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Author Archives: Confanity
The hobbit of peppers
山椒は小粒でもぴりりと辛い (Sanshou wa kotsubu de mo piriri to karai; “Japanese peppers are small but painfully spicy”) Definition: This saying metaphorically describes someone who is physically small, but still formidable due to well-honed talents and a fierce spirit, surprising strength, or … Continue reading
What about Stitch Seizen?
理路整然 ri.ro.sei.zen Literally: logic/truth – road – organize – “in that way” Alternately: Of someone’s thoughts or speech: coherent, cogent, rational; following a coherent thread or throughline from premise to conclusion. The nuance in modern usage seems to be of … Continue reading
Sometimes the baby poops when you want to nap
月に叢雲花に風 (Tsuki ni murakumo hana ni kaze; “clouds to the moon; wind to the flower”) Definition: Good things are all too vulnerable to disruptions. The moon is covered by clouds; flower petals are scattered by the wind; what you thought … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged disappointment, 花に風, 花見, flower-viewing, moon-viewing, 叢雲, 月見
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When the bones are bad
…the rest is needed 骨折り損の草臥れ儲け (Honeori zon no kutabire mouke; “Bone-breaking loss and a profit of weariness”) Definition: Working hard without any reward. Bone-breaking labor with no fruits but exhaustion. A wasted effort or thankless task. Breakdown: It turns out … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged くたびれ, Classic of Poetry, exhaustion, 詩経, 骨折り, 诗经, Iroha karuta, Maren Morris, waste
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What was I saying? Ah, yes.
閑話休題 kan.wa.kyuu.dai Literally: leisure – talk – rest – topic Alternately: “But setting that aside….” A phrase used to put an end to a digression, aside, or idle chatter, and return the listener’s attention to the main topic or thread … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese literature, digression, 閑話, 間話, setting aside, Water Margin, 水滸伝, 休題
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Giving trash the bird?
掃き溜めに鶴 (Hakidame ni tsuru; “A crane on a dunghill”) Definition: An especially talented or beautiful person amid mundane folk. A rare gem amid dross; a beautiful crane that has incongruously alit on a midden-heap. Breakdown: We begin with the same … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged beauty, crane, exceptionalism, 鶴, rare gem, 川柳, 掃き溜め
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Sal mirabilis
博引旁証 haku.in.bou.shou Literally: extensive – pull – to the side – evidence Alternately: As one member or side of a dispute or controversy, supporting one’s case by citing an extensive body of examples or material. Presenting a solid, perhaps overwhelming, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged evidence, law, making a case, Morrison, politics, Vindman, Volker, Williams, 傍証, 博引, 旁証
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A midden of lucre
掃き溜めと金持ちは溜まるほど汚い (Hakidame to kanemochi wa tamaru hodo kitanai; “Dunghills and money get dirtier as they accumulate”) Definition: The more money someone has, the more money they want; an increase in wealth tends to bring increasing greed and selfishness rather than … Continue reading
In truth, I’m feeling feint
虚虚実実 kyo.kyo.jitsu.jitsu Literally: empty – empty – truth – truth Alternately: Two sides in a fierce battle, using every strategy and wile they can think of. Striving to avoid your enemy’s strengths (実) and attack their weaknesses (虚). Alternately, using … Continue reading
landofnudotcom 
When Debate Club has fewer rules than Fight Club
喧々諤々 ken.ken.gaku.gaku Literally: noisy – [doubling mark] – outspoken – [doubling mark] Alternately: A furious uproar; large numbers of people voicing their opinion without restraint or consideration for others. Notes: Naturally, this may be written with repeated characters instead of … Continue reading →