Category Archives: Kotowaza

The danger of lawn sprinklers

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Confanity

When getting your toes wet is off the deep end 濡れぬ先こそ露をも厭え(Nurenu saki koso tsuyu wo mo itoe;“Shun the dew before you get wet”) Definition: It’s best to avoid even a minor error, because surviving the experience leads to relative comfort … Continue reading →

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Work-life balance?

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Confanity

Once upon a time, there lived a lovely old couple whose start-of-stoy childlessness kind of flew in the face of this week’s saying. 律義者の子沢山(Richigimono no kodakusan;“The many children of the righteous”) Definition: An honest, sincere, hard-working person will get along … Continue reading →

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One nugget at a time

Posted on July 4, 2021 by Confanity

A pollo, the god of wisdom? 知恵は小出しにせよ(Chie wa kodashi ni se yo;“Portion out your wisdom”) Definition: Reveal your abilities a little at a time, as needed, rather than all at once. Always keep something in reserve in case of emergency. … Continue reading →

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Even super-firm

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Confanity

豆腐に鎹(Toufu ni kasugai;“A wood-clamp in tofu”) Definition: Attempting something that’s guaranteed to produce no meaningful response or results. An utterly ineffectual action, like using a construction-strength fastener on an ultra-soft material like tofu. Like talking to a brick wall, or … Continue reading →

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Je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Confanity

Pascal, not Twain 下手の長談義(Heta no nagadangi;“The long discourse of the unskilled”) Definition: A rambling talk or story characteristic of people who aren’t very good at clear and organized speaking. To drone on in a poorly-paced, unengaging way, especially in a … Continue reading →

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A Scandanavian problem

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Confanity

惚れたが因果(Horeta ga inga;“The lover’s lot is karma”) Definition: For someone who has fallen in love, suffering because of it is an unavoidable part of human existence. When one is in love, pain is an inevitable result – in part due … Continue reading →

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Not applicable to Bāguázhǎng practitioners

Posted on June 6, 2021 by Confanity

(The “eight trigrams palm” art is 八卦掌, Japanese hakkeshou.) 握れば拳開けば掌(Nigireba kobushi hirakeba tenohira;“When clenched, a fist; when opened, a palm”) Definition: A given thing can change dramatically depending on the circumstances or even on how one thinks or feels. The … Continue reading →

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Why the rich have a limited point of view

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Confanity

針の穴から天を覗く(Hari no ana kara ten wo nozoku;“To peer at the heavens through the eye of a needle”) Definition: Attempting to solve big, complicated problems or deal with issues requiring expertise, despite only having a small supply of knowledge. Trying to … Continue reading →

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Even Perlman?

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Confanity

論より証拠(Ron yori shouko;“Proof over theory”) Definition: The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Things tend to be clarified more by evidence than by arguing or philosophizing about them. Concrete examples are the first step and foundation when trying … Continue reading →

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Skating on thin wood

Posted on May 16, 2021 by Confanity

板子一枚下は地獄(Itago ichimai shita wa jigoku;“One plank below is perdition”) Definition: This sailors’ saying expresses the fact that sailing is a dangerous profession, and warns them to be careful while out on the water. Only a thin bit of wood separates … Continue reading →

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