Tag Archives: hard work

No rest for the nebbish

Posted on March 13, 2022 by Confanity

The wicked all too often have a surfeit of leisure 貧乏暇なし(Binbou hima nashi;“Poor, no rest”) Definition: The poor have no free time; when you’re poor, you have to work constantly just to meet your needs and stay alive. When you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

They do toil, and they do spin

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Confanity

Humans aren’t plants, it turns out; we just raise ‘em. 粒粒辛苦ryuu.ryuu.shin.ku Literally: grain* / drop – grain* / drop – spicy / unpleasant – bitter / suffer Alternately: Hard, steady work. To carry on with plain, painstaking, long-term labor. Elbows … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A life spent just hanging around?

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Confanity

一生懸命 i-.sshou.ken.mei Literally: one – life – hang / depend – life / destiny / decree Alternately: Putting maximum effort into something. Striving as hard as you can; putting your very life on the line. Notes: The original form of … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I have seen tempests

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Confanity

櫛風沐雨 shi-.ppuu.moku.u Literally: comb – wind – wash – rain Alternately: Wind-blasted and rain-drenched. With one’s hair blown about by wind and one’s body washed by rain; by extension, someone who is out struggling in stormy weather because of work … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fire Down Below – Time…

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Confanity

It’s all well and good to build a character, but next you need a method for actual play. We’ll get into this by dividing up time and using it to do stuff. Divvying up Time: on the Surface For the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules, World-Building | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Consider the lotus of the pond

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Confanity

It toils and spins SO HARD 難行苦行 nan.gyou.ku.gyou Literally: difficult – go / undertaking – suffering – go / undertaking Alternately: Extreme difficulties or suffering. In particular, this describes when someone is enduring privation and hardship as part of (Buddhist) … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does it flip when you’re old?

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Confanity

少年老い易く学成り難し (Shounen oiyasuku gaku narigatashi; “For a youth to age is easy, and to become a scholar is hard”) Definition: People should study hard when they’re young, because time is precious and fleeting. When you’re young you feel like you … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Work, save, work, go!

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Confanity

More effective but less fun than “eat, pray, love”? Nah, just parallel. 勤倹力行 kin.ken.ri-.kkou Literally: diligence – frugality – power – go / carry out (an action) Alternately: Frugality and hard work. A modest lifestyle supported by copious elbow grease. … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doing all the things

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Confanity

(But in high heels and backwards?) 奮励努力 fun.rei.do.ryoku Literally: invigorated – encourage – diligence – power Alternately: To work as hard as you can. To exert maximum possible effort on something. To go all-in on elbow grease. Notes: On its … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

I wonder what his kids thought, though.

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Confanity

愚公山を移す (Gukou yama wo utsusu; “The Old Fool Moves Mountains”) Definition: No matter how great your troubles or difficulties, hard work and perseverance will see you through. Your goals are realized through hard work and persistence. Rome was not built … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments