Tag Archives: Kefukigusa

If you want good fruit, sleep on it

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Confanity

果報は寝て待て (Kahou wa nete mate; “For good fortune, sleep, wait.”) Definition: Good fortune will come of its own accord, in its own time, so it’s best to prepare and patiently wait for it rather than fretting or trying to force … Continue reading →

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Wagahai wa Sam de aru

Posted on August 18, 2019 by Confanity

馬には乗ってみよ人には添うてみよ (Uma ni wa notte miyo hito ni wa soute miyo; “Try riding a horse; try accompanying a person”) Definition: It’s often difficult to understand the true nature of something without experiencing it firsthand, so don’t criticize or judge until … Continue reading →

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Can’t squeeze water from a boiling stone

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Confanity

焼け石に水 (Yakeishi ni mizu; “Water on a hot stone”) Definition: A situation where you shouldn’t expect much. A drop in the bucket. A negligible amount of aid or effort, like a little splash of water against a hot stone, which … Continue reading →

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The original campsite rule

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Confanity

立つ鳥跡を濁さず (Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu; “The bird taking flight doesn’t muddy its tracks”) Definition: When you leave a place, don’t leave it a mess – leave it at least as pristine as the condition you found it in. Clean … Continue reading →

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The fruit of corruption

Posted on February 12, 2017 by Confanity

As opposed to 湯から出た錆? 身から出た錆 (Mi kara deta sabi; “Tarnished from within.”) Definition: Suffering due to one’s own misdeeds, especially the bad things one has done to others. Paying for one’s mistakes; getting one’s just deserts. The image here is … Continue reading →

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Life finds a way

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Confanity

炒り豆に花が咲く ((I)rimame ni hana ga saku; “Flowers growing from roasted beans”) Definition: An example of something that had declined, failed, or withered flourishing again beyond all expectations. By extension, an impossible event. Something happening that’s about as likely as roasted … Continue reading →

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But what does it all MEAN?

Posted on November 13, 2016 by Confanity

論語読みの論語知らず (Rongo yomi no rongo shirazu; “A reader of Confucius; doesn’t know Confucius”) Definition: Use this when someone technically knows the words of a field of knowledge but doesn’t understand the meaning of the words and is unable to act … Continue reading →

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Wise guys’ noses, eyes

Posted on September 11, 2016 by Confanity

Smart enough not to say “Smell you later”? 目から鼻へ抜ける (Me kara hana he nukeru; “[In] from the eyes and out the nose”) Definition: Especially perceptive and shrewd. Able to quickly understand and correctly judge a situation. “Smelling out” a situation as … Continue reading →

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An uncracked egg never omelettilates

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Confanity

蒔かぬ種は生えぬ (Makanu tane wa haenu; “Unsown seeds don’t sprout”) Definition: Nothing happens without a reason for it to happen. Nothing comes of nothing. Plants don’t grow without seeds. Alternately, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Nothing comes … Continue reading →

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Fortunately, this blog is a complete auteur project….

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Confanity

船頭多くして船山に登る (Sendou ooku shite fune yama ni noboru; “With many boatmen, a ship will climb a mountain”) Definition: Too many cooks spoil the both. With too many crew members trying to steer, a ship can become so lost that it … Continue reading →

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