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Author Archives: Confanity
Udo you, man
独活の大木 (Udo no taiboku; “A large udo tree”) Definition: Of a person, big but good for nothing. An udo plant can grow up to about two meters tall and as thick as some trees, but its flesh isn’t strong or … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged big but useless, Conan parody, 独活, spikenard, udo, 大木
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In one ear and then who cares?
[Insert tofu joke here] 馬耳東風 ba.ji.tou.fuu Literally: horse – ear – east – wind Alternately: When a person utterly fails to heed what others have to say. Opinions, criticism, and so on just go in one ear and out the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 馬耳, in one ear and out the other, Li Bai, not listening, problem child, 李白, 東風
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Elbow grease begins at home
Be nice to your neighbor, and you’ll attract better neighbors? 先ず隗より始めよ (Mazu Kai yori hajimeyo; “First, start with Guo Wei”) Definition: When starting a large, ambitious undertaking, it’s best to begin with what’s close at hand. By extension, it can … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged at hand, 郭隗, 隗より始めよ, Guo Wei, practice what you preach, 戦国策
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We need to make our own light
Contact your representatives! 広宵大暮 kou.shou.tai.bo Literally: wide – evening – big – sunset Alternately: This is a phrase used to express great sadness and lamentation after someone’s death. Notes: Both 広宵 and 大暮 express the idea of night that stretches … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 維人, death, endless night, lamentation, 大暮, 広宵, 文選
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What would you do for your deer?
秋の鹿は笛に寄る (Aki no shika wa fue ni yoru; “An autumn deer approaches a whistle”) Definition: Destroying oneself for the sake of love. Alternately, being in danger or being used by others after having one’s weakness taken advantage of. From the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 秋の鹿, 笛による, 笛に心を乱す, deer hunting, love, self-destructive, weak point, 妻恋う鹿, 曾我物語
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Buddhsplaining?
釈迦に説法 (Shaka ni seppou; “Lecturing the Buddha”) Definition: The foolishness of a person who knows just a little about a field trying to lecture an expert. Like delivering a sermon on Buddhism to the Buddha himself. “Teaching your grandmother to … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 釈迦, 説法, mansplaining, preaching to the Buddha, unnecessary explanation, 俚言集覧
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As the Beatles said!
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah 唯唯諾諾 i.i.daku.daku Literally: only – only – agreement – agreement Alternately: Going along with what someone says without considering the merits or the rights-and-wrongs of it. Yes-manning. Notes: Despite the literal meanings listed above, my sources … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged agreement, Broken Blade, 諾諾, no consideration, yes-man, 唯唯
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Fantasy GM tip: 100% definitely do let a neural network name your next inn.
I’m a follower of the lewisandquark blog, which is an intermittent dose of hilarity in which a neural network is trained to produce something like English – Harry Potter fanfic titles, death metal band names, new color names – and … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous, World-Building
Tagged lewisandquark, links, local color, neural network, pubs
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When the cover-up actually is worse than the crime
李下に冠を正さず (Rika ni kanmuri wo tadasazu; “Don’t straighten your hat below a plum tree”) Definition: Don’t do things that invite suspicion or misunderstanding. Even if you’re innocent, it’s best to avoid even the accidental appearance of guilt. If you reach … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged appearance of guilt, 瓜田, funky hats, misunderstanding, plum tree, 冠, 古楽府, 李下
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landofnudotcom 