Category Archives: Japanese

More comfortable than a high horse

Posted on August 11, 2019 by Confanity

I say it’s high time 枕を高くして寝る (Makura wo tataku shite neru; “To sleep with your pillow high”) Definition: Having nothing at all to worry about. Complete and utter peace of mind. Care-free and able to sleep easy. Breakdown: This simple … Continue reading →

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The opposite of Genji

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Confanity

天真爛漫 ten.shin.ran.man Literally: heavens – true – inflamed – involuntary Alternately: When a person’s thoughts and feelings show on the surface of their words and behavior. Simplicity; naivete; unaffectedness. Wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve. Keep in mind that in … Continue reading →

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As opposed to strawberry fields

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Confanity

(…which I’m told are forever) 滄海変じて桑田となる (Soukai henjite souden to naru; “The sea becomes a field of mulberries.”) Definition: The world is full of dramatic changes. If you stop paying attention to something for a few years, when you next … Continue reading →

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The natural state of heroes

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Confanity

疲労困憊 hi.rou.kon.pai Literally: tire(d) – labor – distress – fatigue Alternately: Complete and utter exhaustion. As tired as one can be. Notes: This is another compound of redundant terms for emphasis: both 疲労 and 困憊 mean “exhaustion,” “fatigue,” “weariness.” I … Continue reading →

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A tip for an umbrella

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Confanity

濡れぬ先の傘 (Nurenu saki no kasa; “(Opening) an umbrella before getting wet”) Definition: Thorough advance preparation. Like opening an umbrella before any rain has even started falling. Prevention is better than cure; better early than late. Breakdown: We begin with the … Continue reading →

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An iceberg… of detergent

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Confanity

潜在意識 sen.zai.i.shiki Literally: submerge – exist – mind – know Alternately: Subconscious. This modern compound comprises 潜在, “dormancy,” and 意識, “awareness,” and stands in contrast to terms such as 前意識 (zenishiki, “preconscious”) or 無意識 (muishiki, “unconscious”). Notes: I have nothing … Continue reading →

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Ready to go, but never to return

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Confanity

傘と提灯は戻らぬつもりで貸せ (Kasa to chouchin wa modoranu tsumori de kase; “Lend umbrellas and lanterns with the awareness that they will not return”) Definition: People are forgetful. Human nature being what it is, there are certain things that you should expect, such … Continue reading →

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Consider the lotus of the pond

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Confanity

It toils and spins SO HARD 難行苦行 nan.gyou.ku.gyou Literally: difficult – go / undertaking – suffering – go / undertaking Alternately: Extreme difficulties or suffering. In particular, this describes when someone is enduring privation and hardship as part of (Buddhist) … Continue reading →

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If the cattle are horny, you shouldn’t care if they’re straight

Posted on July 14, 2019 by Confanity

角を矯めて牛を殺す (Tsuno wo tamete ushi wo korosu; “Straightening the horns, killing the cow”) Definition: A situation where trying to fix a small problem ruins the whole thing. The cure being worse than the disease. Hammering and pulling on a cow’s … Continue reading →

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Like yourself; like Mt. Tai

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Confanity

泰然自若 tai.zen.ji.jaku Literally: calm – “sort of thing” – self – (young) / similar Alternately: Unflappable. Calm and self-controlled. Notes: This is another compound of synonymous compounds; 泰然 means “composed; unmoved,” while 自若 means “self-possessed.” This yojijukugo has a number … Continue reading →

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