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.

Better to be thought a fool

Posted on September 5, 2021 by Confanity

…than to be shot down. 怜悧なる頭には閉じたる口あり(Reiri naru atama ni wa tojitaru kuchi ari;“In the clever head, a closed mouth.”) Definition: A wise person doesn’t speak any more than necessary, and thus doesn’t say foolish, boring, or pointless things. “Silence at … Continue reading →

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

Not a problem if you’re Solo?

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Confanity

(Yes, that’s a source text / Star Wars joke.) 党同伐異tou.dou.batsu.i Literally: faction – same – strike / punish – different Alternately: Blind partisanship. Supporting one’s associates and attacking one’s rivals without any regard for what is actually correct or proper. … Continue reading →

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

Wonder is the seed of knowledge

Posted on August 29, 2021 by Confanity

(France is bacon) 大疑は大悟の基(Taigi wa taigo no motoi;“Great doubts are the foundation of great enlightenment”) Definition: Great doubt is the first step toward great realizations. Doubt leads to asking questions, which leads to seeking answers, which – in theory at … Continue reading →

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

Gaijin, he zen

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Confanity

変幻自在hen.gen.ji.zai Literally: change – illusion – self – exist Alternately: Able to change one’s form or appearance, or appear and disappear, at will. Shapeshifting; protean; phantasmal. Notes: This is a compound of compounds; 変幻 refers to an illusion or vision … Continue reading →

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

Maybe that’s why we always wear our hats

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Confanity

夜目遠目笠の内(Yome toome kasa no uchi;“Seen at night; seen from afar; wearing a hat”) Definition: This phrase asserts that women are most beautiful when seen in the dark, or from a distance, or when mostly obscured by something like a large … Continue reading →

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

Sing as though no one can hear you

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Confanity

Why can’t they hear me? I’d better sing even more loudly. 放歌高吟hou.ka.kou.gin Literally: release – song – high – recite / chant / sing Alternately: Singing in a loud voice, without worrying about whether you may be bothering anybody else. … Continue reading →

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

Truffles before swine

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Confanity

Or just about anything at all before a goat 鰹節を猫に預ける(Katsuobushi wo neko ni azukeru;“Entrusting katsuo shavings to a cat”) Definition: A dangerous situation where one can’t afford to let one’s guard down. Risking a loss by presenting someone with an … Continue reading →

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

Getting a leg up on the cooperation

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Confanity

二人三脚ni.nin.san.kyaku Literally: two – person – three – leg Alternately: A “three-legged race”: an event (often seen in Japanese school Sports Days) in which competitors attempt to race in teams of two, with the right leg of one member tied … Continue reading →

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

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Confanity

and sleds are still a-flying 若い時は二度無い(Wakai toki wa nido nai;“There is no second youth”) Definition: You only have your youth once, so it’s best to get out there and do stuff wholeheartedly while you still have the time and energy. … Continue reading →

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

Iconoclasm

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Confanity

廃仏毀釈hai.butsu.ki.shaku Literally: discard – Buddha – break – Shakyamuni* Alternately: This historical term describes the idea that Buddhism should be rooted out of Japan. This may either be in general, or specifically as part of the changes that swept over … Continue reading →

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