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Author Archives: Confanity
Hearing is dreaming, seeing is believing?
Speech is silver, experience is lead 聞いて極楽見て地獄 (Kiite gokuraku mite jigoku; “Hearing is heaven, seeing is hell”) Definition: When you only hear about something second-hand it may sound amazing, but experiencing it personally is another matter. Use this saying in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged hearsay, Iroha karuta, Naraku, reality, Sukhavati, 地獄, 極楽
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What we need now is a more dangerous boat…?
呉越同舟 go.etsu.dou.shuu Literally: Wu – Yue – same – boat Alternately: Enemies in the same place at the same time, especially facing a common danger, challenge, or foe. People who would normally fight, forced by circumstances to work together. Being … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged common danger, enemies working together, Spring and Autumn period, topical, 同舟, 呉越, 春秋時代
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Why say good-bye
Hello, hello? ああ言えばこう言う (Aa ieba kou iu; “If (I) say this, (you) say that.”) Definition: Quibbling and back-talk. Arguing for the sake of arguing. No matter what advice or instruction one person gives, the other objects to as much of … Continue reading
Now flying at the speed of internet
流言蜚語 ryuu.gen.hi.go Literally: flow – word – cockroach – speech Alternately: Baseless rumors. Canards. Notes: The rare character 蜚 may be replaced with homophone 飛 (“fly”), but why would you want to do that?
Pay it forward…
…until it comes back? 情けは人の為ならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu; “Compassion isn’t just for the sake of others”) Definition: Showing pity, mercy, or compassion for others isn’t just a favor you do to them; it’s for your own sake … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged classical Japanese grammar, compassion, what goes around, 情け, 人の為ならず
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Hagoromo
Or, you know. 天衣無縫 ten.i.mu.hou Literally: heaven – clothing – no – stitch Alternately: Naturally flawless and beautiful. Amazingly well-made, without any sign of artifice. Usually refers to poetry, or to a person’s unaffected innocence of character. Notes: A number … Continue reading
Out of mouth, out of mind
喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる (Nodomoto sugireba atsusa wo wasureru; “To forget the heat after swallowing”) Definition: No matter how painful a situation was, the pain – or alternately, the debts owed to people who helped out when times were bad – are quickly … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged プレイボーイ, 熱さを忘れる, forget pain, hot drink, Iroha karuta, 喉元過ぎれば
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The widening gyre
But the centre yet holds? 物情騒然 butsu.jou.sou.zen Literally: thing – emotion – noisy – “in that way” Alternately: Widespread unrest and turmoil. Something, especially society at large, in a state of upheaval, disturbance, convulsion, and kerfuffle. Even if you’re reform-minded, … Continue reading
A sinister retirement package
If you’re a lefty, do you substitute in 右? 左団扇で暮らす (Hidari uchiwa de kurasu; “Living with a fan in your left hand”) Definition: Living a life of ease and relaxation. A lifestyle without stress or worry. The image invoked is … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged fan, good life, left hand, life of ease, Naruto, retirement, 左団扇, 暮らす
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🎶So🎶
Later someone invented a system of eight directions. 四面楚歌 shi.men.so.ka Literally: four – face – Chu – song Alternately: Completely alone and cut off, surrounded by enemies. Having foes in all (four cardinal) directions. Feeling forsaken and betrayed. Notes: This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged alone, cat versus chickens, 項羽, forsaken, Records of the Grand Historian, surrounded, Xiang Yu, 史記, 四面, 楚歌
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