July 2016 – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Jul 31, 2016Jan 06, 2024 bills, cloth, coins, greasy dirt, Japan, money, recognized, surface, vending machines, wipe

Money Recognition in Vending Machines

There are a large number of vending machines in Japan. 自動販売機によるお金の認識 Although I also use them, sometimes they don’t recognize Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Slang Uncorrected

Toru Jul 30, 2016Jan 06, 2024 crunch mode, imminent threat, in a pinch, jammed, Japanese phrase, seppa-tsumaru, sword guard, traditional, under the gun, unsheathe

Seppa-tsumaru

Yesterday, I was in a state of “seppa-tsumatta.” 切羽詰まる Today, I’d like to talk about the Japanese phrase “seppa-tsumaru.” 昨日、私は「切羽詰まった」状態でした。 Read More

Diary Proverb Science Slang Uncorrected

Toru Jul 29, 2016Jan 06, 2024 academic conference, busy, deadline, entry, manuscript, presentation, relieved, students, tired, university

A Hard Day

Today was a really busy day. 忙しい一日 I went to my university in the early morning, and talked about studies Read More

Culture Essay History Idiom Japanese tradition Science Uncorrected

Toru Jul 28, 2016Jan 06, 2024 American, children, counting, Guinness Book of World Records, hiccups, Japan, lifetime, marriage, Osborne, superstition

100 Times of Hiccups

In Japan, there is a superstition that you will die when you get hiccups 100 times continuously. 100回のしゃっくり Since I Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Onomatopoeia Uncorrected

Toru Jul 27, 2016Jan 06, 2024 annoying, flies, heart, Japanese, kanji, meaning, noisy, urusai, word, writing

Urusai

Today, I will talk about the Japanese word “urusai.” うるさい “Uru” means “your heart,” “sai” means “to narrow,” and “urusai” Read More

Culture Essay Food Japanese tradition Science Uncorrected

Toru Jul 26, 2016Jan 06, 2024 dietary fiber, digest, healthy food, mineral, nori, protein, rice balls, seaweed, sushi, vitamin

Nori (Dried Seaweed)

Nori 海苔 I love nori (dried seaweed, or laver), and often eat it. 私は海苔が大好きで、よく食べます。 Not only is nori used for Read More

Animal Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Jul 25, 2016Jan 06, 2024 cranes, death, etymology, guard, happily married, ideal couple, lifetimes, mandarin ducks, oshidori fufu, pair up

Oshidori Fufu (A Happily Married Couple)

Oshidori Fufu おしどり夫婦 Today, I will talk about the Japanese word “oshidori fufu,” which means “a happily married couple.” 今日は、仲の良い夫婦を意味する「おしどり夫婦」という日本語を紹介します。 Read More