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Author Archives: Confanity
Ready to go, but never to return
傘と提灯は戻らぬつもりで貸せ (Kasa to chouchin wa modoranu tsumori de kase; “Lend umbrellas and lanterns with the awareness that they will not return”) Definition: People are forgetful. Human nature being what it is, there are certain things that you should expect, such … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 貸し借り, forgetting, human nature, lending, The Borrowers, Yes: Kashikuma is a real name; I checked., 傘, 戻らない, 提灯
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Consider the lotus of the pond
It toils and spins SO HARD 難行苦行 nan.gyou.ku.gyou Literally: difficult – go / undertaking – suffering – go / undertaking Alternately: Extreme difficulties or suffering. In particular, this describes when someone is enduring privation and hardship as part of (Buddhist) … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, difficulties, 苦行, 難行, hard work, Lotus Sutra, starvation, 妙法蓮華経
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If the cattle are horny, you shouldn’t care if they’re straight
角を矯めて牛を殺す (Tsuno wo tamete ushi wo korosu; “Straightening the horns, killing the cow”) Definition: A situation where trying to fix a small problem ruins the whole thing. The cure being worse than the disease. Hammering and pulling on a cow’s … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged blue screen of death, cows, cure, errors, 角を直, 角を矯め, horns, snowballing problems, worse than the disease, 地蔵
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Like yourself; like Mt. Tai
泰然自若 tai.zen.ji.jaku Literally: calm – “sort of thing” – self – (young) / similar Alternately: Unflappable. Calm and self-controlled. Notes: This is another compound of synonymous compounds; 泰然 means “composed; unmoved,” while 自若 means “self-possessed.” This yojijukugo has a number … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged calm, 自若, Mount Tai, self-control, tiny birds kicking, 泰然
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The audacity of crime
盗人猛猛しい (Nusubito takedakeshii; “An impudent thief”) Definition: Remaining calm and self-assured even when doing something wrong. Alternately, when you get caught doing something wrong, acting defiant or even becoming aggressive toward the person who caught you, instead of being properly … Continue reading
Pull your sheep, a good life to keep
牽羊悔亡 ken.you.kai.bou Literally: pull / lead – sheep – regret – perish Alternately: You’ll be unhappy unless you take an active part in shaping things. If you see something through properly instead of just letting it run its natural course, … Continue reading
The ease of TITO
上げ膳据え膳 (Agezen suezen; “Table-clearing; table-setting”) Definition: Not doing anything; having everything done for one. Can be positive, as when describing the service at a luxury resort, or negative, as when describing a friend or family member who isn’t pulling their … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged ease, Japanese culture, lazy, tradition, 宴会, 据え膳, 上げ膳
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