Category Archives: Yojijukugo

Yeets, and shoots leaves

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Confanity

百発百中 hya-.ppatsu.hyaku.chuu Literally: hundred – emit – hundred – middle Alternately: Hitting the center of the target with every arrow or bullet fired. A 100% hit rate. Metaphorically, a person with plans or, especially, predictions that never fail. Notes: This … Continue reading →

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Get out of the blazing heat

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Confanity

円転滑脱 en.ten.katsu.datsu Literally: round – revolve – slide – remove Alternately: Able to change one’s words and actions in response to other people’s mood or situation, and thus get stuff done without ruffling feathers unnecessarily. Dealing with things skillfully. Adaptable; … Continue reading →

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The opposite of Genji

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Confanity

天真爛漫 ten.shin.ran.man Literally: heavens – true – inflamed – involuntary Alternately: When a person’s thoughts and feelings show on the surface of their words and behavior. Simplicity; naivete; unaffectedness. Wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve. Keep in mind that in … Continue reading →

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The natural state of heroes

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Confanity

疲労困憊 hi.rou.kon.pai Literally: tire(d) – labor – distress – fatigue Alternately: Complete and utter exhaustion. As tired as one can be. Notes: This is another compound of redundant terms for emphasis: both 疲労 and 困憊 mean “exhaustion,” “fatigue,” “weariness.” I … Continue reading →

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An iceberg… of detergent

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Confanity

潜在意識 sen.zai.i.shiki Literally: submerge – exist – mind – know Alternately: Subconscious. This modern compound comprises 潜在, “dormancy,” and 意識, “awareness,” and stands in contrast to terms such as 前意識 (zenishiki, “preconscious”) or 無意識 (muishiki, “unconscious”). Notes: I have nothing … Continue reading →

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Consider the lotus of the pond

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Confanity

It toils and spins SO HARD 難行苦行 nan.gyou.ku.gyou Literally: difficult – go / undertaking – suffering – go / undertaking Alternately: Extreme difficulties or suffering. In particular, this describes when someone is enduring privation and hardship as part of (Buddhist) … Continue reading →

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Like yourself; like Mt. Tai

Posted on July 10, 2019 by Confanity

泰然自若 tai.zen.ji.jaku Literally: calm – “sort of thing” – self – (young) / similar Alternately: Unflappable. Calm and self-controlled. Notes: This is another compound of synonymous compounds; 泰然 means “composed; unmoved,” while 自若 means “self-possessed.” This yojijukugo has a number … Continue reading →

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Pull your sheep, a good life to keep

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Confanity

牽羊悔亡 ken.you.kai.bou Literally: pull / lead – sheep – regret – perish Alternately: You’ll be unhappy unless you take an active part in shaping things. If you see something through properly instead of just letting it run its natural course, … Continue reading →

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On catching oneself red-handed

Posted on June 26, 2019 by Confanity

赤手空拳 seki.shu.kuu.ken Literally: red – hand – empty – fist Alternately: Doing something on one’s own, without receiving (and often without asking for) help from anybody. Alternately, facing an enemy without any weapons but one’s fists. Notes: This is a … Continue reading →

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Much travel makes the boatman hoarse

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Confanity

The American version: 車車車車 南船北馬 nan.sen.hoku.ba Literally: south – boat – north – horse Alternately: Going from one place to the next without stop or rest. Always on the go. Wandering restlessly, or traveling busily. Notes: This compound comes to … Continue reading →

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