Category Archives: Yojijukugo

Pleasant at a distance

Posted on April 24, 2019 by

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

(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

(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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In honor of the coming era

Posted on April 3, 2019 by

外交辞令 gai.kou.ji.rei Literally: outside – mix – word – decree Alternately: Tact and flattery. Phrasing a message to most please the listener, or going out of your way to praise and compliment them, without any sincere intent beyond the desire … Continue reading →

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Kackling

Posted on March 27, 2019 by

呵呵大笑 ka.ka.tai.shou Literally: scold – scold – big – laugh/smile Alternately: Laughing Out Loud. Hearty laughter. Notes: As usual, the second 呵 can be replaced with the doubling mark 々. 大 may also be pronounced dai, although this seems to … Continue reading →

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Pride cometh

Posted on March 19, 2019 by

Every castle is undefeated… for some while! 難攻不落 nan.kou.fu.raku Literally: difficult – attack – not – fall Alternately: Nigh impervious to assault. Difficult even to attack, much less to actually bring down, like a near-impregnable castle. By extension, a situation … Continue reading →

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Seal up your lips, and give no words

Posted on March 13, 2019 by

But mum! 他言無用 ta.gon.mu.you Literally: other – say – no – use Alternately: “Don’t talk about this to anyone.” “Loose lips sink ships.” Notes: 言 may also be pronounced gen. In contrast to the aphoristic nature of most yojijukugo, this … Continue reading →

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