Category Archives: Japanese

Birds, bugs and beasts; weeds, trees, and flowers

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Confanity

鳥　虫　けもの、臭き花? 草木も眠る丑三つ時 (Kusaki mo nemuru ushi mitsu doki; “In the dead night, when even the grass and trees sleep”) Definition: A phrase describing the hushed, eerie early-morning hours. The dead of night. A time so late that not only people … Continue reading →

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Put some feelings into it!

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Confanity

Also chutzpah. And coriander. 感情移入 kan.jou.i.nyuu Literally: emotion – feelings – shift – enter Alternately: Empathy. The ability to sense and share in the feelings of others. Alternatively, the tendency to project one’s own perception of emotions onto a work … Continue reading →

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Men, said the Devil

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Confanity

…They don’t want to mend their own ways, but each other’s* 六国を滅ぼす者は六国なり (Rikkoku wo horobosu mono wa rikkoku nari; “The one who destroys the six countries, is the six countries”) Definition: When a nation falls, it usually isn’t ultimately due … Continue reading →

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No relation to Indian spices

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Confanity

Or to gum! 我武者羅 ga.mu.sha.ra Literally: oneself – warrior – person – gauze Alternately: Fixated on a goal to the point of blinding oneself to everything else. Charging ahead without looking to see what else is coming or what lies … Continue reading →

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When you hand-ear a neck

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Confanity

(Yes, 取 supposedly means “take” because it refers to taking a defeated enemy’s ear as a trophy in battle. So… appropriate?) 鬼の首を取ったよう (Oni no kubi wo totta you; “As if having taken an oni’s head”) Definition: Triumphant or boastful, especially … Continue reading →

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Empty Ron, Full Harry

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Confanity

空理空論 kuu.ri.kuu.ron Literally: empty – logic – empty – discourse Alternately: A theory with little relation to reality and thus of no use. Flights of fancy far from facts.

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Still buff from all that weeping

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Confanity

The Romantic ideal? 泣く子は育つ (Naku ko wa sodatsu; “The child who cries, grows”) Definition: A baby that cries loud and often is a healthy one that will grow well. A strong cry is evidence of good health. Presumably this is … Continue reading →

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We’re gonna have to go right to…

Posted on January 23, 2019 by Confanity

Ludicrous speed! 迅速果断 jin.soku.ka.dan Literally: fast – fast – fruit – sever / decide Alternately: Quick and decisive action. Bold moves made without hesitation. Notes: For synonymous phrases the order of the elements may be reversed as 果断迅速, or 断 … Continue reading →

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Not the same chamberpot, though

Posted on January 20, 2019 by Confanity

同じ釜の飯を食う (Onaji kama no meshi wo kuu; “To eat rice from the same pot”) Definition: Leading the same lifestyle together and working together; going through good times and bad together; being extremely close friends. An intimate, familial sense of closeness … Continue reading →

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All sincerity

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Confanity

(No tricks) 志操堅固 shi.sou.ken.go Literally: intention – operate / fidelity – solid – harden Alternately: Strict adherence to one’s principles and beliefs, or even to one’s chosen style in an art. Unwavering, uncompromising loyalty to an ideal. Notes: Even though … Continue reading →

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