Categories
- Japanese (793)
- Kotowaza (399)
- Yojijukugo (392)
- Long Fiction (6)
- Meta (11)
- Nonfiction (73)
- Poetry (13)
- Short Fiction (20)
- Uncategorized (13)
- World-Building (176)
- Miscellaneous (24)
- Rules (127)
- Setting (69)
- Japanese (793)
Archives
-
Recent Posts
Tag Archives: Chinese Antiquity
Greetings from a distant riverside
If only the poets of Chinese Antiquity had had video chat, right? 渭樹江雲i.ju.kou.un Literally: Wei river – tree – large river – cloud Alternately: To miss, to think fondly of, or to worry about a friend who is far away. … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, Chinese literature, distance, distant friends, Du Fu, 長江, 长江, friendship, Li Bai, 扬子江, 揚子江, 李白, 杜甫, 江雲, 渭樹, 渭水, 渭河
Leave a comment
You and I, wacky together
Armpit noises??? 用和為貴you.wa.i.ki Literally: (to) use – harmony – do – valued Alternately: A statement that the most important thing is good relations between people. One should cherish positive interpersonal relations in all of society. Notes: This one is in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged ancient constitutions, Chinese Antiquity, Classic of Rites, 為貴, 用和, 礼記, 礼记, 禮記, 聖徳太子, Japanese antiquity, Lijing, social harmony, the importance of peace, 十七条憲法
Leave a comment
Under the bushel you go, light!
Reading doujinshi for the Buddha’s sake. 和光同塵wa.kou.dou.jin Literally: harmony – light – same – dust Alternately: An especially wise or talented person hiding their abilities (often through self-effacement) and living a common life among the common people. In a Buddhist … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, Dàodé Jīng, 老子, 道德經, 道德经, hiding away, modest living, secret mission, 同塵, 和光
Leave a comment
Weighed in the balance and found offering
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
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged キングダム, Chinese Antiquity, earned, 行賞, 論功, 魏志, justice, meritocracy, Records of the Three Kingdoms, 三国志, 三國志
Leave a comment
All in one basket, no less
累卵の危うき(Ruiran no ayauki;“The peril of a pile of eggs”) Definition: An especially unstable and dangerous situation. Potential downfall and ruin. Breakdown: We begin with the compound noun 累卵 (ruiran), literally a “pile of eggs.” This is joined by the associative … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, 累卵, danger, 范雎, fragile eggs, instability, Records of the Grand Historian, Shiji, 危うき, 史記, 史记
Leave a comment
Mooning over those who are absent
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
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged beauty of nature, Chinese Antiquity, 玄度, 風月, missing the absent, poetic melancholy, 劉焉, 世説新語
Leave a comment
A shot, but not in the dark
Completely ignoring the phantom dog (Today I got my second covid vaccine! “Injection” in Japanese is 注射, chuusha, so please enjoy this four-character compound containing 射.) 射石飲羽sha.seki.in.u Literally: shoot – stone – drink – feather Alternately: If you throw yourself … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged all one's might, archery, Chinese Antiquity, 熊渠子, dedication, 韓詩外傳, 韩诗外传, 飲羽, Han shi waizhuan, intense focus, tiger, 射石, 一念
Leave a comment
Seven is just the beginning!
子子孫孫shi.shi.son.son Literally: child – child – grandchild – grandchild Alternately: One’s children and grandchildren; one’s descendants; posterity; until the end of history. Notes: Each repeated character may be written with the repetition mark 々; the second 孫 (in either form) … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Book of Documents, Chinese Antiquity, descendants, generations, to the last syllable of recorded time, 子々, 子子, 孫々, 孫孫, 書経, 書經, 书经
Leave a comment
A lance where your chin should be
枕戈待旦 chin.ka.tai.tan Literally: pillow – “spear”* – wait – sunrise Alternately: Always ready to give battle. Never dropping your guard or slacking off from necessary preparations. “Sleeping with a weapon as your pillow, awaiting the break of dawn.” Notes: This … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged battle-ready, be prepared, Book of Jin, Chinese Antiquity, unusual pillows, 待旦, 晉書, 晋書, 晋书, 枕戈
Leave a comment
landofnudotcom 