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Author Archives: Confanity
Magic Monday – The greatest needs; the greatest gifts
Voron’s Pocket Opens In times of great need, a magician who knows the proper secrets may call upon a being known as Voron for a gift, an object that can help them solve their most pressing problem. The gift is … Continue reading
And all for want of a horseshoe nail!
(Really, it goes backwards to the movement of the solar accretion disk… and beyond as well.) （大）風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる ((Oo)kaze ga fukeba okeya ga moukaru; “When the (strong) wind blows, bucket-makers prosper.”) Definition: A well-known saying that refers to unintended consequences or … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged bucket-makers, cause and effect, 風が吹けば, for want of a nail, unintended consequences, wind, 桶屋が儲かる
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Mama no more!
The kid’s linguistic development continues! He recently learned “down,” and right now it’s probably his most commonly used word. (Naturally, he also uses “down” to mean “up.”) He also says “town” almost every time we go out, although what he’s … Continue reading
Who’s a good boy?
温厚篤実 on.kou.toku.jitsu Literally: warm – thick – serious / kind – truth / reality Alternately: Calm, kind, and sincere. Gentle and serious. A good and honest person. Notes: This compound may have come from the I Ching, and be associated … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged calm, 篤実, dogs are the best people, gentle, good, sincere, 温厚
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Magic Monday – Now you see it
Illusion (The Painter’s Spell) This extremely versatile spell changes the appearance of something – from a tiny object or detail, to an entire landscape. The Illusion spell is extremely limited, in that it cannot produce sounds, smells, or other non-visual … Continue reading
Posted in Rules
Tagged artist's eye, attention to detail, illusion, Magic Monday, painter's spell
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Forte vs. foible for fiercely forceful fencing
I’m sure you can find a way to make this one topical to Valentine’s Day, whether you’re feeling optimistic, satisfied, or cynical. 得手に帆を揚げる (Ete ni ho wo ageru; “Raise one’s sails to one’s forte”) Definition: Acting when luck gives you … Continue reading
The family business
依怙贔屓 e.ko.hi.iki Literally: depend / rely on – depend / rely on – ally / strength – breathe through the nose / exert strength Alternately: Favoritism. Bias. Taking sides with one’s friends, relations, or allies in a situation where one … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged Ayanami Rei, Evangelion, favoritism, partiality, rare characters, 依怙贔屓
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Magic Monday – Seeing the unseen; smelling the unsmelled
Wizard Eyes (Submerge in Wind) It is said that the most powerful and skilled of magicians have senses that surpass those of normal men and women. And this is true, to a degree: any good practitioner of magic will train … Continue reading
Bogwood blooming
埋もれ木に花が咲く (Umoregi ni hana ga saku; “Flowers blooming on a buried tree”) Definition: Unexpectedly returning to fame, wealth, power, etc. after an extended time of obscurity, exile, or general misfortune. Just as a tree that has fallen and sunk into … Continue reading
The existential chaos of “tide comes in, tide goes out”
右往左往 u.ou.sa.ou Literally: right – travel – left – travel Alternately: Disorder. Moving back and forth without clear aims or results. Much confusion and going to-and-fro. My sources seem to disagree about whether it’s primarily referring to one person in … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged confusion, disorder, left king right king, Sherlock Holmes, 右往, 左往
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