Category Archives: Yojijukugo

A spectral interlocutor

Posted on April 15, 2020 by

音信不通 on.shin.fu.tsuu Literally: sound – trust – non – pass through Alternately: Communications getting cut off. While any break in expected communications can qualify, it seems to be commonly used to refer to “ghosting” – when one person simply stops … Continue reading →

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A nested enumeration of pain

Posted on April 9, 2020 by

(Last night at around 9pm we had a ferocious storm that knocked out power until sometime in the wee hours of the morning, and I was unable to complete the posting on time. Please accept my apologies.) 五陰盛苦 go.on.jou.ku Literally: … Continue reading →

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But if you try sometime

Posted on April 1, 2020 by

求不得苦 gu.fu.toku.ku Literally: want – not – get – suffering Alternately: The pain that comes from not getting what you want. This is the seventh of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: Despite being part of the same set as … Continue reading →

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We meet again, Mr. Bond

Posted on March 25, 2020 by

怨憎会苦 on.zou.e.ku Literally: resentment – hate – meet – suffering Alternately: The pain of coming face-to-face with someone you detest, or at least dislike. This is another one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: While I’d have thought that … Continue reading →

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Leaves from the vine

Posted on March 18, 2020 by

愛別離苦 ai.betsu.ri.ku Literally: love – separate – detach – suffering Alternately: The pain of being separated from your loved ones. This is one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: The separation in question is most often due to the … Continue reading →

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Fishing for tsuris

Posted on March 11, 2020 by

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 →

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A looming opportunity

Posted on March 4, 2020 by

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 →

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