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Category Archives: Yojijukugo
Blurt
開口一番 kai.kou.ichi.ban Literally: open – mouth – one – [ordinal counter] Alternately: The first thing out of someone’s mouth. The very first thing someone says when they start talking. Alternately, to start speaking suddenly and without warning.
Got sunshine, in a bag
大安吉日 tai.an.kichi.jitsu Literally: big – peace – joy – day Alternately: A good day for doing things. Specifically, 大安 was a very auspicious day under the old 陰陽 (Onmyou, Japanese style yin-yang) divination system, and this compound emphasizes this positivity … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged divination, 陰陽, good day, Gorillaz, horoscope, 吉日, 大安, 暦, 源氏物語
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Turns out it doesn’t matter, though
All you need to do is get mad at the people who caught you doing the crimes!? 白昼堂々 haku.chuu.dou.dou Literally: white – noon – public hall – [kanji doubling mark] Alternately: (Doing something bad) in broad daylight. Notes: This relatively … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged blatant crime, broad daylight, current events, 白昼, 結城 昌治, Yuuki Shouji, 堂々, 堂堂
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Miss Clavel ran fast, and faster
When you’re afraid of a disaster, don’t just sit still, that’s all I’m saying. 疾風迅雷 shi-.ppuu.jin.rai Literally: rapid – wind – swift – thunder Alternately: High winds and a violent thunderstorm. By extension, any situation that develops rapidly or changes … Continue reading
The benefits of bold-face fine print
(I thought this was scheduled to pop automatically yesterday, but… it wasn’t, and I was remiss in failing to check. My apologies for the delay.) 胆大心小 tan.dai.shin.shou Literally: gall bladder / courage – big – heart / mind – small … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged attention to detail, bold action, careful thought, 胆大, Old Book of Tang, 心細, 心小, 旧唐書
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Melting pot, ethnic stew
Either way, we’re all in this vessel together 渾然一体 kon.zen.i-.ttai Literally: all – “sort of thing” – one – body Alternately: Disparate things mixing together to form a harmonious or unified whole. A workable sum of parts. The ideal of … Continue reading
But what do you do with half a hemp-tangle?
Throw water on it, maybe 快刀乱麻 kai.tou.ran.ma Literally: pleasant – sword – disorder – hemp Alternately: Skillfully (and quickly) resolving a complicated situation or solving a complicated problem. Notes: 快刀 is a sword with a good cutting edge; 乱麻 is … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Book of Northern Qi, problem-solving, skill, 北斉書, 快刀, 乱麻
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None are so lost as those who will not stop being lost
, Darryl 迷者不問 mei.sha.fu.mon Literally: lost – person – non – ask Alternately: “The (truly) lost are those who do not ask (the way).” An admonition to ask questions when there’s something you don’t understand. If you get lost – … Continue reading
Please do not bend, fold, spindle or mutilate
曲学阿世 kyoku.gaku.a.sei Literally: bend – study – flatter – society Alternately: Twisting knowledge or reason in order to fit in with a trend or pander to some powerful element of society. Perverting truth in favor of social or political expediency. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 阿世, perversion, reason, Records of the Grand Historian, science, 儒林, 史記, 曲学
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landofnudotcom 
An osmotic balance of worries?
内憂外患 nai.yuu.gai.kan Literally: inside – grieve – outside – affliction Alternately: Troubles both within and from without (a country). Internal and external problems. For example, alienating both your populace and your neighbors. By extension, can refer to the combination of … Continue reading →