J-WOTD: 実るほど頭を垂れる稲穂かなBlue on May 26 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
みのるほど こうべをたれる いなほかな (minoruhodo koubewotareru inahokana)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“Those ears of rice that bear the most grain (people in high positions) should be the ones that bow lowest”
This is a kotowaza.. Heard it used (sarcastically) today about an 偉そうな guy at work, who is supposedly a head of a division, [...]
Blue on May 24 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - English
A conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.
Politicians, and people trying to avoid the main subject commonly use non sequiturs.
Latin: literally ‘it does not follow.’
Example: “Is XYZ constitutional?” and the answer is “Well, polls show that most people favor XYZ. In a recent study, in fact, 87% of [...]
J-WOTD: 力任せBlue on May 08 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ちからまかせ (chikaramakase)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“do something in an angry state” (not sure about this… some Japanese person, please leave a comment?)
子どもが親に怒って庭で力任せにボールを蹴り続けていました
The kid was angry with his parents, and just kicked the ball for hours in the garden.
WaiWai: Lusty lady takes quartet of toy boys for a spinBlue on May 07 2006 | Filed under: Japan: Waiwai Archives
It is a well known fact that “Dutch Wives” — the Japanese term for silicone females used as sex substitutes — sell by the thousands in Japan. Some deluxe models even go for several hundred thousand yen. What is less known, reports Uramono Japan (June), is that a counterparts of these dolls, equipped with male appendages, are available for women.
Blue on May 03 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - English
1. intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest : esoteric SAP methodology debates.
Blue on May 03 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - English
1. clever or skillful in using the hands or mind : he was adroit at tax avoidance.
Steve Jobs most adroit move was convincing Mac users that OS X would still be a Mac.
Blue on May 03 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - English
1. render obscure, unclear, or unintelligible : the spelling changes will deform some familiar words and obfuscate their etymological origins.
2. bewilder (someone) : it is more likely to obfuscate people than enlighten them.
- The obfuscation of the plain truth is often justified by asserting that the lie is serving a greater good.
Blue on May 03 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - English
1. Deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal
A “trick,” of course, implies some level of subterfuge, spin that people wouldn’t accept if the facts were plainly laid out to them.
J-WOTD: ほんわかした気持ちBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ほんわかしたきもち (honwakashita kimochi)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“warm fuzzy feeling”
それでほんわかした気持ちになりました！
That gave me a nice warm and fuzzy feeling!
J-WOTD: 形ばかりBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
かたちばかり (katachibakari)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“token” “fake” (used for when someone does something, without really meaning it, or for ulterior motives)
形ばかりのお礼
slight token of gratitude, very small token of gratitude
形ばかりのもてなし
reception given for form’s sake
形ばかりの抵抗を見せる
put up only a token resistance
例(cchi)：昨晩遅かった事をカタチばかり文句言ってみたら 今日は早く帰るって言って朝出ていった。