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 – Hearing is believing

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Confanity

Mouth of Baen Even the most upright of wizards is tempted at times to use this persuasive device. The caster must make a hand sign and speak in a certain tone of voice while pronouncing a short sentence or phrase. … Continue reading →

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What if you have your back to the future?

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Confanity

Today’s kotowaza, in English terms, is more of a set phrase than a “saying,” but it’s a kotowaza in Japanese none the less. 背水の陣 (Haisui no jin; “An army with its back to the water”) Definition: Having your back to … Continue reading →

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Three weeks until the semester ends. How are you doing?

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Confanity

余裕綽々 yo.yuu.shaku.shaku Literally: surplus/extra – abundant – lenient/loose – [doubling mark] Alternately: Calm; unhurried; unphased. Notes: The symbol 々 is not in and of itself a kanji. Rather, it indicates that the previous kanji is used a second time – … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: Double illumination

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Confanity

– Two for the price of one this week! Variations on the basic “light spell” theme. The second owes a pretty obvious debt to Gandalf’s staff in Lord of the Rings. Werelight The caster summons a small ball of light … Continue reading →

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Has your son married a mouse?

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Confanity

Sorry for the late kotowaza post this week! Things are getting busy, and I had a heck of a time trying to come up with an example usage. Anyway, here’s a beautiful example of folk etymology run amok. 秋茄子嫁に食わすな (Akinasubi yome … Continue reading →

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You can lead a field to water, but you can’t… hang on.

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Confanity

我田引水 ga.den.in.sui Literally: I/self – (rice) field – pull – water Alternately: “Drawing water for one’s own field.” Serving only your own interests. Saying and doing what’s best for your convenience without consideration for others. Notes: In Japan, where wet … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: Finally, a spell!

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Confanity

Sight from Darkness Three hundred and nine number the words of Ekarmadedgon’s Whisper. Eleven of them, recited slowly, will bend the caster’s eyes: they will catch the light, not of this world, but of its Shadow, and see all things in … Continue reading →

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(cf. every karaoke party ever)

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Confanity

This week’s saying stands in opposition to last week’s: 下手の横好き (Heta no yokozuki; “Enthusiastic but bad.”) Definition: Despite a complete and utter lack of skill, still being really into something. Fanatical about something but hopeless at it. Breakdown: 下手 (heta), … Continue reading →

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A touchy situation?

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Confanity

PLEASE DISREGARD YESTERDAY’S POST. Well, actually, please go on regarding it, but with the knowledge that it was a blatant lie in celebration of April Fools’ Day. Sorry! Here’s a real yojijukugo for the week: 一触即発 i-.sshoku.soku.hatsu Literally: one – touch … Continue reading →

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The best kind of day to have?

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Confanity

As it is said, have a nice day! 利茶亜努 ri.cha.a.do Literally: advantage/benefit – tea – “next in rank” – diligence/effort Alternately: When in doubt, use your common sense. Persistence and effort are the most reliable keys to success, but using … Continue reading →

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