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Category Archives: Japanese
Like those dreams where you’re running
不即不離 fu.soku.fu.ri Literally: non – instant/agree/conform – non – separate Alternately: At just the right distance, often mentally rather than physically. Neither approaching nor getting further away. Not loving nor hating; neutral; noncommittal; ambivalent. Notes: This four-character compound can be … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged cats, 離れず, neutral, perfect distance, 即かず, 不離, 不即
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Lend an eave, cause to grieve
庇を貸して母屋を取られる (Hisashi wo kashite omoya wo torareru; “Lending the eaves, having the main room taken”) Definition: Giving someone an inch, only for them to take a mile. Lending or giving someone part of something, especially when that person is in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged eaves, give an inch, taken advantage of, 庇を貸して, 母屋を取られる
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Ninety-nine problems and also another problem
When I first encountered this compound, I pictured it as a quaint conga line of traditional Japanese bakemono. Now all I can see is [redacted topical political comment]. 百鬼夜行 hya-.kki.ya.kou OR gyou Literally: hundred – oni (often translated “demon” or … Continue reading
Or eggshells. Frozen eggshells?
薄氷を履むが如し (Hakuhyou wo fumu ga gotoshi; “Like treading on thin ice”) Definition: Being in an intensely dangerous situation. When a thick layer of ice covers a body of water, it can safely support people walking on it or even heavy … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Classic of Poetry, danger, 薄氷, 詩経, fear, thin ice, 履む
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A two-dimensional definition of beauty
In 3D it’d be ２６方美人? 八方美人 ha-.ppou.bi.jin Literally: eight – direction – beauty – person Alternately: Trying to be all things to all people. Originally this compound was read literally as a beautiful person who was without flaw no matter … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged all things to all people, 発砲, 美人, duplicity, eight directions, 八方
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Like taking candy from a baby…
…by beating it in a game of chess 暖簾に腕押し (Noren ni ude-oshi; “arm-wrestling a curtain”) Definition: A deed with no resistance, therefore requiring no real effort, and therefore giving no thrill or satisfaction for the accomplishment. A waste of effort. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged arm wrestling, curtain, 腕相撲, 腕押し, no resistance, wasted effort, 暖簾
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Still better than a frog?
喉元事案 nodo.moto.ji.an Literally: throat – origin – think – plan Alternately: Superficial thinking. Rash and hasty ideas. Notes: Derived from the belief that one’s deepest thinking was done in the chest. The throat is more “shallow” than the chest, so … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged rash idea, superficial, throat thinking, 喉元, 事案
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Cat, hat; in French chat, chapeau
猫を被る (Neko wo kaburu; “To play the cat”) Definition: To hide one’s true (wild or willful) nature and pretend to be quiet and obedient. Alternately, to pretend not to know about a situation that one is actually involved in or … Continue reading
TFW you see the universe in a flower through a flower in the universe
拈華微笑 nen.ge.mi.shou Literally: twist (with the fingers) – flower – delicate/minute – laugh/smile Alternately: Communicating “heart to heart,” without words or writing. Subtle, unspoken communication. Plucking or toying with a flower, and a smile. Notes: In other contexts, 微笑 can … Continue reading
Like taking cereal from a baby!
Don’t ask why the hand is wet, though. 濡れ手で粟（を掴み取る） (Nurete de awa (wo tsukamitoru); “(grasping) millet with a wet hand”) Definition: Profit without hard work. Easy money. If you stick a wet hand into a container of fine grains such … Continue reading
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