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.

A long and winding… gut

Posted on June 10, 2020 by Confanity

羊腸小径 you.chou.shou*.kei Literally: sheep – intestines – small – path / diameter Alternately: A small and winding mountain road. A path that twists and turns like (sheep) intestines. Notes: This is another compound of compounds. 小径 (“path,” “lane”) on its … Continue reading →

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‘Bring it on’ is broad, not long

Posted on June 7, 2020 by Confanity

Alas, “deep” doesn’t rhyme. 何でも来いに名人なし (Nandemo koi ni meijin nashi; “There are no masters of Whatever May Come”) Definition: A person who is ready for anything, is not a master at anything. You can be a generalist or an expert, … Continue reading →

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“Under a dictatorship, a nation ceases to exist.”

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Confanity

-Wole Soyinka 残酷非道 zan.koku.hi.dou Literally: remainder – cruel / unjust – un- – road / morals Alternately: Unconscionable cruelty. Inhuman brutality. Notes: We’ve seen this before.

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How about a Marshall Field’s?

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Confanity

(There’s a spelling-only pun in here that I didn’t notice until the post was almost entirely written; bear in mind that the Land of Nu sides with those who stand against fascism.) 児孫のために美田を買わず (Jison no tame ni biden wo kawazu; … Continue reading →

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Child development – an unbeatable sense of comedic timing

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Confanity

This just now happened. We were eating dinner. My wife and I were slicing the bread I’d just made and eating it topped with slices of cheese. At this point I should probably note that the Tomato Princess loves cheese … Continue reading →

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Just don’t be a Zax about it

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Confanity

金科玉条 kin.ka.gyoku.jou Literally: gold – section – jewel – clause/article (of a document) Alternately: A golden rule. (Not necessarily The Golden Rule, though.) An important, even foundational principle, for someone’s behavior and life. Notes: This yojijukugo uses repetition for emphasis: … Continue reading →

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Child Development: The “Litest” RPG

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Confanity

A road to gaming As part of my nefarious secret plot to induct my kids into the joy of nerdy gaming, I’ve been introducing The Kid to various activities in that vein for a while now. This actually began when … Continue reading →

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When Awwww becomes Eugggh

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Confanity

可愛さ余って憎さ百倍 (Kawaisa amatte nikusa hyakubai; “Excessive fondness, hundredfold hatred”) Definition: If you had an overabundance of positive feelings toward someone and then something happens that arouses negative feelings, then the resulting hatred is proportionally overwhelming. “The greatest hate springs from … Continue reading →

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Just the Worst

Posted on May 21, 2020 by Confanity

(Somehow I lined this up yesterday but utterly forgot to actually post it on schedule. My deepest apologies for any inconvenience!) 婬虐暴戻 in.gyaku.bou.rei Literally: uncontrolled / licentious – oppress – violence – revert Alternately: Crude, lecherous, boorish, cruel, violent, and … Continue reading →

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Fair of skin, unfair of… other things

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Confanity

色の白いは七難隠す (Iro no shiroi wa shichinan kakusu; “White skin hides many flaws.”) Definition: There’s all sorts of baggage here! This kotowaza is literally saying that if a woman’s skin is sufficiently pale, then that alone makes her so beautiful that … Continue reading →

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