Category Archives: Yojijukugo

I didn’t think so.

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Confanity

奇想天外 ki.sou.ten.gai Literally: strange – thought – heavens – outside Alternately: A truly bizarre idea. Something fantastical, novel, unique, unthinkable. A violation of common sense or standard thinking. Notes: In contemporary America, in which novelty is highly valued – perhaps … Continue reading →

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Pros and cons. Merits and demerits. Ayes and byes.

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Confanity

是非善悪 ze.hi.zen.aku Literally: justice / correct – injustice / incorrect – good – bad Alternately: Good and evil; right and wrong; the good and bad parts of something.

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A yojijukugo for spiders?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Confanity

傍目八目 oka.me.hachi.moku Literally: side / bystander – eye – eight – eye Alternately: People observing something from outside can understand it better than those directly involved. An objective viewpoint gives the best grasp of a situation. Notes: This phrase comes … Continue reading →

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Battou-jutsu and the Gordion Knot

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Confanity

一刀両断 i-.ttou.ryou.dan Literally: one – sword – both – sever Alternately: Cutting something in two with a single stroke of the sword (a harder feat than you might think, if you’ve consumed a lot of pop fantasy and never practiced … Continue reading →

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Blackout!

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Confanity

This one is dedicated to our upstairs neighbor and her loud 3 am parties. [wry] 前後不覚 zen.go.fu.kaku Literally: in front – behind – un- / not – sense / remember Alternately: Unconsciousness. Blacking out. Often used to describe being so drunk that … Continue reading →

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A full year

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Confanity

A year of yojijukugo! I’m as amazed as anyone, believe me. 豊年満作 hou.nen.man.saku Literally: bountiful – year – full – make Alternately: A bumper crop; an excellent (rice) harvest. Notes: One may be tempted to write man as 万; this … Continue reading →

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A tidy little post

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Confanity

整理整頓 sei.ri.sei.ton Literally: organize – logic – organize – immediately Alternately: Keeping things in order. Tidiness. Not being rough or sloppy in your work. A phrase often seen on posters in classrooms, offices, and construction sites; often cited as part … Continue reading →

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Primum Mobile

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Confanity

自由自在 ji.yuu.ji.zai Literally: self – reason – self – exist Alternately: Completely free. One’s own master; doing as one pleases.

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In the dark, twice over

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Confanity

This yojijukugo is antonymical to last week’s 一目瞭然. 曖昧模糊 ai.mai.mo.ko Literally: dark – dark – imitate – glue Alternately: Ambiguous. Vague. The meaning or content of something is unclear. An emphatic version of 曖昧 (aimai). Media: All the top results … Continue reading →

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No title necessary; you can tell what this is already

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Confanity

一目瞭然 ichi.moku.ryou.zen Literally: one – eye – clear – “in that way” Alternately: Clear (in the sense of “easily understood” rather than literally transparent); apparent; obvious. Able to be understood after a mere glance. Notes: It is also acceptable to write … Continue reading →

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