Categories
- Japanese (824)
- Kotowaza (413)
- Yojijukugo (409)
- Long Fiction (6)
- Meta (11)
- Nonfiction (74)
- Poetry (13)
- Short Fiction (20)
- Uncategorized (13)
- World-Building (176)
- Miscellaneous (24)
- Rules (127)
- Setting (69)
- Japanese (824)
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Author Archives: Confanity
Don’t be backhanded!
先手必勝 sen.te.hi-.sshou Literally: before – hand – certain – win Alternately: Who strikes first, wins. The early bird gets the worm. This phrase may be used to espouse a “first strike” mentality as a general philosophy, or to describe the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged なし, early bird, first strike, karate, winning, 先手, 必勝
Leave a comment
Even for a pear of eyes
目に入れても痛くない (Me ni irete mo itakunai; “Doesn’t hurt even if it gets in your eye”) Definition: To adore someone, especially a child or grandchild, beyond all reason. To dote on someone. Generally reserved for feelings toward “cute” things such as … Continue reading
Rubbing elbows ‘cross the pond
一衣帯水 ichi.i.tai.sui Literally: one – garment – belt – water Alternately: A relatively thin strip of water, such as a river or narrow stretch of sea. By extension, two things that are very close together. Notes: Unusually among four-character compounds, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged close, 牛鳴, 衣帯, History of the Southern Dynasties, narrow, 南史
Leave a comment
If this post is too long, I can’t say I wasn’t warned
雉も鳴かずば撃たれまい (Kiji mo nakazuba utaremai; “Even the pheasant, if it doesn’t cry out, won’t be shot”) Definition: Said in response to times when someone caused problems for themselves by speaking when it would have been prudent not to. An admonition … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged caution, classical Japanese grammar, 雉, 鳴かず, outspoken, tact, 撃たれまい
Leave a comment
No rank, no file
It gets you off the grid! 無位無冠 mu.i.mu.kan Literally: nothing – rank – nothing – crown Alternately: An ordinary citizen. Having no special prestige from rank, title, official position, or status. Notes: A variant phrase replaces 冠 with 官 (also … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 無冠, 無官, 無位, no rank, nothing special, ordinary
Leave a comment
This post sponsored by Santana
“Searchin’” 七度尋ねて人を疑え (Nanatabi tazunete hito wo utagae; “Search seven times, [then] doubt somebody”) Definition: When you’ve lost something, make sure to search for it as thoroughly as you can before you start accusing people of having taken it. Don’t start … Continue reading
But it takes good theory to be “okonai alpha”!
(I was updating the kotowaza index when I discovered that I had doubled my use of the saying 目から鼻へ抜ける, so this “extra” post is intended to make up for the gap. Please enjoy!) 理屈上手の行い下手 (Rikutsu jouzu no okonai beta; “Good … Continue reading
Some cows give milk; this one says “Mu”
無為無能 mu.i.mu.nou Literally: nothing – do/benefit – nothing – ability Alternately: Not doing anything, and not able to do anything. A complete lack of action, and of ability to achieve anything significant. Idle and incompetent. Notes: Keep in mind that … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged のび太, 無為, 無能, idleness, incompetence, lack, modesty, self-effacement
Leave a comment
Challenge Accepted: The Museum Experience
Once again I’ve found inspiration in a passing comment on someone’s blog; in this case the source is a list of movies the writer found inspiring (for their tabletop RPG play), and the comment is in response to Indiana Jones and … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous, Rules
Tagged brainstorming, experience, museum, sources of inspiration, XP
Leave a comment
An irony for many residents of DC
Especially the transients. You know who you are. 住めば都 (Sumeba miyako; “If you live there, it’s the capital”) Definition: No matter how inconvenient, old, noisy, or just plain bad your residence is, it still feels like you belong there. Once … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged acclimatiziation, capital city, 都, 荀子, familiarity, home, 平家物語, 住めば
Leave a comment
landofnudotcom 