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.

Iron heart, kidney stone

Posted on March 30, 2022 by Confanity

(Technically intestine, but, well.) 鉄心石腸te-.sshin.seki.chou Literally: iron – heart – stone – gut Alternately: Ironclad willpower; unshakeable determination; hardened resolve. Notes: This is a compound of compounds. Keep in mind that the guts are thought to contain one’s courage and … Continue reading →

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Don’t look a gift friend in the mouth

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Confanity

Turns out that’s kind of rude with humans too, eh 背戸の馬も相口(Sedo no uma mo aikuchi;“Even a back-entrance horse has a friend”) Definition: “Even an unruly horse can be tamed.” Even the most unfriendly, poorly-socialized person can become relatively cooperative if … Continue reading →

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Press “ko” for “konquer”

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Confanity

Apply to current events as you feel appropriate 遠交近攻en.kou.kin.kou Literally: far – mix / associate – near – attack Alternately: A policy of cultivating good relations with more distant nations while attacking (and attempting to conquer) those nearby. A more … Continue reading →

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Party rockers at the gate tonight

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Confanity

Everybody just have a good time? 門前市を成す(Monzen ichi wo nasu;“A market forms before the gates”) Definition: For a place, especially a home, to be so frequented by visitors that the press of people and vehicles at the entrance to the … Continue reading →

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Good, evil, and dogfights

Posted on March 16, 2022 by Confanity

Apply to current events as you feel appropriate 黒白分明koku.byaku.bun.mei Literally: black – white – divide / understand – bright Alternately: A situation where it is easy to tell pros from cons, right from wrong, good fromd evil. As easy to … Continue reading →

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No rest for the nebbish

Posted on March 13, 2022 by Confanity

The wicked all too often have a surfeit of leisure 貧乏暇なし(Binbou hima nashi;“Poor, no rest”) Definition: The poor have no free time; when you’re poor, you have to work constantly just to meet your needs and stay alive. When you’re … Continue reading →

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Archery’s swan song

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Confanity

不失正鵠fu.shitsu.sei.koku Literally: not – lose / error – correct – swan Alternately: To correctly grasp the main point, meaning, or implication of something. To hit the nail on the head; to get a metaphorical bullseye. Notes: This is a compound … Continue reading →

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Waiting to En-gage

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Confanity

縁と月日は末を待て(En to tsukihi wa sue wo mate;“In relationships and in life, wait for the time to come”) Definition: All things come in their own time; the best strategy is not to rush around in a fluster, but to calmly and … Continue reading →

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Everything is more powerful when it rhymes

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Confanity

元気溌剌gen.ki.hatsu.ratsu Literally: beginning – spirit – vigorous – opposed Alternately: Full of energy. Bursting with pep, vim, vigor. Lively. Notes: This is a compound of compounds. 元気 is a very common term in Japanese, and denotes a broad theme that … Continue reading →

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The Scrooge of the Orchard

Posted on February 27, 2022 by Confanity

The Marley of the barley? 吝ん坊の柿の種(Shiwanbou no kaki no tane;“The miser’s persimmon seed”) Definition: This phrase is used to criticize people who penny-pinch to an unhealthy extreme. The image is of someone so obsessed with never letting anything go that … Continue reading →

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