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 – Better than the colors of the wind

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Confanity

Earth Brush This magic item comes to us from the earthenware works of Pertasofolos Lan: a writing-brush as long as a grown man is tall. It can be used like any other brush, for oversize calligraphy, but its true power is … Continue reading →

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Thank you Mario! But…

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Confanity

Bowser is in another castle? 敵は本能寺にあり (Teki wa Honnouji ni ari; “The enemy is in Honnou Temple”) Definition: One’s true purpose is “elsewhere.” Someone’s true goals are not what they were stated to be – not because they were confused … Continue reading →

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Tubular wiles

Posted on May 26, 2016 by Confanity

(A sharp-eyed reader has alerted me that yesterday’s yojijukugo is a repeat from last August! This is pretty embarrassing, but it also gives us an interesting glimpse into my writing process through the similarities and differences between the two posts. I’ll leave it … Continue reading →

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Everybody was cabbage-frying; those spatulae were fast as lightning

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Confanity

電光石火 den.kou.se-.kka Literally: lightning – light – stone – fire Alternately: As quick as lightning or sparks struck from a stone. Doing something with incredible speed, or something happening in an extremely short span of time. Notes: Apparently some people … Continue reading →

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

Nail-biting suspense; nail-burning poverty

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Confanity

爪に火を点す (Tsume ni hi wo tomosu; “To light one’s (finger)nail”) Definition: Extreme penny-pinching. To be incredibly poor, or just incredibly stingy with one’s money. Being unable to afford even a candle – or unwilling to buy one – and instead … Continue reading →

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

Toddler Cognitive Development: Magical thinking and bicycle riding

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Confanity

The Magic Word The kid is learning to say “please”! I’ve been making a point of prompting him when he asks for things or asks us to do things for him. First I try asking “What do you say?” (なんと言う?, … Continue reading →

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Two tsu to you too!

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Confanity

津津浦浦 tsu.tsu.ura.ura Literally: harbor – harbor – bay – bay Alternately: Everywhere; every inch of the country; throughout the entire land (of Japan). Notes: Naturally, this can also be written with the repetition mark, as 津々浦々. This compound is somewhat … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday – the Sword of Life

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Confanity

(I’ve been slowly running out of steam on spell ideas for a while now… which is fine, all things considered. At some point it’ll be necessary to stop simply adding new things, especially when they start becoming variations on a … Continue reading →

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Wearing your heart on your hat?

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Confanity

頂門の一針 (Choumon no isshin; “A needle in the scalp”) Definition: A warning, scolding, or prohibition that really hits home. An admonition that feels like a needle stuck into the “vital point” at the top of the head. Being told off … Continue reading →

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So the most ominous forest these days is Wall Street?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Confanity

魑魅魍魎 chi.mi.mou.ryou Literally: mountain-forest spirit – ghost / bewitch – mountain-water spirit – mountain-water spirit… probably. Alternately: Various malevolent spirits (aka bakemono, 化け物, or mononoke, 物の怪) of the mountains and rivers, born of the “miasma” found in such places. By … Continue reading →

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