Tag Archives: 韓詩外伝

Not a photographic memory, but a typeset one

Posted on May 8, 2019 by

博覧強記 haku.ran.kyou.ki Literally: acclaimed – see – strong – scribe Alternately: Widely-read and remembering much. Having a vast supply of knowledge, thanks to extensive study and good recall. Notes: This compound comes to us from the Han shi waizhuan (韓詩外伝, … Continue reading →

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Yoko ni nattara?

Posted on November 4, 2018 by

蟷螂の斧 (Tourou no ono; “The mantis’ axe”) Definition: The weak standing up to the strong, often with the implication that they didn’t really think through how great the difference in strength would be. A praying mantis that senses threat will … Continue reading →

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Billennium?

Posted on January 8, 2017 by

起きて半畳寝て一畳 (Okite hanjou nete ichijou; “Half a tatami awake, one tatami asleep”) Definition: People should be satisfied when they have enough to live on, instead of hungering for unnecessary wealth and rank. There’s no point in chasing unreasonable levels of … Continue reading →

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