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Category Archives: Yojijukugo
Everybody was cabbage-frying; those spatulae were fast as lightning
電光石火 den.kou.se-.kka Literally: lightning – light – stone – fire Alternately: As quick as lightning or sparks struck from a stone. Doing something with incredible speed, or something happening in an extremely short span of time. Notes: Apparently some people … Continue reading
Two tsu to you too!
津津浦浦 tsu.tsu.ura.ura Literally: harbor – harbor – bay – bay Alternately: Everywhere; every inch of the country; throughout the entire land (of Japan). Notes: Naturally, this can also be written with the repetition mark, as 津々浦々. This compound is somewhat … Continue reading
Same difference, amirite?
…or perhaps different similarities…. 大同小異 dai.dou.shou.i Literally: big – same – small – different Alternately: Generally similar. The similarities between things outweigh their differences. Although the things being compared may differ in a number of details, the broad strokes are … Continue reading
[Insert imaginative title here]
創意工夫 sou.i.ku.fuu Literally: start – idea – construct – man Alternately: Creativity and skill in formulating and realizing a new idea. 創意 is “new idea,” and 工夫 means (coming up with) a clever way to do something.
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged apple phone, creativity, new ideas, skill, woman sushi, 創意, 工夫
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Telling it like it do be
是是非非 ze.ze.hi.hi Literally: correct – correct – mistake – mistake Alternately: Fairness; honesty; impartiality. Calling correct things correct and mistaken things mistaken, objectively, instead of allowing one’s biases to become involved. Notes: May also be written with the repeating mark … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 非非, fairness, impartiality, ramen, TILII nosh, 是々非々, 是是
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You get what you do, so do wisely!
自業自得 ji.gou.ji.toku Literally: self – business / performance – self – get Alternately: You reap what you sow. When you act, you will get results according to your actions. This is generally used in negative situations, to point out that … Continue reading
Purple mountain majesties + brightly-shining streams
山紫水明 san.shi.sui.mei Literally: mountain – purple – water – bright Alternately: The purple color of mountains reflecting sunlight and the clarity of (mountain) streams or lakes. This phrase suggests the purity and beauty of natural landscapes in general. “Nature is … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged beauty of nature, bright water, 頼山陽, purple mountain, Rai Sanyo, 山紫, 水明
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Gori in the mist
(Title cf.) 五里霧中 go.ri.mu.chuu Literally: five – ri – fog/mist – middle Alternately: Completely lost. Unable to grasp the current situation, and therefore unable to foresee what may come or lay out any sort of meaningful plan. Notes: The ri … Continue reading
landofnudotcom 
So the most ominous forest these days is Wall Street?
魑魅魍魎 chi.mi.mou.ryou Literally: mountain-forest spirit – ghost / bewitch – mountain-water spirit – mountain-water spirit… probably. Alternately: Various malevolent spirits (aka bakemono, 化け物, or mononoke, 物の怪) of the mountains and rivers, born of the “miasma” found in such places. By … Continue reading →