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Category Archives: Yojijukugo
Fishing for tsuris
四苦八苦 shi.ku.ha-.kku Literally: four – suffering – eight – suffering Alternately: Deep distress, terrible hardship, anguish, malaise. The very bad feels. Notes: You might think, as I did, that this phrase is nothing more than a doubling for effect, but … Continue reading
A looming opportunity
好機到来kou.ki.tou.rai Literally: pleasing – loom / opportunity – arrive – come Alternately: A golden opportunity arrives. The time is ripe for something good, with perhaps the implication that it’s an unparalleled and therefore unique opportunity. Notes: Compare and contrast 千載一遇, … Continue reading
For a boring time, put your awl into it
全身全霊 zen.shin.zen.rei Literally: whole – body – whole – spirit Alternately: Putting all of your physical and mental strength into something. “With all your soul and with all your might,” as they say. Doing one’s best; being utterly devoted to … Continue reading
The Durham yojijukugo
心神喪失 shin.shin.sou.shitsu Literally: heart – soul – mourning – loss Alternately: Of unsound mind. Suffering from hindrances so severe that, even if one commits a crime, the appropriate response is judged to be institutionalization or treatment rather than regular prosecution … Continue reading
Hot air rises
意気揚揚i.ki.you.you Literally: mind/heart – spirit – raise – raise Alternately: In high spirits; triumphant, elated… by extension, boastful; proud unto arrogance; full of oneself. Often used with the ironic or critical nuance that someone’s inflated self-esteem is not actually in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged arrogance, bullies, pride, Records of the Grand Historian, triumph, 史記, 史记, 意気, 揚々, 揚揚
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Exceeding fines
信賞必罰 shin.shou.hitsu.batsu Literally: fidelity – prize/reward – inevitable – punishment Alternately: Sure reward and certain punishment. Strict, unfailing, and proper apportionment of just deserts, both boons and banes. Notes: This phrase comes to us from the Han Feizi (the『韓非子』= Japanese … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, 韓非子, politics, prize, punishment, reward, rulership, 必罰, 信賞
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All times as one, and now
夷険一節 i.ken.i-.ssetsu Literally: barbarian/flatten* – steep/dangerous – one – joint/section/occasion Alternately: You should stand firm to your principles regardless of whether things are calm and easy, or dangerous and hard. Don’t sell out your values, no matter the circumstances. Notes: … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged honor, Ouyang Xiu, political commentary, principles, 夷険, 欧陽脩, 一節
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The scarecrow’s final blade
紫電一閃 shi.den.i-.ssen Literally: purple – electricity – one – flash Alternately: The light that glints from a sword being brandished. By extension, an extremely short moment of time; a single instant. By extension, a dramatic change that happens in very … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 紫電, fighter jet, flash, instant, Naruto, sudden change, sword, 一閃
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landofnudotcom 
In loco?
心神耗弱 shin.shin.kou.jaku Literally: heart – soul – decrease – weak Alternately: Decreased mental capacity. Having lost the ability to judge right and wrong and act accordingly. This is actually a legal and medical term indicating diminished responsibility: that someone cannot … Continue reading →