Category Archives: Japanese

Giving oneself a (winning) hand

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Confanity

得手勝手 e.te.ka-.tte Literally: acquire – hand – win – hand Alternately: Doing whatever you want without regard for other people. Caring only about one’s own needs, desires, or convenience. Selfish or willful behavior. Notes: While toku is a valid reading … Continue reading →

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Gird your loins, or your chin

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Confanity

勝って兜の緒を締めよ (Katte kabuto no o wo shimeyo; “When you win, tighten your helmet-strap”) Definition: A warning to not let down one’s guard even when things seem to be going well or when one seems to have won a fight. Always … Continue reading →

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Maybe later; not yet and not now

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Confanity

古今無双 ko.kon.mu.sou Literally: old – now – nothing – pair Alternately: Something is unmatched from the past to the present. A quality (often, but not always, greatness) is unequaled at any time in history, right up to the present moment. … Continue reading →

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Scattered in the winds

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Confanity

I’m surprised it took me this long to get around to this one…. 支離滅裂 shi.ri.metsu.retsu Literally: branch – separate – destroy / perish – tear apart Alternately: The things someone says, or writes, or says and does, make no sense. … Continue reading →

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The original campsite rule

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Confanity

立つ鳥跡を濁さず (Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu; “The bird taking flight doesn’t muddy its tracks”) Definition: When you leave a place, don’t leave it a mess – leave it at least as pristine as the condition you found it in. Clean … Continue reading →

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Not “an idle and most false imposition,” for once

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Confanity

一体何者なんだ!? 名実一体 mei.jitsu.it-.tai Literally: name / reputation – reality – one – body Alternately: A thing is as it is said to be. The truth of a matter matches its reputation. Title and substance are as one. For example, when … Continue reading →

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Fake it ’til you can make a break for it?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Confanity

虎の威を借る狐 (Tora no i wo karu kitsune; “a fox borrowing a tiger’s menace”) Definition: A person without much personal authority, power, or menace, such as a child or servant, acting high and mighty due to their association with someone who … Continue reading →

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A long dark teatime

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Confanity

of the soul? 暗雲低迷 an.un.tei.mei Literally: dark – cloud – low – lost Alternately: A bad or worrying situation, like clouds that look as if they could burst into rain at any moment. A negative situation, such as a recession, … Continue reading →

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No lip-zipping for you

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Confanity

Until and unless you lead by example, perhaps 世間の口に戸は立てられない (Seken no kuchi ni to wa taterarenai; “You can’t put a door on society’s mouth”) Definition: You can’t stop people from talking. You may not like it when people repeat or … Continue reading →

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An endless barrel of exposition

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Confanity

博学多才 haku.gaku.ta.sai Literally: acclaimed – study – many – talent Alternately: Possessing an extensive store of knowledge and a range of skills. Talented and educated. A “Renaissance man.” Notes: This is another compound formed by simply joining two two-character words … Continue reading →

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