Category Archives: Japanese

Samazama na arisama

Posted on May 16, 2018 by Confanity

三者三様 san.sha.san.you Literally: three – person – three – manner Alternately: Everybody is different. If you look at three people, you’ll find three different ways of thinking, three different ways of doing things. Notes: The number three may be replaced … Continue reading →

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A useful skill for adulting

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Confanity

It’s easy, there’s a trick to it. 心頭を滅却すれば火もまた涼し (Shintou wo mekkyaku sureba hi mo mata suzushi; “When you empty your mind, even fire is cool.”) Definition: The Buddhist teaching than any kind of pain or hardship can be endured with … Continue reading →

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The old razzle-dazzle

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Confanity

歌舞音曲 ka.bu.on.kyoku Literally: sing – dance – sound – melody Alternately: Song and dance. Especially, a public performance of singing and dancing. More generally, performance or play using any of the flashy arts.

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Can’t squeeze water from a boiling stone

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Confanity

焼け石に水 (Yakeishi ni mizu; “Water on a hot stone”) Definition: A situation where you shouldn’t expect much. A drop in the bucket. A negligible amount of aid or effort, like a little splash of water against a hot stone, which … Continue reading →

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Work, save, work, go!

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Confanity

More effective but less fun than “eat, pray, love”? Nah, just parallel. 勤倹力行 kin.ken.ri-.kkou Literally: diligence – frugality – power – go / carry out (an action) Alternately: Frugality and hard work. A modest lifestyle supported by copious elbow grease. … Continue reading →

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The sunny ant of the high seas

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Confanity

待てば海路の日和あり (Mateba kairo no hiyori ari; “If you wait, there will be ideal weather on the sea-routes”) Definition: Good things come to those who wait. Do your best to endure when things are bad, because they will get better. Even … Continue reading →

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Every stick and blade

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Confanity

一木一草 ichi.boku.i-.ssou Literally: one – tree – one – grass Alternately: Everything in the area; every last tree and blade of grass. In contrast, this phrase can also mean something of which there’s only a very small amount – a … Continue reading →

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Much less dramatic than “Takekurabe”

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Confanity

(Higuchi Ichiyou) 団栗の背比べ (Donguri no seikurabe; “A height-measuring contest between acorns”) Definition: A group where none of the members particularly stand out from the rest. A collection of average types. Alternately, a pointless competition between people of no special ability; … Continue reading →

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I see your Aeschylan harpies

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Confanity

And raise you LOVELY OPERA HARPIES 迦陵頻伽 ka.ryou.bin.ga Literally: “ka” (this character is only used phonetically) – imperial tomb – repeatedly – attend Alternately: A beautiful voice, or a person (especially a woman) who possesses one. This phrase refers to … Continue reading →

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Even the roosters missed the dawn?

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Confanity

Depends on the frogs 春眠暁を覚えず (Shunmin akatsuki wo oboezu; “Spring sleep knows no dawn”) Definition: The air of a night in spring feels good, and the nights themselves are getting shorter, so one ends up sleeping in instead of waking … Continue reading →

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