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.

Paradox!

Posted on June 11, 2017 by Confanity

See also 急がば回れ 負けるが勝ち (Makeru ga kachi; “Losing is winning.”) Definition: No, this isn’t some Orwellian doublespeak. It means that there are times when granting your opponent a win can be advantageous for you in the long run. Avoiding conflict … Continue reading →

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

I choose you!

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Confanity

…Tiny red blob? 取捨選択 shu.sha.sen.taku Literally: take – throw away – choose – choose Alternately: Deciding to accept or reject something; sorting through options; separating the good or necessary from that which is not. Notes: Unlike some of the more … Continue reading →

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

Scrape it off, scrape it off, woah-oah

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Confanity

旅の恥は掻き捨て (Tabi no haji wa kakisute; “Cast off shame while traveling.”) Definition: When you’re away from home, nobody knows you and so it’s easy to do things that you would have found unthinkable (or at least undoable) in more familiar … Continue reading →

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

In Kabuki terms, feelin’ blue

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Confanity

(Kumadori) 意気消沈 i.ki.shou.chin Literally: mind – spirit – extinguish – sink Alternately: Discouraged. Disheartened. Despondent. Not sad-sad or depressed per se, but feeling down and lacking energy, as after a setback. Notes: 意気 is one’s spirits or sense of enthusiasm; … Continue reading →

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

Why oh why ask why?

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Confanity

Because it’s good for you! 聞くは一時の恥聞かぬは一生の恥 (Kiku wa ittoki no haji kikanu wa isshou no haji; “To ask is a moment’s shame; to not ask is a lifetime’s shame.”) Definition: It’s embarrassing to have to ask a question and reveal … Continue reading →

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

A kind of discrimination that’s totally okay

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Confanity

Encouraged, actually. 公私混同 kou.shi.kon.dou Literally: public – private – blend / confuse – equal Alternately: Failing to properly differentiate between public and private business. Getting one’s private interests and personal affairs entangled in public policy-making. Using a public institution for … Continue reading →

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

All the king’s horses shouldn’t cry over spilled milk

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Confanity

覆水盆に返らず (Fukusui bon ni kaerazu; “You can’t put spilled water back in the saucer”) Definition: You can’t undo what’s been done. You can’t redo what’s been undone. You can’t uncrack an egg. As much as you may sometimes want to … Continue reading →

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

Toddler Cognitive Development: And then the questions began.

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Confanity

(Note: Because we’re working on raising the kid Japanese/English bilingual, pretty much all my conversations with him these days are about 99% in Japanese. I render everything below in English for simplicity’s sake.) So the kid’s thing, recently, has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Musing, Nonfiction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

LA, LA, LA, LA LA LA, LA-LA-LA LA LA LA

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Confanity

(It’s a French song; very appropriate.) 傍若無人 bou.jaku.bu.jin Literally: bystander – possibly / (young) – nothing – person Alternately: Doing or saying whatever the hell you want without caring that you’re in public. Acting however you feel like without consideration … Continue reading →

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

Like falling off a bike, but very different

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Confanity

案ずるより産むが易し (Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi; “Birthing is easier than planning”) Definition: The deed is often less terrible than anticipation-nerves would have it. Before starting a course of action people tend to worry about this and that, but find the … Continue reading →

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