Tag Archives: suffering

A Scandanavian problem

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Confanity

惚れたが因果(Horeta ga inga;“The lover’s lot is karma”) Definition: For someone who has fallen in love, suffering because of it is an unavoidable part of human existence. When one is in love, pain is an inevitable result – in part due … Continue reading →

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A nested enumeration of pain

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Confanity

(Last night at around 9pm we had a ferocious storm that knocked out power until sometime in the wee hours of the morning, and I was unable to complete the posting on time. Please accept my apologies.) 五陰盛苦 go.on.jou.ku Literally: … Continue reading →

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But if you try sometime

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Confanity

求不得苦 gu.fu.toku.ku Literally: want – not – get – suffering Alternately: The pain that comes from not getting what you want. This is the seventh of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: Despite being part of the same set as … Continue reading →

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Failure to plan is planning to…

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Confanity

…murder thousands of your own citizens, if one of the things you’re supposed to plan for is an emergency situation! 遠慮なければ近憂あり (Enryo nakereba kin’yuu ari; “Without forethought, worry is forthcoming”) Definition: If you don’t act and plan with an eye … Continue reading →

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We meet again, Mr. Bond

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Confanity

怨憎会苦 on.zou.e.ku Literally: resentment – hate – meet – suffering Alternately: The pain of coming face-to-face with someone you detest, or at least dislike. This is another one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: While I’d have thought that … Continue reading →

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Leaves from the vine

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Confanity

愛別離苦 ai.betsu.ri.ku Literally: love – separate – detach – suffering Alternately: The pain of being separated from your loved ones. This is one of the “eight sufferings” of 四苦八苦. Notes: The separation in question is most often due to the … Continue reading →

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Fishing for tsuris

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Confanity

四苦八苦 shi.ku.ha-.kku Literally: four – suffering – eight – suffering Alternately: Deep distress, terrible hardship, anguish, malaise. The very bad feels. Notes: You might think, as I did, that this phrase is nothing more than a doubling for effect, but … Continue reading →

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