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Tag Archives: Chinese Antiquity
Somebody remind the CEOs
Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”A plutocrat: “… I went to space. Best day ever!” 一将功成りて万骨枯る(Isshoukou narite bankotsu karu;“A general achieves glory; ten thousand bones dry out”) Definition: For each … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged Chinese Antiquity, Chinese literature, classical Japanese grammar, 黄巣, large small, pyramid schemes, sacrifice, the cost of glory, 功成る, 己亥歳, 曹松, 枯れる, 一将, 万骨
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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