March 2018 – Page 3 – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Mar 13, 2018Jan 02, 2024 bonkura, careless, dark, gambling, Japanese, manuke, personality, stupid, tray, word

Bonkura (ぼんくら – Idiot)

Yesterday I introduced you to the Japanese word 間抜け (manuke – stupid). ぼんくら There is another Japanese term, ぼんくら (bonkura), Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Slang Uncorrected

Toru Mar 12, 2018Jan 02, 2024 English terms, foolish, goofy, interval, manuke, online dictionary, out of tune, pause, skip, stupid

Manuke (間抜け – Stupid)

I might be a person called 間抜け (manuke). 間抜け “Manuke” is a word referring to a foolish, stupid, or goofy Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Food Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Slang Uncorrected

Toru Mar 11, 2018Jan 02, 2024 bureikou, courtesy, drinking party, Japan, protocols, respect, ritual, rudeness, status, tradition

Bureikou (無礼講 – Unrestricted Binge)

There is a drinking party called 無礼講 (bureikou) in Japan. 無礼講無 (bu) means “nothing” and 礼講 “reikou” means a Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Onomatopoeia Proverb Slang Uncorrected

Toru Mar 10, 2018Jan 02, 2024 bring up, etymology, fart, idiom, iidashippe, Japanese, proverb, responsibility, rule of thumb, slang

IIdashippe (言い出しっぺ – The First One to Say Something)

IIdashippe 言い出しっぺ A person who says something firstly is called 言い出しっぺ (iidashippe) in Japanese. 何かを最初に言い出した人のことを、日本語で「言い出しっぺ」と言います。言い出し (iidashi) means “to start Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Onomatopoeia Uncorrected

Toru Mar 09, 2018Jan 02, 2024 bothersome, complicated, gota gota, Gottan Funei, jumbles, Kamakura period, onomatopoeia, preaching, Song Dynasty, Zen monk

Gota Gota (ごたごた – Jumbling)

Gota Gota ごたごた A situation where something jumbles disorderly or a bothersome thing is referred to as ごたごた (gota gota) Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Uncorrected

Toru Mar 08, 2018Jan 02, 2024 etymology, helper, Japanese, leverage, move, power, slither, Tekozuru, trouble, verb

Tekozuru (てこずる – Having Trouble with Something)

Tekozuru てこずる When you cannot handle something and have trouble with it, we express it using the Japanese verb てこずる Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Mar 07, 2018Jan 02, 2024 angle, appreciation, body language, bow, Buddhist terminology, eshaku, familiarity, Japanese culture, nod, upper body

Eshaku (会釈 – Bow/Nod)

Eshaku 会釈 Japanese people often do an act called 会釈 (eshaku), when they pass/meet their boss or acquaintance. 日本人は、上司や知り合いとすれ違うとき、よく「会釈（えしゃく）」をします。 “Eshaku” Read More