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.

Magic Monday – Now you smell it?

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Confanity

Phantasm (Impose Dream; Inception; Hallucination) In contrast to the Painter’s Spell, which crafts an image for all to see, this spell summons a minor daydream and compels it to implant a full sensory experience into the mind of a single … Continue reading →

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How about when elephants fight?

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Confanity

疾風に勁草を知る (Shippuu ni keisou wo shiru; “In strong wind one learns of the strong grasses”) Definition: It is only after personally encountering hardships or trials that one truly understands the character and value of people who have already withstood those … Continue reading →

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

A Friday link: The power of (mis)translation

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Confanity

[Here’s the link] One of the blogs I follow is A Book of Creatures, which regularly introduces cryptids (animals that someone has said exist… that probably or definitely don’t in reality) from around the world. Many of these would make … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Musing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Great at everything but dancing

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Confanity

八面六臂 hachi.men.ro-.ppi Literally: eight – face – six – elbow Alternately: Active in a variety of areas, usually with incredible energy and results. One person doing the work of several. As productive as if having eight heads and six arms. … Continue reading →

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Method & Moil

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Confanity

Method & Moil – a Lasers & Feelings hack (I found L&F a while back, read through it once, thought it was cool, and then let it lapse as a PDF stored somewhere on my computer for several months. Then … Continue reading →

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I met a traveller from an antique land

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Confanity

朝顔の花一時 (Asagao no hana hitotoki; “The morning glory flower, a single moment”) Definition: Something’s peak or prime only lasts for a short time. Decline and entropy are all too easy. Like the morning glory flower that blooms at dawn and … Continue reading →

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Zen and the art of shining a footlight

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Confanity

脚下照顧 kya-.kka.shou.ko Literally: leg – below – illuminate – look back Alternately: Make time to look within. More literally, “make sure to look carefully under your own feet.” 照顧 is a Zen Buddhist term for consideration, reflection, introspection. This is … Continue reading →

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

Magic Monday – God-eaters – The Sun-Rider

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Confanity

The Sun-Rider (The Hero; White Bull Rider) Description: Legend has it that the sun, an iridescent bull elephant of monstrous size, once roamed across the heavens at whim. This wreaked havoc on the land and seas below. The other gods … Continue reading →

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はは　は

Posted on May 12, 2019 by Confanity

子を持って知る親の恩 (Ko wo motte shiru oya no on; “The kindness of a parent, which you realize when you have a child”) Definition: Raising kids is hard. But as with most difficult tasks, most people don’t realize the exact amount of … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Not a photographic memory, but a typeset one

Posted on May 8, 2019 by Confanity

博覧強記 haku.ran.kyou.ki Literally: acclaimed – see – strong – scribe Alternately: Widely-read and remembering much. Having a vast supply of knowledge, thanks to extensive study and good recall. Notes: This compound comes to us from the Han shi waizhuan (韓詩外伝, … Continue reading →

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