Category Archives: Japanese

Bad x great = good!

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Confanity

This is another kotowaza that I learned early and remembered. It’s simple, evocative, and occasionally useful. 腐っても鯛 (Kusatte mo tai; “Even rotten, it’s still sea bream”) Definition: Something of high quality or class is still high quality or class even … Continue reading →

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A tidy little post

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Confanity

整理整頓 sei.ri.sei.ton Literally: organize – logic – organize – immediately Alternately: Keeping things in order. Tidiness. Not being rough or sloppy in your work. A phrase often seen on posters in classrooms, offices, and construction sites; often cited as part … Continue reading →

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Teach them the “bite test,” perhaps

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Confanity

芋の煮えたも御存じない (Imo no nieta mo gozonji nai; “Doesn’t even know whether a potato is boiled”) Definition: This phrase describes someone from such an overprotective, sheltered existence that they can’t even tell whether a potato is raw or boiled. Potatoes are … Continue reading →

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Primum Mobile

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Confanity

自由自在 ji.yuu.ji.zai Literally: self – reason – self – exist Alternately: Completely free. One’s own master; doing as one pleases.

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For those of you who liked this post better before reading it:

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Confanity

This week’s kotowaza was brought to my attention by a friend, who used a related version (see Notes) in a Facebook post a while back. 待つ間が花 (matsu ma ga hana; “the time spent waiting is a flower”) Definition: Anticipation is … Continue reading →

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In the dark, twice over

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Confanity

This yojijukugo is antonymical to last week’s 一目瞭然. 曖昧模糊 ai.mai.mo.ko Literally: dark – dark – imitate – glue Alternately: Ambiguous. Vague. The meaning or content of something is unclear. An emphatic version of 曖昧 (aimai). Media: All the top results … Continue reading →

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Wiggle, roll, crawl, stand, walk, run, Olympic gymnast

Posted on June 21, 2015 by Confanity

I’ve been holding on to this one for a while; posting now in honor of someone’s birthday. Also, happy Father’s Day to any fathers reading this! 這えば立て立てば歩めの親心 (Haeba tate tateba ayume no oyagokoro; “A parent’s heart that says ‘stand’ when … Continue reading →

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No title necessary; you can tell what this is already

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Confanity

一目瞭然 ichi.moku.ryou.zen Literally: one – eye – clear – “in that way” Alternately: Clear (in the sense of “easily understood” rather than literally transparent); apparent; obvious. Able to be understood after a mere glance. Notes: It is also acceptable to write … Continue reading →

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Not enough data to work out how or if souls scale with size, though

Posted on June 14, 2015 by Confanity

一寸の虫にも五分の魂 (Issun no mushi ni mo gobu no tamashii; “Even in a one-sun bug, five parts of a soul.”) Definition: Even a 3cm bug has a half-share of spirit. Even a seemingly small, weak person will have a certain underlying … Continue reading →

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Runrise, runset, runrise, runset, swiftly fly the years

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Confanity

東奔西走 tou.hon.sei.sou Literally: east – run – west – run Alternately: Keeping busy. Being on the go. Actively involving oneself in something. Notes: There are a number of yojijukugo along the same lines, including 東走西奔 (tou.sou.sei.hon) and 東行西走 (tou.kou.sei.sou).

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