July 2023 – Page 2 – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Jul 22, 2023Jan 02, 2024 collaborative product, Dragon Quest, in-game currency, Jūmangoku Manjū, manjū, old unit of currency, Saitama Prefecture, traditional Japanese cake, yen, Yuji Horii

Jūmangoku Manjū (十万石まんじゅう)

Jūmangoku Manjū 十万石まんじゅう Today, I bought jūmangoku manjū (十万石まんじゅう), a famous sweet of Saitama Prefecture. 私は今日、埼玉県の名物「十万石まんじゅう」を買いました。 Since jūman (十万) means Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jul 21, 2023Jan 02, 2024 attitude, begin, forget, heart, humble, Japanese, learning, mind, proverb, shoshin wasuru bekarazu

Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず – Don’t Forget Your First Resolution) Part 1

Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu: Part 1 初心忘るべからず Part 1 Today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite proverbs, shoshin Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jul 20, 2023Jan 02, 2024 action, effort, grow, Japanese, literal meaning, negative suffix, proverb, results, seed, sow

Makanu Tane wa Haenu (蒔かぬ種は生えぬ – Nothing Comes of Nothing)

Makanu Tane wa Haenu 蒔かぬ種は生えぬ We should not expect to get good results without taking action or making an effort. Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Slang Uncorrected

Toru Jul 19, 2023Jan 02, 2024 banishment, Edo period, expel, gate, Japanese, magistrate, monzen barai, phrase, undesirable situation, visitor

Monzen Barai (門前払い – Turned Away at the Gate)

Monzen Barai 門前払い The action of turning away a visitor without meeting them is called monzen barai (門前払い) in Japanese. Read More

Culture Essay Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jul 18, 2023Jan 02, 2024 burden, idiom, Japanese, kata, metaphor, ni, oriru, relieved, responsibility, shoulder

Kata no Ni ga Oriru (肩の荷が下りる – Taking a Load off One’s Mind)

Kata no Ni ga Oriru 肩の荷が下りる Today, I felt relieved of one’s burden a little. 今日、私はほんの少しだけ、負担が軽くなりました。 The concept of having Read More

Culture Essay Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jul 17, 2023Jan 02, 2024 beautiful, butterfly, cherished, chō yo hana yo, daughters, delicate, flower, Japanese phrase, metaphor, raising children

Chō yo Hana yo (蝶よ花よ – Bringing up with Affection)

Chō yo Hana yo 蝶よ花よ The Japanese phrase, chō yo hana yo (蝶よ花よ), can express a situation where parents raise Read More

Culture Essay Food Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jul 16, 2023Jan 02, 2024 bean paste, doctor, experience, Japanese, miso, old, proverb, taste, trustworthy, valuable

Isha to Miso wa Furui hodo Yoi (医者と味噌は古いほどよい – Experience Counts)

Isha to Miso wa Furui hodo Yoi 医者と味噌は古いほどよい People and things that have experienced long years can be valuable and Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Uncorrected

Toru Jul 15, 2023Jan 02, 2024 branding mark, erase, forehead, Japanese, lifetime, livestock, metaphor, osareru, rakuin, stigma

Rakuin wo Osareru (烙印を押される – Being Branded)

Rakuin wo Osareru 烙印を押される To be subjected to a stigma that is difficult to erase is described as rakuin wo Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Slang Uncorrected

Toru Jul 14, 2023Jan 02, 2024 adjective, atmosphere, awkward, communication, feeling, Japanese, kimazui, literal meaning, resolve, uncomfortable

Kimazui (気まずい – Uncomfortable/Awkward)

Kimazui 気まずい I can easily create an kimazui (気まずい) atmosphere. 私は「気まずい」空気を作るのが得意です。 Kimazui is an adjective that describes a situation where Read More