Categories
- Japanese (823)
- Kotowaza (413)
- Yojijukugo (408)
- Long Fiction (6)
- Meta (11)
- Nonfiction (73)
- Poetry (13)
- Short Fiction (20)
- Uncategorized (13)
- World-Building (176)
- Miscellaneous (24)
- Rules (127)
- Setting (69)
- Japanese (823)
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Tag Archives: 無用
Seal up your lips, and give no words
But mum! 他言無用 ta.gon.mu.you Literally: other – say – no – use Alternately: “Don’t talk about this to anyone.” “Loose lips sink ships.” Notes: 言 may also be pronounced gen. In contrast to the aphoristic nature of most yojijukugo, this … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged うさぎ, 無用, don't tell, Henry II, secrecy, Shakespeare, 他言
Leave a comment
It’s mondo useless!
Apparently the latter word is supposed to be “pseudo-Italian.” Eh. 問答無用 mon.dou.mu.you Literally: question – answer – nothing – use Alternately: “Further discussion is pointless.” “I’m not going to argue any more.” Notes: 問答 is a discussion; in this case, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged 無用, discussion is pointless, swordfight, won't argue, 問答
1 Comment
But do we need the sea?
天地無用 ten.chi.mu.you Literally: heaven – earth – nothing – use Alternately: “This side up.” As in, “Please don’t turn this box upside-down.” In this case, 天地 simply refers to “up and down,” and 無用 expresses prohibition.