Category Archives: Japanese

Like, the opposite of Solla Sollew

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Confanity

多事多難 ta.ji.ta.nan Literally: many – thing – many – difficult Alternately: A pile-up of events, especially problematic ones, and especially ones that are difficult to resolve. Unending troubles. More euphemistically, having a lot going on in one’s life.

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It makes them inside

Posted on August 26, 2018 by Confanity

天は人の上に人を造らず人の下に人を造らず (Ten wa hito no ue ni hito wo tsukurazu hito to shita ni hito wo tsukurazu; “Heaven does not make people above people, does not make people below people”) Definition: All humans are born equal, and should not be … Continue reading →

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Odds and tips

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Confanity

枝葉末節 shi.you.ma-.ssetsu Literally: branch – leaf – tip – node/joint Alternately: Peripheral, relatively inconsequential things. The leaves and branches of a matter, rather than the trunk. Notes: Some versions may replace 節 with 端 (tan, “edge”).

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If brains were bombs

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Confanity

…would it blow your mind? 目から鼻へ抜ける (Me kara hana e nukeru; “From the eyes to the nose”) Definition: Able to understand things or grasp a situation almost immediately. Quick-witted; quick on one’s feet. Highly intelligent. Breakdown: We begin with the … Continue reading →

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Your yore on my mind

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Confanity

旧態依然 kyuu.tai.i.zen Literally: olden times – condition – depend on – “sort of thing” Alternately: Something remains as it was, without any development or progress. Unchanged… or even if it did change, not improved in any way as a result. … Continue reading →

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Hey, simulation!

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Confanity

麻の中の蓬 (Asa no naka no yomogi; “Mugwort amongst hemp”) Definition: If you spend time with good people you’ll be influenced and inspired by them, and become a better person yourself. This is the positive-oriented counterpart to last week’s 朱に交われば赤くなる. The … Continue reading →

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Fight fiercely, Harvard

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Confanity

(“Lehrer” means “teacher”) 力戦奮闘 riki.sen.fun.tou Literally: power – battle – invigorated – fight Alternately: Fighting as hard as you can. By extension, working as hard as you can. Strenuous effort.

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When birds make you of a feather

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Confanity

Any reference to communism exist solely in the mind of the reader 朱に交われば赤くなる (Shu ni majiwareba akaku naru; “Who associates with vermilion will turn red”) Definition: People change to match their environments, for better or for worse. You grow to … Continue reading →

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A gathering of silver threads

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Confanity

The Little Mermaid II 百川帰海 hyaku.sen.ki.kai Literally: hundred – river – return (home) – ocean Alternately: Things that were scattered or disparate coming together, like how rivers and streams start here and there but all end up in the sea. … Continue reading →

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But humans turn to face our predators

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Confanity

苛政は虎よりも猛し (Kasei wa tora yori mo takeshi; “A cruel government is more terrible than a tiger”) Definition: The harm done by bad governance is worse than that done by a ravenous tiger. People fear wild nature, but often it poses … Continue reading →

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