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Author Archives: Confanity
Yoko ni nattara?
蟷螂の斧 (Tourou no ono; “The mantis’ axe”) Definition: The weak standing up to the strong, often with the implication that they didn’t really think through how great the difference in strength would be. A praying mantis that senses threat will … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 隆車に向かう, 螳螂, 韓詩外伝, 蟷螂, Han shi waizhuan, impossible odds, mantis, 斧
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A harder love
A harder love than frost I love the autumn: The smell of leaves’ new colors, The golds, yellows, reds, The play of warmth and coolness, The wonder of birds in flight. You are my autumn. You are bright leaves on … Continue reading
Turns out it doesn’t matter, though
All you need to do is get mad at the people who caught you doing the crimes!? 白昼堂々 haku.chuu.dou.dou Literally: white – noon – public hall – [kanji doubling mark] Alternately: (Doing something bad) in broad daylight. Notes: This relatively … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged blatant crime, broad daylight, current events, 白昼, 結城 昌治, Yuuki Shouji, 堂々, 堂堂
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Beasts Forged for your Viewing Pleasure
A recent post by Noisms reminded me of The Forge, and of course I was inspired to go fiddle around myself for a while. So, just in time for Halloween, please enjoy these four monsters that probably fall somewhere on the … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous, World-Building
Tagged Bleak Pusher, Druid Cobra, Forge, Mute Child, Phase Ape, snakes
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But what if your horse leaks intel to the Russians?
What do you do when the work environment at the stable drives away all the competent grooms? 蹴る馬も乗り手次第 (Keru uma mo norite shidai; “A kicking horse depends on the rider”) Definition: Even a violent, difficult-to-handle person can be talked to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 蹴る馬, horse, nothing is impossible, rider, weird grammar, 乗り手
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Which Mad Pursuit
Which Mad Pursuit I forget the words you said but I could feel my heart in my neck beating oh-no; oh-no; oh-no— Running now, remembering, it keeps that time and my legs, my body following, running oh-no, chase oblivion. Coming … Continue reading
Miss Clavel ran fast, and faster
When you’re afraid of a disaster, don’t just sit still, that’s all I’m saying. 疾風迅雷 shi-.ppuu.jin.rai Literally: rapid – wind – swift – thunder Alternately: High winds and a violent thunderstorm. By extension, any situation that develops rapidly or changes … Continue reading
Thus was slapstick monetized
転んでもただでは起きない (Koronde mo tada de wa okinai; “Even falling down, they won’t get up as they were”) Definition: Cunning and greedy; angling to get some sort of profit even from a mistake or setback; like someone who slips and falls, … Continue reading
The benefits of bold-face fine print
(I thought this was scheduled to pop automatically yesterday, but… it wasn’t, and I was remiss in failing to check. My apologies for the delay.) 胆大心小 tan.dai.shin.shou Literally: gall bladder / courage – big – heart / mind – small … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged attention to detail, bold action, careful thought, 胆大, Old Book of Tang, 心細, 心小, 旧唐書
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Just avoid immovable objects
…and you’ll be fine. Right? 断じて行えば鬼神も之を避く (Danjite okonaeba kishin mo kore wo saku; “If you do things decisively, even demon-gods will get out of the way”) Definition: If you take decisive action backed by strong determination, there is little that … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical grammar, determination, 鬼神, Records of the Grand Historian, willpower, 史記, 断じて
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