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Author Archives: Confanity
There’s a storm coming
(Not to mention the storm that’s already here) 前途多難 zen.to.ta.nan Literally: before / front – road – many – difficult / trouble Alternately: Hard times ahead. Notes: Compare and contrast 前途有望 and 多事多難.
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged current events, disaster, troubles, warning, 前途, 多難
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When your stat spread make you crabby
蟹は甲羅に似せて穴を掘る (Kani wa koura ni nisete ana wo horu; “A crab digs its hole to match its shell”) Definition: People think and act according to their personal circumstances and abilities. Just as a small crab will dig a small burrow … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged appropriate, カニ, crab, 穴を掘る, 蟹, poetry, proportion, self-knowledge, Takuan Soho, 毛吹草, 沢庵宗彭, 澤庵宗彭
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As above, so below
(Wet) 上漏下湿 jou.rou.ka.shuu Literally: above – leak – below – damp Alternately: A poverty-stricken household; a dilapidated house. Water leaks in from above when it rains, and damp seeps up from below; a double threat not to be taken lightly … Continue reading
A Sangaria sangria
国破れて山河在り (Kuni yaburete sanga ari; “A country, destroyed; mountain and river, existing”) Definition: The works of humankind – castles, towns, countries – may fall or be destroyed, but the mountains and rivers remain. Kings and kingdoms pass, but Nature endures. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Chinese literature, Du Fu, endurance, existence, nature, ramune, transience, 国破れて, 國破山河在, 山河, 杜甫
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Words, words, words
千言万語 sen.gen.ban.go Literally: thousand – say – ten thousand – word Alternately: Very many words. A vast number of words. Really quite a very large number of words indeed. Speech or writing that is long-winded, meandering, overdone, prolix, repetitive, tedious, … Continue reading
In my outrage, I caught dozens of flies
開いた口が塞がらない (Aita kuchi ga fusagaranai; “The open mouth does not close”) Definition: To be in a state of utter shock, especially in response to someone’s condition, attitude, words, or behavior. To be left speechless, with one’s mouth hanging open. Agape … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged astonishment, 赤穂事件, horror, open mouth, shocked, 浄瑠璃
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On words, the eating thereof
If it happens too often, you might want some grains of salt. 前言撤回 zen.gen.te-.kkai Literally: before – say – withdraw – revolve Alternately: “I take it back.” A phrase that negates a previous phrase, opinion, or comment. Notes: This “practical” … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged changing your mind, Evangelion, 貞本義行, manga scan, regret, take-backs, 前言, 撤回
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As surprising as a plink to the coo
鳩が豆鉄砲を食ったよう (Hato ga mamedeppou wo kutta you; “Like a pigeon got shot by a pea-shooter”) Definition: Dazed; amazed; puzzled; left staring in shock by something sudden or completely unexpected. A bit like a deer in headlights, except more like a … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged びっくり, bean, 豆鉄砲, pigeon, shocked, startlement, surprise
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Selfless love
Like, literally selfless and universal 兼愛無私 ken.ai.mu.shi Literally: already / and – love – no – self / I Alternately: Equal affection for all people, without drawing lines between oneself and the Other. Universal love without bias or petty tribalism. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, 無私, 私無し, 荘子, 莊周, selfless, unbiased, universal love, 兼愛, 庄周
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Lessons from Toad Hall
柳に雪折れなし (Yanagi ni yukiore nashi; “The willow is not broken by snow”) Definition: Gentleness and flexibility may appear weak, but are actually stronger than hardness. The supple, drooping branches of a willow tree aren’t as impressive as the rigid branches … Continue reading
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