Category Archives: Yojijukugo

As the Beatles said!

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Confanity

Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah 唯唯諾諾 i.i.daku.daku Literally: only – only – agreement – agreement Alternately: Going along with what someone says without considering the merits or the rights-and-wrongs of it. Yes-manning. Notes: Despite the literal meanings listed above, my sources … Continue reading →

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Whee!

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Confanity

I only used to have nine pen! 有為転変 u.i.ten.pen Literally: exist – do / change – turn – strange Alternately: Everything in the world is in a constant state of flux. Everything changes; nothing stays the same. A Buddhist comment … Continue reading →

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The flame and the flood

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Confanity

天変地異 ten.pen.chi.i Literally: heaven – change – earth – different Alternately: Natural disasters or bizarre natural phenomena. Bad or weird stuff that’s not man-made. You know, like eclipses, record-breaking storms, and floods. Notes: 天変 refers to unusual celestial events like … Continue reading →

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Laugh ten million laughs

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Confanity

And then stop? 笑止千万 shou.shi.sen.ban Literally: smile – stop – thousand – ten thousand Alternately: Extremely absurd, ridiculous, stupid; pitiful, unfortunate. Notes: 笑止 refers to something funny – or stupid – or pitiable – or worrisome – or embarrassing, while … Continue reading →

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Fat head, skinny tail

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Confanity

竜頭蛇尾 ryuu.tou.da.bi Literally: dragon – head – snake – tail Alternately: A strong or exciting beginning and a weak or dull ending. In with a bang, out with a whimper. Anticlimax. Alternately, something that looks impressive but in reality is … Continue reading →

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But in Bizarro World, everything is great!

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Confanity

If you live in a democracy, be in touch with your representatives. Even if you live in a country where things are going fine, be in touch and let them know you’re paying attention. It turns out that taking the … Continue reading →

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What we need now is a more dangerous boat…?

Posted on August 9, 2017 by Confanity

呉越同舟 go.etsu.dou.shuu Literally: Wu – Yue – same – boat Alternately: Enemies in the same place at the same time, especially facing a common danger, challenge, or foe. People who would normally fight, forced by circumstances to work together. Being … Continue reading →

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Now flying at the speed of internet

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Confanity

流言蜚語 ryuu.gen.hi.go Literally: flow – word – cockroach – speech Alternately: Baseless rumors. Canards. Notes: The rare character 蜚 may be replaced with homophone 飛 (“fly”), but why would you want to do that?

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Hagoromo

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Confanity

Or, you know. 天衣無縫 ten.i.mu.hou Literally: heaven – clothing – no – stitch Alternately: Naturally flawless and beautiful. Amazingly well-made, without any sign of artifice. Usually refers to poetry, or to a person’s unaffected innocence of character. Notes: A number … Continue reading →

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The widening gyre

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Confanity

But the centre yet holds? 物情騒然 butsu.jou.sou.zen Literally: thing – emotion – noisy – “in that way” Alternately: Widespread unrest and turmoil. Something, especially society at large, in a state of upheaval, disturbance, convulsion, and kerfuffle. Even if you’re reform-minded, … Continue reading →

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