Tag Archives: 韓愈

Learning from the past about learning from the past

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Confanity

But how often does the lesson actually “take”? 痛定思痛tsuu.tei.shi.tsuu Literally: pain – determine – think – pain Alternately: Remembering pain after one has recovered from it. By extension, looking back on something negative in the past (including e.g. one’s mistakes … Continue reading →

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Now with more star power

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Confanity

As in literally not just the north star, but six other stars 泰山北斗tai.zan.hoku.to Literally: Tai – mountain – north – dipper Alternately: A leading and respected figure in a given field; someone of immense personal authority by whose standard others … Continue reading →

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This will be the year of the boar, though

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Confanity

Not that the last couple of years haven’t seen their shares of poorly-educated and tasteless behavior…. 一竜一猪 ichi.ryou.i-.ccho Literally: one – dragon – one – boar/pig Alternately: A saying that expresses the value of education. The difference between someone who … Continue reading →

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Glance after equally-loving glance

Posted on December 5, 2018 by Confanity

No piquing, though 一視同仁 i-.sshi.dou.jin Literally: one – look – same – benevolence Alternately: Feeling equal affection for all, without prejudice or discrimination. Universal love, without consideration for rank, caste, or any of the other distinctions that normally divide us. … Continue reading →

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More likely when the person at the center is rotten

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Confanity

朝蠅暮蚊 chou.you.bo.bun Literally: morning – fly (the insect, not the verb) – evening – mosquito Alternately: A troublesome situation or gloomy atmosphere caused by an assemblage of narrow-minded, trivial people. Like being surrounded by clouds of flies in the morning … Continue reading →

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Like when you’re arguing despite agreeing

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Confanity

同工異曲 dou.kou.i.kyoku Literally: same – construction – different – melody Alternately: The technique or methodology used in making two things is the same, but the style is different. Things appearing markedly different despite being born of fundamentally the same character … Continue reading →

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