Category Archives: Yojijukugo

Thoughtful social distancing

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Confanity

遠慮会釈en.ryo.e.shaku Literally: far – thought – meet – explain Alternately: Holding back and thinking of others; reserve and consideration. Notes: This is a compound of compounds; 遠慮 is “discretion,” “restraint,” and 会釈 is “thoughtfulness (for the sake of others.” These … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

For the very rich and the very poor?

Posted on October 13, 2021 by Confanity

(Either you have a big enough house for it, or you don’t have the money for multiple residences, regardless.) 累世同居rui.sei.dou.kyo Literally: accumulate – generation – same – reside Alternately: Multiple generations of a family living in the same house. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A root of the problem

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Confanity

盗人根性nusu.bito.kon.jou Literally: steal – person – root – nature (as in the innate essence of a thing, not “Mother Nature”) Alternately: A thief’s personality. Someone’s character being cruel, devious, greedy, and generally underhanded. Notes: 盗人 may also be read as … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

They do toil, and they do spin

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Confanity

Humans aren’t plants, it turns out; we just raise ‘em. 粒粒辛苦ryuu.ryuu.shin.ku Literally: grain* / drop – grain* / drop – spicy / unpleasant – bitter / suffer Alternately: Hard, steady work. To carry on with plain, painstaking, long-term labor. Elbows … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leaving the ivory tower

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Confanity

What is the tower of practical applications made out of? Tungsten? 知行合一chi.kou.gou.itsu Literally: know – act – join – one Alternately: One’s knowledge and deeds are in accordance. One’s actions must be guided by one’s knowledge, and knowledge only has … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not a problem if you’re Solo?

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Confanity

(Yes, that’s a source text / Star Wars joke.) 党同伐異tou.dou.batsu.i Literally: faction – same – strike / punish – different Alternately: Blind partisanship. Supporting one’s associates and attacking one’s rivals without any regard for what is actually correct or proper. … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gaijin, he zen

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Confanity

変幻自在hen.gen.ji.zai Literally: change – illusion – self – exist Alternately: Able to change one’s form or appearance, or appear and disappear, at will. Shapeshifting; protean; phantasmal. Notes: This is a compound of compounds; 変幻 refers to an illusion or vision … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sing as though no one can hear you

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Confanity

Why can’t they hear me? I’d better sing even more loudly. 放歌高吟hou.ka.kou.gin Literally: release – song – high – recite / chant / sing Alternately: Singing in a loud voice, without worrying about whether you may be bothering anybody else. … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting a leg up on the cooperation

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Confanity

二人三脚ni.nin.san.kyaku Literally: two – person – three – leg Alternately: A “three-legged race”: an event (often seen in Japanese school Sports Days) in which competitors attempt to race in teams of two, with the right leg of one member tied … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Iconoclasm

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Confanity

廃仏毀釈hai.butsu.ki.shaku Literally: discard – Buddha – break – Shakyamuni* Alternately: This historical term describes the idea that Buddhism should be rooted out of Japan. This may either be in general, or specifically as part of the changes that swept over … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment