Category Archives: Kotowaza

Life finds a way

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Confanity

炒り豆に花が咲く ((I)rimame ni hana ga saku; “Flowers growing from roasted beans”) Definition: An example of something that had declined, failed, or withered flourishing again beyond all expectations. By extension, an impossible event. Something happening that’s about as likely as roasted … Continue reading →

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A lost art?

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Confanity

和して同ぜず (Washite douzezu; “harmonize but not agree”) Definition: Cooperating, but only within reason. Making a point of getting along with others – but not when doing so would be at the cost of reason, truth, one’s individuality, or other important … Continue reading →

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But what does it all MEAN?

Posted on November 13, 2016 by Confanity

論語読みの論語知らず (Rongo yomi no rongo shirazu; “A reader of Confucius; doesn’t know Confucius”) Definition: Use this when someone technically knows the words of a field of knowledge but doesn’t understand the meaning of the words and is unable to act … Continue reading →

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You’ve got to really “stick” it in?

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Confanity

連木で腹を切る (Rengi de hara wo kiru; “To cut one’s belly with a wooden pestle”) Definition: An impossible event or task. By extension, attempting to achieve the impossible. Attempting a task that is as daunting as slicing one’s belly open with … Continue reading →

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Rui-san calls her friends?

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Confanity

類は友を呼ぶ (Rui wa tomo wo yobu; “Like calls unto like”) Definition: People will naturally self-sort. People who are similar will tend to find each other, group together, and become close. “Birds of a feather flock together.” Nerds sit at lunch … Continue reading →

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Never trust anything strawberry-flavored

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Confanity

In fact, when in doubt, just go with the most masochistic option available. 良薬は口に苦し (Ryouyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi; “Good medicine is bitter in the mouth”) Definition: Good advice is hard to listen to. The advice that we most desperately … Continue reading →

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They’ll let you have next Tuesday, though

Posted on October 16, 2016 by Confanity

来年の事を言えば鬼が笑う (Rainen no koto wo ieba oni ga warau; “Oni laugh when you talk about next year”) Definition: Nobody can accurately predict the future, so there’s no use in trying to say what’s going to be happening next year. People … Continue reading →

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The problem with oboes

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Confanity

葦の髄から天井を覗く (Yoshi no zui kara tenjou wo nozoku; “To peer at the ceiling through a reed.”) Definition: Forming opinions and making decisions on a topic based on one’s narrow views and pre-formed beliefs rather than any sort of breadth or … Continue reading →

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All’s well that’s ended well

Posted on October 2, 2016 by Confanity

有終の美を飾る (Yuushuu no bi wo kazaru; “To add a crowning touch”) Definition: Carrying something through to a successful conclusion. Producing excellent results by seeing a task through with full effort until it’s complete, rather than doing enough work to finish … Continue reading →

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One, two, three, four five; Once I caught a fish alive

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Confanity

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten; I never saw a fish again 柳の下にいつも泥鰌は居らぬ (Yanagi no shita ni itsumo dojou wa oranu; “There isn’t always a loach below the willow”) Definition: Just because something good happened once doesn’t mean that the same … Continue reading →

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