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.

The evillest nom

Posted on November 10, 2019 by Confanity

飼い犬に手を噛まれる (Kaiinu ni te wo kamareru; “Bitten on the hand by your pet dog”) Definition: To be betrayed or harmed in some way by someone you had deeply cared for, or taken care of on a regular basis. (In other … Continue reading →

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See also: obstruction of justice

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Confanity

証拠隠滅 shou.ko.in.metsu Literally: proof – foothold / based on – conceal – destroy Alternately: Destruction, suppression, or concealment of evidence. This phrase may be used metaphorically, but is most commonly encountered as actual criminal-justice jargon. Notes: Some legal contexts may … Continue reading →

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Not even jackalopes, please

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Confanity

怪力乱神を語らず (Kairyoku ranshin wo katarazu; “Speaking not of spirits and demons”) Definition: A wise person does not indulge in talking about irrational or unreasonable things; a great person does not dabble in conspiracy or superstition. When you make an assertion, … Continue reading →

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What you don’t know CAN kill you

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Confanity

夏虫疑氷 ka.chuu.gi.hyou Literally: summer – insect – doubt – ice Alternately: A person of extremely limited experience, knowledge, and discernment. Someone ignorant, doubtful, or distrustful of everything that falls outside of their own (meager) personal experience. Like an insect that … Continue reading →

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Everyone knows they prefer accordions

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Confanity

牛に対して琴を弾ず (Ushi ni tai shite koto wo danzu; “Playing a koto for a cow”) Definition: No matter what you say to a fool, your words are wasted. Even the most moving stories or the most edifying sermon, or the most … Continue reading →

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Power is small things in large numbers

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Confanity

一粒万倍 ichi.ryuu.man.bai Literally: one – particle – ten thousand – times (as in multiplication) Alternately: From something tiny, a huge profit. By extension, an admonition not to look down on small or simple things, because even the most humble appearance … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: AI Magic 8

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Confanity

Week 8: Mrs. McCave’s Spellbook Looking over the list of spell names we’re working from, we see that the only ones remaining are a little difficult to parse at first. Sometimes life gives you nonsense, and you’ve just got to … Continue reading →

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From a land before credit?

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Confanity

(Actually, tools allowing you to use money that you don’t actually possess have existed in Japan for centuries. A quick search turned up one source* saying that multiple such systems have existed since at least the Muromachi period. And now … Continue reading →

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An open heart in your pocket

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Confanity

虚心坦懐 kyo.shin.tan.kai Literally: empty – heart/mind – wide/level – pocket/heart Alternately: Open-minded and open-hearted. Without any bias, hangups, or pent-up bad feelings. Notes: In this compound of compounds, 虚心 refers to a lack of prejudice or preconception, while 坦懐 is … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: AI Magic 7

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Confanity

Week 7: The Weird Stuff We’re getting deeper into the weeds, now. Clinging Blade You enchant a flat metal object – such as a sword – so that it adheres to whatever you touch it to, or releases again, at … Continue reading →

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