November 2016 – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Nov 30, 2016Jan 03, 2024 Bible, curse, difficult situation, English, hardship, ibara no michi, idiom, path, symbolize, thorn

Ibara no Michi (Thorny Path)

Ibara no Michi いばらの道 Today I would like to talk about the idiom “ibara no michi”. 今日は「いばらの道」という慣用句を紹介します。 “Ibara” means “thorn”, Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Nov 29, 2016Jan 03, 2024 arrows, Benkei, die, Japanese term, Koromogawa, last stand, naginata, stand, tachi ōjō, translation

Tachi Ojo

Today I will talk about the Japanese term “tachi ojo”. 立ち往生 “Tachi” means “to stand”, “ojo” means “to die”, so Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Nov 28, 2016Jan 03, 2024 Achilles tendon, Achilles' heel, benke no nakidokoro, Greek mythology, immortal, legendary, Musashibo Benke, shin, vital spot, weak point

Benke no Nakidokoro (Benke’s Weak Point)

Benke no Nakidokoro 弁慶の泣き所 Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term “benke no nakidokoro.” 今日は「弁慶の泣き所」という日本語を紹介します。 The literal Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Language Slang Uncorrected

Toru Nov 27, 2016Jan 03, 2024 awkward imitation, copycat, derogatory, dictionary, etymology, imitate, Japanese, monkey, sarumane, translation

Sarumane

Today I will talk about the Japanese word “sarumane.” 猿真似 “Sarumane” means to imitate acts or surfaces of other people Read More

Business Culture Diary Education News Science Uncorrected

Toru Nov 26, 2016Jan 03, 2024 college life, confined, equipment trouble, high school students, parents observing, questionnaires, relaxed work, serious manner, trial class, university

Trial Class

Today I conducted a trial class for high school students entering to a university where I work. 模擬授業 The purpose Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Kanji Uncorrected

Toru Nov 25, 2016Jan 03, 2024 Chinese characters, Chinese history, fired, idiom, main point, meaning, phrase, straight, tanto chokunyu, The Records of the Transmission of the Lamp

Tanto Chokunyu

Today I will talk about the four-Chinese character idiom “tanto chokunyu.” 単刀直入 “Tanto chokunyu” means to get straight to the Read More

Climate Diary Japanese tradition News Uncorrected

Toru Nov 24, 2016Jan 03, 2024 autumn leaves, commute, Japan, Kanto, November, snow, snow tires, Tokyo, train, weather

The First Snow in November

It snowed today in the Kanto region in Japan. 11月の初雪 It is the first time in 54 years that the Read More

Culture Diary Etymology Idiom Proverb Slang Uncorrected

Toru Nov 23, 2016Jan 03, 2024 calendar, English, Lang-8, learning, mistake, network failure, Publish, regret, sad, study

The Biggest Mistake

Yesterday I took a big mistake. 最大のミス Although I continued posting English sentences on Lang-8 every day more than 700 Read More

Culture Essay Food Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Nov 23, 2016Jan 03, 2024 cats, dangerous situation, dried bonito, effective, Japanese phrases, katsuobushi, literal meaning, matatabi, proverbs, silver vine

Neko ni Katsuobushi (Dried Bonito to Cats)Neko ni Katsuobushi (Silver Vine to Cats)

Neko ni Katsuobushi 猫に鰹節と猫にまたたび Recently, I’ve talked about Japanese phrases related to cats. 最近、私な猫に関することわざや単語について投稿しています。 Today I would like to talk Read More