I just spent my whole afternoon cracking my brains to set 5 Subject-verb agreement questions and 1 vocabulary cloze for the final year exam. I was creating value but it’s the kind of value that’s short-lived because the chances of my colleagues using that final year exam for revision for their students are as slim as getting a 10k sat zap on Stacker News.
So what should I do to elevate the value I contribute to the world today? I have been putting my Learn Chinese with Sensei series on a hiatus because I feel like I must be in the right mental space to impact my non-Chinese friends something meaningful.
But heck. Let me keep it simple, stupid. Here’s a phrase that I adore very much: 自由人 (zì yóu rén).
Yes, it’s a picture of me wearing a tee with 自由人 in Okinawa, Japan. In fact, I bought this tee there.
And yes, I know the question on your mind. Well, 自由人 is one of those collections of characters that make sense in Japanese. In Japanese, it is pronounced as jiyūjin.
Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself. What does it mean, anyway?!!
Well, 自由 means freedom and 人 means person, so 自由人 means a free man!
Okinawa feels differently from the rest of Japan. Many Japanese cities boast modern conveniences and ancient heritage sites, but because the locals behave so politely to you and each other, you wonder whether they are socially conditioned to be nice or are being their authentic selves.
No such qualms in Okinawa. This picturesque prefecture exists on island time, and the shop assistants talk to customers like long-lost buddies. Coupled with the spectacular natural scenery, it evokes tranquil vibes, which is what being free is all about!
I still have this tee in my wardrobe even though I bought it in 2017. It has survived round after round of outfit culling.
And of course, because you are on Stacker News, I know that the ideology of freedom is important to you as well.
Hail, all 自由人 here!
Solution.