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Category Archives: Yojijukugo
And the leaves that are green
…seem to be green again the next year… but we are not leaves. 年年歳歳 nen.nen.sai.sai Literally: year – year – year/age – year/age Alternately: Every single year. Year in and year out. Notes: As always, the second instance of each … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged annual, Chinese literature, New Year, yearly, 年々, 年年, 歳々, 歳歳
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‘Tis the season
…and the age. 私利私欲 shi.ri.shi.yoku Literally: me/private – benefit/profit – me/private – desire/greed Alternately: One’s own profit; one’s own greed. The self-centered attitude or behavior of someone who is motivated by avarice over all else. Notes: 欲 may also be … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Buddhism, commercialism, 私利, 私慾, 私欲, greed, selfishness, 我利
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A stitch in time of crisis
一罰百戒 ichi.batsu.hya-.kkai Literally: one – punishment – hundred – warnings Alternately: Making an example of someone. Meting out a punishment not just so one wrongdoer faces consequences, but also so that anyone else considering the same crime is forced to … Continue reading
What about Stitch Seizen?
理路整然 ri.ro.sei.zen Literally: logic/truth – road – organize – “in that way” Alternately: Of someone’s thoughts or speech: coherent, cogent, rational; following a coherent thread or throughline from premise to conclusion. The nuance in modern usage seems to be of … Continue reading
What was I saying? Ah, yes.
閑話休題 kan.wa.kyuu.dai Literally: leisure – talk – rest – topic Alternately: “But setting that aside….” A phrase used to put an end to a digression, aside, or idle chatter, and return the listener’s attention to the main topic or thread … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese literature, digression, 閑話, 間話, setting aside, Water Margin, 水滸伝, 休題
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Sal mirabilis
博引旁証 haku.in.bou.shou Literally: extensive – pull – to the side – evidence Alternately: As one member or side of a dispute or controversy, supporting one’s case by citing an extensive body of examples or material. Presenting a solid, perhaps overwhelming, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged evidence, law, making a case, Morrison, politics, Vindman, Volker, Williams, 傍証, 博引, 旁証
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In truth, I’m feeling feint
虚虚実実 kyo.kyo.jitsu.jitsu Literally: empty – empty – truth – truth Alternately: Two sides in a fierce battle, using every strategy and wile they can think of. Striving to avoid your enemy’s strengths (実) and attack their weaknesses (虚). Alternately, using … Continue reading
See also: obstruction of justice
証拠隠滅 shou.ko.in.metsu Literally: proof – foothold / based on – conceal – destroy Alternately: Destruction, suppression, or concealment of evidence. This phrase may be used metaphorically, but is most commonly encountered as actual criminal-justice jargon. Notes: Some legal contexts may … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged とあるシリーズ, crime, 犯罪, evidence, 隠滅, 証拠, law, political commentary
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Not even jackalopes, please
怪力乱神を語らず (Kairyoku ranshin wo katarazu; “Speaking not of spirits and demons”) Definition: A wise person does not indulge in talking about irrational or unreasonable things; a great person does not dabble in conspiracy or superstition. When you make an assertion, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza, Yojijukugo
Tagged Analects, conspiracy theories, 論語, political commentary, responsibility, stealth yojijukugo, superstition, 孔子, 怪力, 乱神
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landofnudotcom 
When Debate Club has fewer rules than Fight Club
喧々諤々 ken.ken.gaku.gaku Literally: noisy – [doubling mark] – outspoken – [doubling mark] Alternately: A furious uproar; large numbers of people voicing their opinion without restraint or consideration for others. Notes: Naturally, this may be written with repeated characters instead of … Continue reading →