March 2018 – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Mar 31, 2018Jan 02, 2024 Artemisia indica, bamboo skewer, cherry blossom, dango, Edo period, green, hanami, pink, spring, white

Hanami Dango (花見団子)

Hanami Dango 花見団子 Japanese people often eat 団子 (dango – dumpling) while 花見 (hanami – cherry blossom viewing). 日本人は花見の際、よく団子を食べます。 This Read More

Culture Essay Food History Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Mar 30, 2018Jan 02, 2024 aesthetic, bloom viewing, cherry blossoms, custom, dango, dumplings, hana yori dango, hanami, Japan, proverb

Hana yori Dango (花より団子 – Dumplings rather than Flowers)

Hana yori Dango 花より団子 The season of cherry blossoms is gradually approaching. だんだんと桜の季節が近づいてきました。 Speaking of cherry blossoms, many Japanese people Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Slang Uncorrected

Toru Mar 29, 2018Jan 02, 2024 construction, explosive, happa, hurry, Japanese, kakeru, literal, meaning, phrase, strong language

Happa wo Kakeru (はっぱをかける – Firing Someone up)

If you want to give someone a kick in the back, you may use strong language. はっぱをかける Such an act Read More

China Culture Essay Etymology History Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Mar 28, 2018Jan 02, 2024 centimeters, East Asia, hand size, jō, measurement, meters, shaku, traditional, unit of length

Shaku (尺)

Shaku 尺 The day before yesterday, I talked about 丈 (jō), which is used as a unit of length in Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Uncorrected

Toru Mar 27, 2018Jan 02, 2024 atmosphere, feeling, interview, ki, lush, open-minded, peaceful, vegetation, wa, waki aiai

Waki Aiai (和気あいあい – Cozy)

Waki Aiai 和気藹藹 I think that many people like situations where peaceful and open-minded atmosphere are filled. 和やかで打ち解けた雰囲気が満ちている状態を好きな人は多いと思います。 Such a Read More