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With single solitary blade, the samurai his entrance made
単刀直入 tan.tou.choku.nyuu Literally: simple/single – sword – direct/frankness/repair – enter Alternately: Charging into a mass of enemies with just one sword to protect you. Getting straight to the...
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Godot. Guffman. Superman. The Man.
Hoping for fall – and cooler weather – to come soon. 一日三秋 ichi.jitsu.san.shuu Literally: one – day – three – autumn(s) Alternately: A single day seems like three years. Each moment seems to drag on....
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When you eat like a horse, you get thirsty
牛飲馬食 gyuu.in.ba.shoku Literally: cow – drink – horse – eat Alternately: To drink like a cow and eat like a horse; to eat and drink a huge amount. Note: The first half can also be 鯨飲 (gei.in; “to drink...
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Nine and nine of ten and ten
In honor of September, a yojijukugo with some nines in it! 九分九厘 ku.bu.ku.rin Literally: nine – part – nine – smaller part [1/10 of a bu] Alternately: 99%. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred. Almost...
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Maybe just 85%?
十中八九 ji-.chuu.ha-.kku (or ju-.chuu.ha-.kku) Literally: ten – middle – eight – nine Alternately: Eight or nine out of ten; an 80% – 90% probability; “most likely, X” Notes: This is obviously in the same...
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Elbow Grease
Midterms. Already? 切磋琢磨 se-.ssa.taku.ma Literally: cut – scrub/rub – strike – polish/scour/grind (or: cut – polish – polish – polish!) Alternately: Diligent effort. Improving oneself through study....
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All four of them
喜怒哀楽 ki.do.ai.raku Literally: joy – anger – sorrow – ease/pleasure Alternately: Human emotions. The range of human emotions. All of a person’s emotions. From this “motivation life hackers” blogFiled...
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Some hard-core traditional Japanese culture, in a small convenient package
This is quite possibly the most famous yojijukugo in Japan. I’m not entirely sure how it took me so long to get around to it. 一期一会 ichi.go.ichi.e Literally: one – time (period) – one – meeting...
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But, what if you have both a sword AND a pen?
A good, balanced approach to life. 文武両道 bun.bu.ryou.dou Literally: sentence/missive/literature – military/warrior – two/both – road/way/teaching Alternately: Both the military and the literary arts. A...
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There is no say. There is only do.
不言実行 fu.gen.ji-.kkou Literally: [negative] – say – reality/truth – act/conduct/journey/go Alternately: Don’t talk; do. Action over words. Quiet, determined action. A helpful diagram! (Source)Filed...
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Cool-headed, hot-footed
The winter is upon us! Here’s a helpful tip for weathering it. 頭寒足熱 zu.kan.soku.netsu Literally: head – cold – leg/foot – heat Alternately: Keeping your head cool and your feet warm; a recommended...
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Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside?
内柔外剛 nai.juu.gai.gou Literally: inside – soft/weak/gentle – outside – sturdy/strong Alternately: Acting tough but actually timid. Seeming strong but actually weak. “A lion abroad and a mouse at home.”...
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Our greatest foe
A more pithy relative of the most recent kotowaza: 油断大敵 yu.dan.tai.teki Literally: oil/fat – sever/refuse/decide – big – enemy Alternately: Your greatest enemy is your own unpreparedness. Feeling...
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Like a plum!
An inversion of a previous yojijukugo: 外柔内剛 gai.juu.nai.gou Literally: outside – soft/weak/gentle – inside – sturdy/strong Alternately: Gentle but firm. An iron fist in a velvet glove. Speaking softly...
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One year’s resolution?
Another phrase using 一念: 一念発起 ichi.nen.ho-.kki Literally: one – idea – emit – wake Alternately: Firm resolve to carry something through; a sincere and wholehearted intention. Originally used to...
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Why not 千歳? I’m not sure, actually
千載一遇 sen.zai.ichi.guu Literally: thousand – ride/publish/get on – one – encounter/receive (guests) Alternately: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The kind of chance that only comes along once in a...
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A post a long time in the making
海千山千 umi.sen.yama.sen Literally: ocean – thousand – mountain – thousand Alternately: The pinnacle of cunning. A sly old fox. Someone who, though long experience, has developed an almost-unbeatable...
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Tea, Rice, Tea, Rice
日常茶飯 nichi.jou.sa.han Literally: day/sun – usual – tea – (cooked) rice Alternately: An everyday occurrence. Just as boiled rice is a stereotypical part of almost every meal in Japan – breakfast, lunch,...
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Ancient wisdom about market share?
群雄割拠 gun.yuu.ka-.kkyo Literally: group – masculine/hero/leader – divide – basis Alternately: Many rival warlords, each controlling their own territory and vying for supremacy. A given field seeing...
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Just imagine what they’d do with the War of the Roses
The nuance of 雄 from last week’s 群雄割拠 is distinctly masculine; this week, let’s look at a more feminine compound in a similar theme. 百花撩乱 hya-.kka.ryou.ran Literally: hundred – flower – disorder –...
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