compound comes to us from Zhu Xi’s (朱熹) The Great Learning (大学).

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Lucy in the pie

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Confanity

…with a 3D rendering of diamonds 絵に描いた餅 (E ni kaita mochi; “A rice cake drawn in a picture”) Definition: Something appealing that doesn’t actually do any good. Pie in the sky, to substitute a Western food. No matter how well-drawn … Continue reading →

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Desperate odds and awful evens

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Confanity

悪戦苦闘 aku.sen.ku.tou Literally: bad – battle – bitter – fight Alternately: A do-or-die battle against a fearsome foe or a terrible disadvantage. Struggling with all your might.

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Even this old man comes rolling home

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Confanity

枯れ木も山の賑わい (Kareki mo yama no nigiwai; “Even a dead tree adds life to a mountain”) Definition: Even something boring or drab is better than nothing at all. Even dead, withered trees give more “life” to a mountainside than if it … Continue reading →

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A yojijukugo for college students

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Confanity

Or new parents. Or night shift workers. Or… 半醒半睡 han.sei.han.sui Literally: half – wake – half – asleep Alternately: Not fully conscious. Half awake and half asleep. Bleary. Notes: The order of the halves may be reversed in some cases … Continue reading →

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Warm, but not a good oven

Posted on January 14, 2018 by Confanity

雪隠で饅頭 (Secchin de manjuu; “A bun in the outhouse”) Definition: Hiding away in order to enjoy something all by oneself, like squirreling oneself away in the toilet to have a snack (or go online with a smartphone, these days). Other, … Continue reading →

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Like when you’re arguing despite agreeing

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Confanity

同工異曲 dou.kou.i.kyoku Literally: same – construction – different – melody Alternately: The technique or methodology used in making two things is the same, but the style is different. Things appearing markedly different despite being born of fundamentally the same character … Continue reading →

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A tail full of sound, and furry

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Confanity

(Told by an idiot) 大山鳴動して鼠一匹 (Taizan meidou shite nezumi ippiki; “The mountain trembles; a single mouse.”) Definition: Terrible harbingers and portents without follow-through. Much ado, after which, nothing. Especially used in reference to empty threats. Like a large mountain rumbling … Continue reading →

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Earthquake blooming

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Confanity

Arson benevolence?!? 改過自新 kai.ka.ji.shin Literally: change – error – self – new Alternately: Turning over a new leaf. Recognizing and working to correct one’s flaws and errors, and starting anew with a change of heart. New Year’s Resolution stuff. Notes: … Continue reading →

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