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Category Archives: Yojijukugo
Inception, but with normal gravity
自己暗示 ji.ko.an.ji Literally: self – self – dark – show Alternately: Self-suggestion. Working to convince yourself that something is true, or implant an idea, perception, or similar mental construct in one’s own head. This can range from self-hypnosis, to daily … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged autohypnosis, delusion, 自己, self-help, suggestion, 暗示
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Crane your neck to look at the clouds
閑雲野鶴 kan.un.ya.kaku Literally: leisure – cloud – field – crane (bird) Alternately: A relaxed, hermit-like lifestyle in a natural setting, far from worldly cares and social intrigues. The pleasant side of isolation. Notes: This is another compound of compounds. 閑雲 … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged ねんどろ, 野鶴, 閑雲, hermit, isolation, nature, Quan Tangshi, reclusive, 全唐詩話, 全唐诗
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Row, row, row your bye
Gently down the WOLF CRYPTIDS?!?! 周章狼狽 shuu.shou.rou.bai Literally: circumference – badge/writing – wolf – wolf Alternately: Confusion and commotion; getting freaked out and not knowing what to do. Notes: This is another compound of compounds; both 周章 and 狼狽 on … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged chaos, confusion, cryptozoology, 狼狽, hubbub, panic, wolf, 周章
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Not “as mysterious as the dark side of the moon”
(The closest to that seems to be 難知如陰, “as hard to know as a shadow.”) 風林火山 fuu.rin.ka.zan Literally: wind – woods – fire – mountain Alternately: The principle of dealing with things according to what’s most appropriate to the situation … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged adaptable, 火山, 風林, NHK drama, success, The Art of War, war, 孫子兵法, 武田信玄
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A spectral interlocutor
音信不通 on.shin.fu.tsuu Literally: sound – trust – non – pass through Alternately: Communications getting cut off. While any break in expected communications can qualify, it seems to be commonly used to refer to “ghosting” – when one person simply stops … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged cloth-biting, communication, 苦, 音信, failure, ghosting, 不通
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But if you try sometime
求不得苦 gu.fu.toku.ku Literally: want – not – get – suffering Alternately: The pain that comes from not getting what you want. This is the seventh of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: Despite being part of the same set as … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged desire, 苦, Nirvana Sutra, Rolling Stones, suffering, unfulfilled, 大般涅槃経, 求不得
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We meet again, Mr. Bond
怨憎会苦 on.zou.e.ku Literally: resentment – hate – meet – suffering Alternately: The pain of coming face-to-face with someone you detest, or at least dislike. This is another one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: While I’d have thought that … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged business meetings, 苦, 衛府の七忍, hate, Lotus Sutra, suffering, 山口貴由, 怨憎会, 法華経
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Leaves from the vine
愛別離苦 ai.betsu.ri.ku Literally: love – separate – detach – suffering Alternately: The pain of being separated from your loved ones. This is one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: The separation in question is most often due to the … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged airbender, bereavement, Buddhism, 苦, Nirvana Sutra, separation, suffering, 別離, 大般涅槃経, 愛
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landofnudotcom 
Just the Worst
(Somehow I lined this up yesterday but utterly forgot to actually post it on schedule. My deepest apologies for any inconvenience!) 婬虐暴戻 in.gyaku.bou.rei Literally: uncontrolled / licentious – oppress – violence – revert Alternately: Crude, lecherous, boorish, cruel, violent, and … Continue reading →