Author Archives: Confanity

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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.

Even super-firm

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Confanity

豆腐に鎹(Toufu ni kasugai;“A wood-clamp in tofu”) Definition: Attempting something that’s guaranteed to produce no meaningful response or results. An utterly ineffectual action, like using a construction-strength fastener on an ultra-soft material like tofu. Like talking to a brick wall, or … Continue reading →

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From Abe no Seimei to Naruto

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Confanity

And everything in between 陰陽五行in.you.go.gyou Literally: shadow / yin – sunlight / yang – five – go Alternately: The dual principles of yin and yang, and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), that supposedly form and regulate … Continue reading →

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Je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte

Posted on June 20, 2021 by Confanity

Pascal, not Twain 下手の長談義(Heta no nagadangi;“The long discourse of the unskilled”) Definition: A rambling talk or story characteristic of people who aren’t very good at clear and organized speaking. To drone on in a poorly-paced, unengaging way, especially in a … Continue reading →

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Horizon-spanning hostility

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Confanity

A puffer-fish, going out of business? 不俱戴天fu.gu.tai.ten Literally: non – together – “be crowned with” / “live under” – sky Alternately: A hated enemy; deep and abiding antipathy toward someone. Someone you despise so much that you can’t bear to … Continue reading →

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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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Mooning over those who are absent

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Confanity

風月玄度fuu.getsu.gen.taku Literally: wind – moon – (mysterious) – (degree) Alternately: Thinking of someone you haven’t seen in a long time; missing a good friend due to long separation. By extension, thinking about or even mourning the death of someone exceptional. … Continue reading →

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Not applicable to Bāguázhǎng practitioners

Posted on June 6, 2021 by Confanity

(The “eight trigrams palm” art is 八卦掌, Japanese hakkeshou.) 握れば拳開けば掌(Nigireba kobushi hirakeba tenohira;“When clenched, a fist; when opened, a palm”) Definition: A given thing can change dramatically depending on the circumstances or even on how one thinks or feels. The … Continue reading →

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Act now!

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Confanity

Supplies will likely last; we’d just like to skip the slow, grinding attrition phase. 速戦即決soku.sen.so-.kketsu Literally: quick – battle – instant – decide Alternately: In war, striking right away at the enemy’s main force in an attempt to end things … Continue reading →

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Why the rich have a limited point of view

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Confanity

針の穴から天を覗く(Hari no ana kara ten wo nozoku;“To peer at the heavens through the eye of a needle”) Definition: Attempting to solve big, complicated problems or deal with issues requiring expertise, despite only having a small supply of knowledge. Trying to … Continue reading →

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Belly full of sap, head full of sky

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Confanity

Brood X certainly has wings, and they fly like they’re drunk, but I wouldn’t call them immortal. 羽化登仙u.ka.tou.sen Literally: wing – change – climb – hermit Alternately: Feeling as if one has grown wings and ascended into the skies… often … Continue reading →

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