Author Archives: Confanity

Unknown's avatar

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.

:|

Posted on February 23, 2022 by Confanity

8^| 真一文字ma.ichi.mon.ji Literally: true – one – sentence – character Alternately: Straight as an arrow; as the crow flies; as straight as the written character for the number one, which is just a straight line. By extension; when a person’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Every body has some body

Posted on February 20, 2022 by Confanity

So rock your body right 身は身で通る裸ん坊(Mi wa mi de tooru hadakanbou;“The body, as the body, passes through (life) naked””) Definition: Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, quirks and skills, station in life, and so on – but we all … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A man with a heart of… field

Posted on February 16, 2022 by Confanity

野心満満ya.shin.man.man Literally: field – heart – full – full Alternately: Bursting at the seams with (possibly secret) hopes and desires of grand scope. Burning with ambition. Notes: This is a compound of compounds. 野心 on its own can be used … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Smaller than an apple, at least

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Confanity

目の上の瘤(Me no ue no kobu;“A lump over the eye”) Definition: An eyesore; metaphorically, a person you don’t want to meet, usually because they always seem to get in your way and cause problems. Especially used for someone of higher social … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Million-yard stare

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Confanity

Look on my Works, ye Mighty 空空漠漠kuu.kuu.baku.baku Literally: sky / empty – sky / empty – desert / wide – desert / wide Alternately: Vast; indefinitely wide – and empty. Alternately, vague; hazy; ill-defined. When applied to a person, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

404 Ghost not found

Posted on February 6, 2022 by Confanity

(According to my file, this is the 404th kotowaza post!) 幽霊の正体見たり枯れ尾花(Yuurei no shoutai mitari kareobana;“[I] saw the ghost’s true form: dry pampas grass”) Definition: When something seems frightening at first but turns out to be benign after closer inspection – … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A cure for what ails ya!

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Confanity

(Not universally applicable, unfortunately.) 応病与薬ou.byou.yo.yaku Literally: answer – disease – give – medicine Alternately: Just what it says on the tin: giving someone medicine appropriate to the illness they are suffering from at the time. By extension, teaching people the … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On covering your butt

Posted on January 30, 2022 by Confanity

Both literally and metaphorically… not that a fundoshi actually covers much of the butt…. 義理と褌欠かされぬ(Giri to fundoshi kakasarenu;“Underwear and courtesy cannot be left lacking”) Definition: In the old days, it was acceptable for men doing hard labor to strip down … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All roads lead to Home

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Confanity

異路同帰i.ro.dou.ki Literally: different – road – same – go home / arrive at / result in Alternately: “Different path, same destination.” When differing methodologies produce the same end result. Notes: Synonyms include 殊塗同帰 (shuto douki), in which 殊 (shu, “exceptional”) … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eliza, Eliza

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Confanity

There’s a hole in the bag now; an exceptional hole! 嚢中之錐nou.chuu.no.kiri Literally: bag – inside – [possessive particle] – awl / auger / drill Alternately: A person of exceptional ability will show through even if surrounded by large numbers of … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment