Category Archives: Yojijukugo

Weighed in the balance and found offering

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Confanity

論功行賞ron.kou.kou.shou Literally: discourse – achievement – conduct – reward Alternately: Awarding honors, prizes, or praise based on someone’s work and achievements. The meritocratic ideal. Notes: This phrase comes to us from the “Book of Wei” in the Records of the … Continue reading →

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The best lover is one who breaks your spine

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Confanity

A book lover breaking your book’s spine, I mean. 葦編三絶i.hen.san.zetsu Literally: reed – braid – three – sever Alternately: Reading the same book over and over again. Close, careful, and frequent reading of a text. Notes: Think of a text … Continue reading →

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Orthogrothy

Posted on July 14, 2021 by Confanity

Giving heterodox doctrines a bit of what-for 破邪顕正ha.ja.ken.shou Literally: destroy – wicked / injustice – express / reveal – correct / justice Alternately: The Buddhist concept of breaking down that which is wrong, bad, or untrue, and making the truth … Continue reading →

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The Repairer of Reputations

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Confanity

名誉挽回mei.yo.ban.kai Literally: name – honor – grind – revolve Alternately: Regaining trust, reputation, or fame that has been lost. Notes: This is a compound of compounds; 名誉 is “prestige,” while 挽回 is “restoration.” As such, one can express the same … Continue reading →

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Panta Rhei

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Confanity

流金鑠石ryuu.kin.shaku.seki Literally: flow – metal – melt* – stone Alternately: Incredible heat. Hot enough to soften and melt metal, or even stone. Notes: Bear in mind that there are multiple characters that can be rendered in English as “melt.” 鑠 … Continue reading →

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From Abe no Seimei to Naruto

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Confanity

And everything in between 陰陽五行in.you.go.gyou Literally: shadow / yin – sunlight / yang – five – go Alternately: The dual principles of yin and yang, and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), that supposedly form and regulate … Continue reading →

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Horizon-spanning hostility

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Confanity

A puffer-fish, going out of business? 不俱戴天fu.gu.tai.ten Literally: non – together – “be crowned with” / “live under” – sky Alternately: A hated enemy; deep and abiding antipathy toward someone. Someone you despise so much that you can’t bear to … Continue reading →

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Mooning over those who are absent

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Confanity

風月玄度fuu.getsu.gen.taku Literally: wind – moon – (mysterious) – (degree) Alternately: Thinking of someone you haven’t seen in a long time; missing a good friend due to long separation. By extension, thinking about or even mourning the death of someone exceptional. … Continue reading →

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Act now!

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Confanity

Supplies will likely last; we’d just like to skip the slow, grinding attrition phase. 速戦即決soku.sen.so-.kketsu Literally: quick – battle – instant – decide Alternately: In war, striking right away at the enemy’s main force in an attempt to end things … Continue reading →

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Belly full of sap, head full of sky

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Confanity

Brood X certainly has wings, and they fly like they’re drunk, but I wouldn’t call them immortal. 羽化登仙u.ka.tou.sen Literally: wing – change – climb – hermit Alternately: Feeling as if one has grown wings and ascended into the skies… often … Continue reading →

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