Category Archives: Yojijukugo

An endless barrel of exposition

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Confanity

博学多才 haku.gaku.ta.sai Literally: acclaimed – study – many – talent Alternately: Possessing an extensive store of knowledge and a range of skills. Talented and educated. A “Renaissance man.” Notes: This is another compound formed by simply joining two two-character words … Continue reading →

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The law of cause and fruit

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Confanity

Continuing the theme from Sunday’s kotowaza…. 因果応報 in.ga.ou.hou Literally: cause – fruit / reward – answer – news / reward Alternately: The law of karma. What goes around comes around. What returns to you is good or ill depending on … Continue reading →

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Little Bo Peep and the Paradox of Choice

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Confanity

多岐亡羊 ta.ki.bou.you Literally: many – fork in the road – die – sheep Alternately: Presented with an overabundance of options or possible paths, one ends up confused and lost. By extension, a field of study being so finely divided that … Continue reading →

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A humidifier in the rainy season

Posted on February 1, 2017 by Confanity

夏炉冬扇 ka.ro.tou.sen Literally: summer – furnace – winter – fan Alternately: Useless things. Things inappropriate to the situation, including skills, ideas, or opinions. Sources of warmth in the summer, sources of cooling in the winter, or perhaps pathological narcissists in … Continue reading →

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Yucky cause and yucky effect

Posted on January 25, 2017 by Confanity

畏怖嫌厭 i.fu.ken.en Literally: apprehension – fear – hate – get tired of Alternately: To fear and hate something. “Feelings of dread and aversion.” Afraid to a degree that makes you want to find a way to escape the situation. Notes: … Continue reading →

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Nice while it lasted

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Confanity

品行方正 hin.kou.hou.sei Literally: dignity – conduct – direction – correct Alternately: Good morals, ethics, and deeds. Someone’s thoughts and actions both being beyond reproach. Notes: 品行 on its own is “behavior,” 方正 on its own is “correct spirit and behavior,” … Continue reading →

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Also about good posture

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Confanity

“And you shall speak of them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” 行住坐臥 gyou.juu.za.ga Literally: go / walk – reside – sit – lie … Continue reading →

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A wish for 2017

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Confanity

不偏不党 fu.hen.fu.tou Literally: not – lean – not – faction Alternately: Impartial. Unbiased. Neutral. Independent. Moved by facts, reason, and what is right and true rather than partisan bickering or blind loyalties. Notes: This compound comes from a text called … Continue reading →

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Do what I say, not what I say

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Confanity

朝令暮改 chou.rei.bo.kai Literally: morning – command – evening – reform / change Alternately: An unstable situation where it’s never clear what the rules are or what they’re going to be, because they’re being changed so frequently. Laws or decrees being … Continue reading →

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Nuts to you

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Confanity

Limited numbers of them, though 朝三暮四 chou.san.bo.shi Literally: morning – three – evening – four Alternately: Being fooled by the promise of profit or advantage into missing the fact that a difference or change is superficial only. Greed leading someone … Continue reading →

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