Category Archives: Japanese

Better to be thought a fool

Posted on September 5, 2021 by Confanity

…than to be shot down. 怜悧なる頭には閉じたる口あり(Reiri naru atama ni wa tojitaru kuchi ari;“In the clever head, a closed mouth.”) Definition: A wise person doesn’t speak any more than necessary, and thus doesn’t say foolish, boring, or pointless things. “Silence at … Continue reading →

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Not a problem if you’re Solo?

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Confanity

(Yes, that’s a source text / Star Wars joke.) 党同伐異tou.dou.batsu.i Literally: faction – same – strike / punish – different Alternately: Blind partisanship. Supporting one’s associates and attacking one’s rivals without any regard for what is actually correct or proper. … Continue reading →

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Wonder is the seed of knowledge

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Confanity

(France is bacon) 大疑は大悟の基(Taigi wa taigo no motoi;“Great doubts are the foundation of great enlightenment”) Definition: Great doubt is the first step toward great realizations. Doubt leads to asking questions, which leads to seeking answers, which – in theory at … Continue reading →

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Gaijin, he zen

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Confanity

変幻自在hen.gen.ji.zai Literally: change – illusion – self – exist Alternately: Able to change one’s form or appearance, or appear and disappear, at will. Shapeshifting; protean; phantasmal. Notes: This is a compound of compounds; 変幻 refers to an illusion or vision … Continue reading →

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Maybe that’s why we always wear our hats

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Confanity

夜目遠目笠の内(Yome toome kasa no uchi;“Seen at night; seen from afar; wearing a hat”) Definition: This phrase asserts that women are most beautiful when seen in the dark, or from a distance, or when mostly obscured by something like a large … Continue reading →

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Sing as though no one can hear you

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Confanity

Why can’t they hear me? I’d better sing even more loudly. 放歌高吟hou.ka.kou.gin Literally: release – song – high – recite / chant / sing Alternately: Singing in a loud voice, without worrying about whether you may be bothering anybody else. … Continue reading →

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Truffles before swine

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Confanity

Or just about anything at all before a goat 鰹節を猫に預ける(Katsuobushi wo neko ni azukeru;“Entrusting katsuo shavings to a cat”) Definition: A dangerous situation where one can’t afford to let one’s guard down. Risking a loss by presenting someone with an … Continue reading →

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Getting a leg up on the cooperation

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Confanity

二人三脚ni.nin.san.kyaku Literally: two – person – three – leg Alternately: A “three-legged race”: an event (often seen in Japanese school Sports Days) in which competitors attempt to race in teams of two, with the right leg of one member tied … Continue reading →

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Confanity

and sleds are still a-flying 若い時は二度無い(Wakai toki wa nido nai;“There is no second youth”) Definition: You only have your youth once, so it’s best to get out there and do stuff wholeheartedly while you still have the time and energy. … Continue reading →

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Iconoclasm

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Confanity

廃仏毀釈hai.butsu.ki.shaku Literally: discard – Buddha – break – Shakyamuni* Alternately: This historical term describes the idea that Buddhism should be rooted out of Japan. This may either be in general, or specifically as part of the changes that swept over … Continue reading →

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