Category Archives: Yojijukugo

Poetry. Poetry never changes.

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Confanity

What falls away is always? 不易流行 fu.eki.ryuu.kou Literally: not – simple / divination / change – flow – go Alternately: One of Bashō’s principles for writing haiku: that the essence of haiku lies in both the unchanging (不易) and in … Continue reading →

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Three men CAN keep a secret

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Confanity

…if they’re tzaddikim and the secret is hidden helpfulness 陰徳陽報 in.toku.you.hou Literally: yin/negative/shadow/secret – virtue – yang/positive/sunlight – reward Alternately: Performing acts of benevolence and charity in secret will nonetheless benefit the doer. It’s tempting to publicize one’s good deeds … Continue reading →

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A real eye-opener

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Confanity

開眼供養 kai.gen.ku.you Literally: open – eyeball – offer – nurture Alternately: This is the name of a Buddhist ceremony in which the eyes are added to a Buddhist sculpture or image, completing it and investing it with a soul. By … Continue reading →

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Great at everything but dancing

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Confanity

八面六臂 hachi.men.ro-.ppi Literally: eight – face – six – elbow Alternately: Active in a variety of areas, usually with incredible energy and results. One person doing the work of several. As productive as if having eight heads and six arms. … Continue reading →

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Zen and the art of shining a footlight

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Confanity

脚下照顧 kya-.kka.shou.ko Literally: leg – below – illuminate – look back Alternately: Make time to look within. More literally, “make sure to look carefully under your own feet.” 照顧 is a Zen Buddhist term for consideration, reflection, introspection. This is … Continue reading →

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Not a photographic memory, but a typeset one

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Confanity

博覧強記 haku.ran.kyou.ki Literally: acclaimed – see – strong – scribe Alternately: Widely-read and remembering much. Having a vast supply of knowledge, thanks to extensive study and good recall. Notes: This compound comes to us from the Han shi waizhuan (韓詩外伝, … Continue reading →

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The last refuge of the incompetent

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Confanity

“Violence appears where power is in jeopardy, but left to its own course it ends in power’s disappearance.” – Hannah Arendt 暴虐非道 bou.gyaku.hi.dou Literally: violence – oppress – not – road Alternately: Inhumane cruelty and violence; atrocity and tyranny. By … Continue reading →

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Pleasant at a distance

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Confanity

But you don’t want them hitting you in the face 花鳥風月 ka.chou.fuu.getsu Literally: flower – bird – wind – moon Alternately: The beautiful scenery of nature. By extension, the hyper-indolent aristocratic pastime of gazing out at gardens full of carefully-arranged … Continue reading →

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Busy lake

Posted on April 17, 2019 by Confanity

(Yes, I know that that would actually be ビジー) 美辞麗句 bi.ji.rei.ku Literally: beautiful – word – lovely – phrase Alternately: Pretty turns of speech. Flowery phrasing. Artful rhetoric. As with previous post-fodder 外交辞令, there’s an implication of speech that is … Continue reading →

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Not a vital value: 味

Posted on April 10, 2019 by Confanity

(I kid, I kid.) 和敬清寂 wa.kei.sei.jaku Literally: harmony – respect – purity – silence / loneliness Alternately: A term from tea ceremony (茶道, sadou). The host and guests (are supposed to) create a pure (清) and tranquil (寂) atmosphere within … Continue reading →

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