Categories
- Japanese (824)
- Kotowaza (413)
- Yojijukugo (409)
- Long Fiction (6)
- Meta (11)
- Nonfiction (74)
- Poetry (13)
- Short Fiction (20)
- Uncategorized (13)
- World-Building (176)
- Miscellaneous (24)
- Rules (127)
- Setting (69)
- Japanese (824)
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Category Archives: Yojijukugo
🎶So🎶
Later someone invented a system of eight directions. 四面楚歌 shi.men.so.ka Literally: four – face – Chu – song Alternately: Completely alone and cut off, surrounded by enemies. Having foes in all (four cardinal) directions. Feeling forsaken and betrayed. Notes: This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged alone, cat versus chickens, 項羽, forsaken, Records of the Grand Historian, surrounded, Xiang Yu, 史記, 四面, 楚歌
1 Comment
Think, think, think
思慮分別 shi.ryo.fun.betsu Literally: think – consider – part – separate Alternately: Making judgments based on careful consideration. Thinking deeply about the merits of a situation and only then deciding. Notes: Again we have two two-character words of related meaning compounded … Continue reading
Doing all the things
(But in high heels and backwards?) 奮励努力 fun.rei.do.ryoku Literally: invigorated – encourage – diligence – power Alternately: To work as hard as you can. To exert maximum possible effort on something. To go all-in on elbow grease. Notes: On its … Continue reading
What are you, chicken?
They’re known for their careful scheming. 雌伏雄飛 shi.fuku.yuu.hi Literally: female – prostrate – male – fly Alternately: Following someone else while waiting for a chance to strike out on one’s own. Keeping a low profile while preparing for your time … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged biding one's time, Book of the Later Han, chickens, 雄飛, 雌伏, waiting, 後漢書
Leave a comment
In Kabuki terms, feelin’ blue
(Kumadori) 意気消沈 i.ki.shou.chin Literally: mind – spirit – extinguish – sink Alternately: Discouraged. Disheartened. Despondent. Not sad-sad or depressed per se, but feeling down and lacking energy, as after a setback. Notes: 意気 is one’s spirits or sense of enthusiasm; … Continue reading
A kind of discrimination that’s totally okay
Encouraged, actually. 公私混同 kou.shi.kon.dou Literally: public – private – blend / confuse – equal Alternately: Failing to properly differentiate between public and private business. Getting one’s private interests and personal affairs entangled in public policy-making. Using a public institution for … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged corruption, private, public, Trump ethics violations, 公私, 混同
Leave a comment
LA, LA, LA, LA LA LA, LA-LA-LA LA LA LA
(It’s a French song; very appropriate.) 傍若無人 bou.jaku.bu.jin Literally: bystander – possibly / (young) – nothing – person Alternately: Doing or saying whatever the hell you want without caring that you’re in public. Acting however you feel like without consideration … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged arrogance, 無人, disregard for others, doing what you want, Haruhi Suzumiya, Records of the Grand Historian, 傍若, 史記
1 Comment
Spread your tiny wings
And fire the FBI director if the investigation scares you? 小心翼翼 shou.shin.yoku.yoku Literally: small – heart – wing – wing Alternately: Timid; nervous; fearful. Notes: As always the doubled character can be replaced by the doubling mark 々. 小心 refers … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Classic of Poetry, 翼翼, fearful, small heart, timid, wings, 小心
3 Comments
landofnudotcom 