Author Archives: Confanity

About Confanity

I love the written word more than anything else I've had the chance to work with. I'm back in the States from Japan for grad school, but still studying Japanese with the hope of becoming a translator -- or writer, or even teacher -- as long as it's something language-related.

When in doubt, carry a jackhammer

Posted on September 16, 2018

石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi wo tataite wataru; “Striking a stone bridge and crossing”) Definition: Doubling and redoubling one’s precautions. Being extremely careful, especially in terms of safety. Like someone who comes to a sturdy stone bridge and still takes the time to … Continue reading →

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Please do not bend, fold, spindle or mutilate

Posted on September 12, 2018

曲学阿世 kyoku.gaku.a.sei Literally: bend – study – flatter – society Alternately: Twisting knowledge or reason in order to fit in with a trend or pander to some powerful element of society. Perverting truth in favor of social or political expediency. … Continue reading →

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Ah, ha, ha, ha, activity seeds, activity seeds

Posted on September 9, 2018

Whether you’re a mother or whether you’re a brother, activity seeds, activity seeds. 命あっての物種 (Inochi atte no monodane; “Stuff you can do thanks to being alive”) Definition: Anything is possible if – and only if – you are actually alive … Continue reading →

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How many grets before they start repeating?

Posted on September 5, 2018

千恨万悔 sen.kon.ban.kai Literally: thousand – regret / resentment – ten thousand – regret / repentance Alternately: Overwhelming feelings of regret about the past. Notes: Some versions may not use 万, but rather the archaic form of the same character, 萬. … Continue reading →

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Harding ain’t that easy

Posted on September 2, 2018

そうは問屋が卸さない (Sou wa tonya ga orosanai; “Wholesalers don’t give that kind of discount”) Definition: Things won’t go the way you want. Things aren’t going to be as easy as you expect. A line that you give people when they expect … Continue reading →

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Like, the opposite of Solla Sollew

Posted on August 29, 2018

多事多難 ta.ji.ta.nan Literally: many – thing – many – difficult Alternately: A pile-up of events, especially problematic ones, and especially ones that are difficult to resolve. Unending troubles. More euphemistically, having a lot going on in one’s life.

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It makes them inside

Posted on August 26, 2018

天は人の上に人を造らず人の下に人を造らず (Ten wa hito no ue ni hito wo tsukurazu hito to shita ni hito wo tsukurazu; “Heaven does not make people above people, does not make people below people”) Definition: All humans are born equal, and should not be … Continue reading →

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