Category Archives: Kotowaza

In which a biographer is like a taxidermist

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Confanity

Maybe an Uberdermist, these days. 虎は死して皮を留め人は死して名を残す (Tora wa shi shite kawa wo todome hito wa shi shite na wo nokosu; “A tiger dies and leaves a skin, a person dies and leaves a name”) Definition: Live well. Live so that … Continue reading →

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An all-new take on the ant and the grasshopper

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Confanity

大の虫を生かして小の虫を殺す (Dai no mushi wo ikashite shou no mushi wo korosu; “Let the large bug live, and kill the small”) Definition: Sacrificing small considerations so that the large may survive. Cutting off a part so that the whole may live, … Continue reading →

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Paradox!

Posted on June 11, 2017 by Confanity

See also 急がば回れ 負けるが勝ち (Makeru ga kachi; “Losing is winning.”) Definition: No, this isn’t some Orwellian doublespeak. It means that there are times when granting your opponent a win can be advantageous for you in the long run. Avoiding conflict … Continue reading →

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Scrape it off, scrape it off, woah-oah

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Confanity

旅の恥は掻き捨て (Tabi no haji wa kakisute; “Cast off shame while traveling.”) Definition: When you’re away from home, nobody knows you and so it’s easy to do things that you would have found unthinkable (or at least undoable) in more familiar … Continue reading →

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Why oh why ask why?

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Confanity

Because it’s good for you! 聞くは一時の恥聞かぬは一生の恥 (Kiku wa ittoki no haji kikanu wa isshou no haji; “To ask is a moment’s shame; to not ask is a lifetime’s shame.”) Definition: It’s embarrassing to have to ask a question and reveal … Continue reading →

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All the king’s horses shouldn’t cry over spilled milk

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Confanity

覆水盆に返らず (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu; “You can’t put spilled water back in the saucer”) Definition: You can’t undo what’s been done. You can’t redo what’s been undone. You can’t uncrack an egg. As much as you may sometimes want to … Continue reading →

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Like falling off a bike, but very different

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Confanity

案ずるより産むが易し (Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi; “Birthing is easier than planning”) Definition: The deed is often less terrible than anticipation-nerves would have it. Before starting a course of action people tend to worry about this and that, but find the … Continue reading →

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Like taking candy

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Confanity

Not from a baby, you monster お茶の子さいさい (Ocha no ko saisai; “Alright; tea candy!”) Definition: Something super simple and easy; just a little thing. Words of encouragement. Something as effortless as picking up and eating a bit of some snack-food. … Continue reading →

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Don’t try to be a profit prophet

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Confanity

捕らぬ狸の皮算用 (Toranu tanuki no kawa zan’you; “Calculating the pelt of an uncaught tanuki”) Definition: Making over-optimistic calculations. Building unreliable assumptions into your plans for the future. Making a budget that includes estimated profit from the sale of the fur of … Continue reading →

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GIGO

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Confanity

A potty mouth is a force multiplier 病は口より入り禍は口より出ず (Yamai wa kuchi yori iri wazawai wa kuchi yori izu; “Disease enters from the mouth and disaster exits from the mouth”) Definition: Disease enters the body through your mouth when you eat … Continue reading →

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