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Author Archives: Confanity
Some hard-core traditional Japanese culture, in a small convenient package
This is quite possibly the most famous yojijukugo in Japan. I’m not entirely sure how it took me so long to get around to it. 一期一会 ichi.go.ichi.e Literally: one – time (period) – one – meeting Alternately: (Every time you … Continue reading
From out of the mouth of me, I grab at thee
喉から手が出る (Nodo kara te ga deru; “A hand comes from the throat”) Definition: To want something very, very much; so much that you can hardly stand it. This imaginative metaphor compares desire to physical appetite, and pictures a hunger so … Continue reading
All four of them
喜怒哀楽 ki.do.ai.raku Literally: joy – anger – sorrow – ease/pleasure Alternately: Human emotions. The range of human emotions. All of a person’s emotions.
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged angers, emotions, Japanese, joy, pleasure, sorrow, 喜怒哀楽
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Thought of the day: baby arms
When a baby is startled, even if it’s asleep, it will often go like this: I’m not sure how much scientific literature is out there about this particular reflex. Someone I was talking to idly theorized that its roots go … Continue reading
Posted in Musing, Nonfiction
Tagged babies, evolution, instinct, thought of the day, V pose
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Frog and more frog
One more kotowaza for the frogs. It’ll be something different next week, I promise. 蛙の子は蛙 (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru; “A frog’s child is a frog”) Definition: “Like father, like son.” “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” The … Continue reading
Elbow Grease
Midterms. Already? 切磋琢磨 se-.ssa.taku.ma Literally: cut – scrub/rub – strike – polish/scour/grind (or: cut – polish – polish – polish!) Alternately: Diligent effort. Improving oneself through study. Notes: There’s a fuller phrase, 切磋琢磨し合う (sessa-takuma shiau). The shiau part means “to … Continue reading
Frog, like honey badger, just don’t care
Another frog kotowaza! Because… I don’t know why. Don’t let it bother you. 蛙の面に水 (Kaeru no tsura ni mizu; “Water in a frog’s face”) Definition: Not being bothered by things at all. No matter what happens, keeping one’s composure, or … Continue reading
Maybe just 85%?
十中八九 ji-.chuu.ha-.kku (or ju-.chuu.ha-.kku) Literally: ten – middle – eight – nine Alternately: Eight or nine out of ten; an 80% – 90% probability; “most likely, X” Notes: This is obviously in the same vein as the previous 九分九厘, and … Continue reading
Big frog, small pond
A kotowaza to encourage exploration and growth. 井の中の蛙大海を知らず (I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu; “The frog in the well knows not the great ocean.”) Definition: A frog at the bottom of a well may look up and see … Continue reading
Directions, part IV
(Story begins here. Continued from part III) EEeee! There was a scream in the darkness. Seth sat up in bed and swatted his alarm. EE—whap A glance at the clock revealed that it was only midnight, Monday morning. He had … Continue reading
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