Tag Archives: busy

Much travel makes the boatman hoarse

Posted on June 19, 2019 by Confanity

The American version: 車車車車 南船北馬 nan.sen.hoku.ba Literally: south – boat – north – horse Alternately: Going from one place to the next without stop or rest. Always on the go. Wandering restlessly, or traveling busily. Notes: This compound comes to … Continue reading →

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Not looking for a catspaw, but…

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Confanity

Any hand in a storm. 猫の手も借りたい (Neko no te mo karitai; “Wanting to borrow even a cat’s hand”) Definition: Being so extremely busy that one is willing to accept help from anyone at all. So busy that any helping hand … Continue reading →

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Not at all like Pi Day plus Shemini Atzeret

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Confanity

Well, a new semester is starting! My wife’s gotten into grad school, and I’ll be writing my thesis and doing a translation project and taking a course or two, and we have a one-year-old kid. Whee! 盆と正月が一緒に来たよう (Bon to Shougatsu … Continue reading →

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Runrise, runset, runrise, runset, swiftly fly the years

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Confanity

東奔西走 tou.hon.sei.sou Literally: east – run – west – run Alternately: Keeping busy. Being on the go. Actively involving oneself in something. Notes: There are a number of yojijukugo along the same lines, including 東走西奔 (tou.sou.sei.hon) and 東行西走 (tou.kou.sei.sou).

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