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.

Scattered in the winds

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Confanity

I’m surprised it took me this long to get around to this one…. 支離滅裂 shi.ri.metsu.retsu Literally: branch – separate – destroy / perish – tear apart Alternately: The things someone says, or writes, or says and does, make no sense. … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Obamacare feedback PSA

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Confanity

So it turns out that the White House is soliciting negative “Obamacare stories,” perhaps in the belief that unverified rumors scavenged online count as some sort of meaningful data. You too can go here and tell them about your experience with … Continue reading →

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The original campsite rule

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Confanity

立つ鳥跡を濁さず (Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu; “The bird taking flight doesn’t muddy its tracks”) Definition: When you leave a place, don’t leave it a mess – leave it at least as pristine as the condition you found it in. Clean … Continue reading →

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

Not “an idle and most false imposition,” for once

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Confanity

一体何者なんだ!? 名実一体 mei.jitsu.it-.tai Literally: name / reputation – reality – one – body Alternately: A thing is as it is said to be. The truth of a matter matches its reputation. Title and substance are as one. For example, when … Continue reading →

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

Fake it ’til you can make a break for it?

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Confanity

虎の威を借る狐 (Tora no i wo karu kitsune; “a fox borrowing a tiger’s menace”) Definition: A person without much personal authority, power, or menace, such as a child or servant, acting high and mighty due to their association with someone who … Continue reading →

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

A long dark teatime

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Confanity

of the soul? 暗雲低迷 an.un.tei.mei Literally: dark – cloud – low – lost Alternately: A bad or worrying situation, like clouds that look as if they could burst into rain at any moment. A negative situation, such as a recession, … Continue reading →

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No lip-zipping for you

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Confanity

Until and unless you lead by example, perhaps 世間の口に戸は立てられない (Seken no kuchi ni to wa taterarenai; “You can’t put a door on society’s mouth”) Definition: You can’t stop people from talking. You may not like it when people repeat or … Continue reading →

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

An endless barrel of exposition

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Confanity

博学多才 haku.gaku.ta.sai Literally: acclaimed – study – many – talent Alternately: Possessing an extensive store of knowledge and a range of skills. Talented and educated. A “Renaissance man.” Notes: This is another compound formed by simply joining two two-character words … Continue reading →

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You can try it if you’d like, but…

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Confanity

Before you entrust an important job to someone with zero experience, maybe make sure the stakes aren’t too high. 習わぬ経は読めぬ (Narawanu kyou wa yomenu; “You can’t recite a Buddhist sutra you’ve never studied.”) Definition: Complicated tasks are impossible to perform … Continue reading →

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

The law of cause and fruit

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Confanity

Continuing the theme from Sunday’s kotowaza…. 因果応報 in.ga.ou.hou Literally: cause – fruit / reward – answer – news / reward Alternately: The law of karma. What goes around comes around. What returns to you is good or ill depending on … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments