Category Archives: Japanese

Cool-headed, hot-footed

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Confanity

The winter is upon us! Here’s a helpful tip for weathering it. 頭寒足熱 zu.kan.soku.netsu Literally: head – cold – leg/foot – heat Alternately: Keeping your head cool and your feet warm; a recommended palliative when you have a cold, or … Continue reading →

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My way *is* the highway

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Confanity

学問に王道無し (Gakumon ni oudou nashi; “There is no royal road in learning”) Definition: There is no easy way, no quick fix or magic bullet, for mastering a field of study. You need to acquire information and mental tools, incorporate them … Continue reading →

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There is no say. There is only do.

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Confanity

不言実行 fu.gen.ji-.kkou Literally: [negative] – say – reality/truth – act/conduct/journey/go Alternately: Don’t talk; do. Action over words. Quiet, determined action.

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Mochiya knows best

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Confanity

Intro: This week’s saying is almost a synonym with last week’s 蛇の道は蛇. 餅は餅屋 (Mochi wa mochiya; “The mochi-maker [knows] mochi”) Definition: For the best mochi, go to a mochi-maker (instead of trying to make your own, or depending on the … Continue reading →

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But, what if you have both a sword AND a pen?

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Confanity

A good, balanced approach to life. 文武両道 bun.bu.ryou.dou Literally: sentence/missive/literature – military/warrior – two/both – road/way/teaching Alternately: Both the military and the literary arts. A person who excels at both athletic endeavors (especially, but limited to, martial arts) and scholarship. … Continue reading →

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Who knows Snake Road?

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Confanity

蛇の道は蛇 (Ja no michi wa hebi; “Snakes [know] the snakes’ road”) Definition: People who belong to a certain group are the ones who know the most about the ways of that group. Specialists understand other specialists in their field better … Continue reading →

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Some hard-core traditional Japanese culture, in a small convenient package

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Confanity

This is quite possibly the most famous yojijukugo in Japan. I’m not entirely sure how it took me so long to get around to it. 一期一会 ichi.go.ichi.e Literally: one – time (period) – one – meeting Alternately: (Every time you … Continue reading →

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From out of the mouth of me, I grab at thee

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Confanity

喉から手が出る (Nodo kara te ga deru; “A hand comes from the throat”) Definition: To want something very, very much; so much that you can hardly stand it. This imaginative metaphor compares desire to physical appetite, and pictures a hunger so … Continue reading →

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All four of them

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Confanity

喜怒哀楽 ki.do.ai.raku Literally: joy – anger – sorrow – ease/pleasure Alternately: Human emotions. The range of human emotions. All of a person’s emotions.

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Frog and more frog

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Confanity

One more kotowaza for the frogs. It’ll be something different next week, I promise. 蛙の子は蛙 (Kaeru no ko wa kaeru; “A frog’s child is a frog”) Definition: “Like father, like son.” “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” The … Continue reading →

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