August 2018 – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Aug 31, 2018Jan 01, 2024 0 Comments bad thing, bee, cry, face, sting, unfortunate thing

Nakittsura ni Hachi (泣きっ面に蜂 – Adding Insult to Injury)

Nakittsura ni Hachi 泣きっ面に蜂 Yesterday, I introduced you to the expression ‘fundari kettari‘ (踏んだり蹴ったり), which means that one bad thing Read More

Etymology Idiom Uncorrected

Toru Aug 30, 2018Jan 01, 2024 0 Comments bad luck, bad thing, kick, misfortune, tread, undesirable

Fundari Kettari (踏んだり蹴ったり – A Streak of Bad Luck)

Fundari Kettari 踏んだり蹴ったり Today was a day described as ‘fundari kettari‘ (踏んだり蹴ったり) to me. 今日は「踏んだり蹴ったり」な一日でした。 Fundari kettari is an expression Read More

Essay Etymology History Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Aug 29, 2018Jan 01, 2024 0 Comments bowel, child, discharge, Edo, evacuate, jerry, oval gold coin, portable indoor toilet, potty, tiger, urine, wood

Omaru (おまる – Jerry/Potty)

Omaru おまる In Japan, we call portable indoor toilets ‘omaru‘ (おまる). 室内用の携帯型便器のことを、日本語で「おまる」と言います。 ‘O‘ (お) is a polite prefix, and ‘maru‘ Read More

Essay Uncorrected

Toru Aug 28, 2018Jan 01, 2024 0 Comments country, group, immediately, pay back, personal matter, revenge

Shikaesi, Fukushū, Houfuku (仕返し、復讐、報復）

Shikaesi, Fukushū, Houfuku 仕返し、復讐、報復 I introduced you to the Japanese term ‘shippe gaeshi’ (しっぺ返し – paying back) yesterday. 私は昨日、「しっぺ返し」という日本語を紹介しました。 In Read More