Category Archives: Japanese

The bread and butter of foreign affairs

Posted on December 22, 2021 by Confanity

As long as it doesn’t devolve into something like the Butter Battle Book? 内政干渉nai.sei.kan.shou Literally: inside – government – dry / ebb / interfere – ford [a river] / involve Alternately: Interference in another country’s government or domestic politics. Interventionism. … Continue reading →

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Or oars

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Confanity

船は帆で持つ帆は船で持つ(Fune wa ho de motsu ho wa fune de motsu;“A ship works because of its sail; a sail works because of its ship”) Definition: A ship is useful because it has a sail; a sail is useful because it’s on … Continue reading →

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Hot and cold with the same breath

Posted on December 15, 2021 by Confanity

It turns out that it’s a highly-adapted survival mechanism 熱願冷諦netsu.gan.rei.tei Literally: heat – request – chill – truth / give up Alternately: Wishing ardently for something, then rigorously investigating it or dispassionately facing its reality, especially the reality that what … Continue reading →

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Geckos famously sell insurance

Posted on December 12, 2021 by Confanity

Gekkos famously commit fraud 下戸の建てた蔵は無い(Geko no tateta kura wa nai;“There are no storehouses built by non-drinkers”) Definition: One might expect teetotallers to become richer due to not wasting money on drink, and once rich they might spend that extra cash … Continue reading →

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Learning from the past about learning from the past

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Confanity

But how often does the lesson actually “take”? 痛定思痛tsuu.tei.shi.tsuu Literally: pain – determine – think – pain Alternately: Remembering pain after one has recovered from it. By extension, looking back on something negative in the past (including e.g. one’s mistakes … Continue reading →

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An almost-luxurious oppression

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Confanity

Nobody tell the Merovingian. 真綿で首を絞める(Mawata de kubi wo shimeru;“To strangle with silk floss”) Definition: Pressure or harm that comes at someone gradually or indirectly, rather than as an overt attack or dramatic event. Breakdown: We begin with the noun 真綿 … Continue reading →

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Lose the I, keep the cat

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Confanity

則天去私soku.ten.kyo.shi Literally: follow – sky – leave – private / I Alternately: Giving up one’s egotism and selfish desires, and living in accordance with the natural order. Notes: This phrase is attributed to Natsume Soseki, who in his later years … Continue reading →

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Only a failure to see

Posted on November 28, 2021 by Confanity

–Malcolm Muggeridge 闇夜に鉄砲(Yamiyo ni teppou;“A gun on a dark night”) Definition: Doing things at random without any clear plans or information. Taking shots in the dark without even a target, much less the ability to see and aim at one. … Continue reading →

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Four steps or you stumble

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Confanity

It all boils down to the need for as many people as possible to agree to be good dancing partners for everyone else 礼楽刑政rei.gaku.kei.sei Literally: ceremony – leisure – punishment – government **but see below! Alternately: The four pillars necessary … Continue reading →

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Actually, don’t put a lid on it

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Confanity

Keep your mouth open and face the music 臭い物に蓋をする(Kusai mono ni futa wo suru;“To put a lid on something stinky”) Definition: Stopgap measures to hide misdeeds, scandal, or other inconvenient realities. The tactic is temporary, but that doesn’t stop some, … Continue reading →

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