Category Archives: Kotowaza

And all for want of a horseshoe nail!

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Confanity

(Really, it goes backwards to the movement of the solar accretion disk… and beyond as well.) （大）風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる ((Oo)kaze ga fukeba okeya ga moukaru; “When the (strong) wind blows, bucket-makers prosper.”) Definition: A well-known saying that refers to unintended consequences or … Continue reading →

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Forte vs. foible for fiercely forceful fencing

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Confanity

I’m sure you can find a way to make this one topical to Valentine’s Day, whether you’re feeling optimistic, satisfied, or cynical. 得手に帆を揚げる (Ete ni ho wo ageru; “Raise one’s sails to one’s forte”) Definition: Acting when luck gives you … Continue reading →

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Bogwood blooming

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Confanity

埋もれ木に花が咲く (Umoregi ni hana ga saku; “Flowers blooming on a buried tree”) Definition: Unexpectedly returning to fame, wealth, power, etc. after an extended time of obscurity, exile, or general misfortune. Just as a tree that has fallen and sunk into … Continue reading →

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Extrapolator extraordinaire

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Confanity

Sherlock Holmes again! 一を聞いて十を知る (Ichi wo kiite juu wo shiru; “Hearing one; knowing ten”) Definition: Having great powers of reasoning and understanding. Learning one part and understanding the whole. Hearing just a little bit about something is enough for the … Continue reading →

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Darker than Black… is not a sequel

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Confanity

青は藍より出でて藍より青し (Ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi; “Blue comes from indigo and is bluer than indigo.”) Definition: “The student has surpassed the master.” Alternately, hard work and study can lead to greater levels of ability than innate talent. … Continue reading →

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[Star Trek reboot reference]

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Confanity

This is why I check after every post goes up to make sure everything actually went as scheduled. 一寸先は闇 (Issun saki wa yami; “One sun ahead is darkness”) Definition: What lies before us, even an inch away, is darkness (metaphorically). … Continue reading →

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Call it the “Holmes Hook.”

Posted on January 10, 2016 by Confanity

鎌を掛ける (Kama wo kakeru; “to catch on a sickle”) Definition: Talking casually to someone in a way that leads them to give you information you wanted, such as their true feelings about a matter, without needing to ask them for … Continue reading →

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Baby steps to victory!

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Confanity

Another thing to keep in mind as we make resolutions and head into the new year. 一日一字を学べば三百六十字 (Ichinichi ichiji wo manabeba sanbyakurokujuuji; “If you learn one character a day, three hundred sixty characters”) Definition: If you study just a little … Continue reading →

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A minute’s plan in the first second

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Confanity

Here’s a New Year’s Resolution for you! 一日の計は朝に在り一年の計は元旦に在り (Ichinichi no kei wa asa ni ari ichinen no kei wa gantan ni ari; “A day’s plan in the morning; a year’s plan on New Year’s Day”) Definition: Planning and preparation should … Continue reading →

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I wonder what his kids thought, though.

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Confanity

愚公山を移す (Gukou yama wo utsusu; “The Old Fool Moves Mountains”) Definition: No matter how great your troubles or difficulties, hard work and perseverance will see you through. Your goals are realized through hard work and persistence. Rome was not built … Continue reading →

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