About This Site

Currently, I write short texts in English every day on a language exchange social networking website called Lang-8. At first, I mainly wrote it in a diary format, but at some point, fodders for my diary have gradually disappeared, and I began to write etymologies of Japanese terms and trivial things in English. I’d like to leave these article archives here.

私は現在 lang-8 という添削サイトで、毎日英語で短い文章を書いています。主な内容は、日本語の語源、ちょっとした雑学、日記などです。ここにその記録を残します。

Toru Kano (加納 徹)
Article archives (new)

All titles (old)

【No. 2103】Yamaba (山場 – A Challenging Situation/Climax)Jul 25, 2023
【No. 2102】Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず – Don’t Forget Your First Resolution) Part 2Jul 24, 2023
【No. 2101】A Trial LessonJul 23, 2023
【No. 2100】Jūmangoku Manjū (十万石まんじゅう)Jul 22, 2023
【No. 2099】Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず – Don’t Forget Your First Resolution) Part 1Jul 21, 2023
【No. 2098】Makanu Tane wa Haenu (蒔かぬ種は生えぬ – Nothing Comes of Nothing)Jul 20, 2023
【No. 2097】Monzen Barai (門前払い – Turned Away at the Gate)Jul 19, 2023
【No. 2096】Kata no Ni ga Oriru (肩の荷が下りる – Taking a Load off One’s Mind)Jul 18, 2023
【No. 2095】Chō yo Hana yo (蝶よ花よ – Bringing up with Affection)Jul 17, 2023
【No. 2094】Isha to Miso wa Furui hodo Yoi (医者と味噌は古いほどよい – Experience Counts)Jul 16, 2023
【No. 2093】Rakuin wo Osareru (烙印を押される – Being Branded)Jul 15, 2023
【No. 2092】Kimazui (気まずい – Uncomfortable/Awkward)Jul 14, 2023
【No. 2091】Hito wo Norowa ba Ana Futatsu (人を呪わば穴二つ – Chickens Come Home to Roost)Jul 13, 2023
【No. 2090】Shinketsu wo Sosogu (心血を注ぐ – Devoting One’s Life)Jul 12, 2023
【No. 2089】Take ni Suzume/Yanagi ni Tsubame/Momiji ni Shika (竹に雀/柳に燕/紅葉に鹿 – Match Made in Heaven)Jul 11, 2023
【No. 2088】Ume ni Uguisu (梅に鶯 – Match Made in Heaven)Jul 10, 2023
【No. 2087】Iki Atari Battari (行き当たりばったり – Haphazard)Jul 09, 2023
【No. 2086】Tsura no Kawa Sen-mai Bari (面の皮千枚張り – Very Shameless/Audacious)Jul 08, 2023
【No. 2085】Kōgan/Kōgan Muchi (厚顔/厚顔無恥 – Shameless Audacity)Jul 07, 2023
【No. 2084】Tsura no Kawa ga Atsui (面の皮が厚い – Having a Thick Skin)Jul 06, 2023
【No. 2083】The Japanese Youth Slang Term ‘Mi’ (み) : Part 3Jul 05, 2023
【No. 2082】The Japanese Youth Slang Term ‘Mi’ (み) : Part 2Jul 04, 2023
【No. 2081】The Japanese Youth Slang Term ‘Mi’ (み) : Part 1Jul 03, 2023
【No. 2080】Yabai (やばい – Incredible)Jul 02, 2023
【No. 2079】Tsumoru Hanashi (積もる話 – A Pile of Stories to Tell)Jul 01, 2023
【No. 2078】Momo Kuri San-nen Kaki Hachi-nen (桃栗三年柿八年 – It often Takes Time to Bear the Fruit of One’s Actions)Jun 30, 2023
【No. 2077】Omoi Koshi wo Ageru (重い腰を上げる – Bestiring Oneself)Jun 29, 2023
【No. 2076】Fungiri (踏ん切り – A Drastic Decision)Jun 28, 2023
【No. 2075】Yowari Me ni Tatari Me (弱り目に祟り目 – Misfortunes Never Come Singly)Jun 27, 2023
【No. 2074】Han-don (半ドン – Half-holiday)Jun 26, 2023
【No. 2073】Emonkake (えもんかけ – Hanger)Jun 25, 2023
【No. 2072】Warau Kado ni wa Fuku Kitaru (笑う門には福来る – Laugh and Grow Fat)Jun 24, 2023
【No. 2071】Sode Furi-au mo Tashō no En (袖振り合うも他生の縁 – Even a Chance Meetings Are Preordained)Jun 23, 2023
【No. 2070】Mizu wo Eta Uo (水を得た魚 – A Fish to Water)Jun 22, 2023
【No. 2069】Ware wo Wasureru (我を忘れる – Losing Control)Jun 21, 2023
【No. 2068】Koshi wo Oru (腰を折る – Interrupting)Jun 20, 2023
【No. 2067】Chakasu (茶化す – Making Fun of Someone/Something)Jun 19, 2023
【No. 2066】Chara-o (チャラ男 – Shallow Man)Jun 18, 2023
【No. 2065】Chan Chara Okashī (ちゃんちゃらおかしい – Fiddle-faddle)Jun 17, 2023
【No. 2064】Negatte mo Nai (願ってもない – Heaven-sent)Jun 16, 2023
【No. 2063】Yamiochi (闇落ち – Falling to the Dark Side)Jun 15, 2023
【No. 2062】Kasumi wo Kū (霞を食う – Life in an Ivory Tower)Jun 14, 2023
【No. 2061】Fūfu Genka wa Inu mo Kuwanu (夫婦喧嘩は犬も食わぬ – One should not Interfere in Lover’s Quarrels)Jun 13, 2023
【No. 2060】Omoitatta ga Kichijitsu (思い立ったが吉日 – There’s No Time like the Present)Jun 12, 2023
【No. 2059】Kaeruka Genshō (蛙化現象 – Ick)Jun 11, 2023
【No. 2058】Tatami no Ue no Kega (畳の上の怪我 – Out of the Blue)Jun 10, 2023
【No. 2057】Kotoba no Aya (言葉の綾 – Figure of Speech)Jun 09, 2023
【No. 2056】Kotobajiri wo Toraeru (言葉尻をとらえる – Pouncing on Someone’s Words)Jun 08, 2023
【No. 2055】Mi wo Kogasu (身を焦がす – Consuming)Jun 07, 2023
【No. 2054】Jigoku no Icchōme (地獄の一丁目 – Edge of Hell)Jun 06, 2023
【No. 2053】Suteru Kami Areba Hirou Kami Ari (捨てる神あれば拾う神あり – When One Door Shuts Another Opens)Jun 05, 2023
【No. 2052】Rook to Bishop FourJun 04, 2023
【No. 2051】Johnny-come-latelyJun 03, 2023
【No. 2050】Hari no Mushiro (針のむしろ – Bed of Nails)Jun 02, 2023
【No. 2049】Tsumi-gē (積みゲー – Stockpiling)Jun 01, 2023
【No. 2048】The Meaning of Dog: Part 2Jun 01, 2023
【No. 2047】The Meaning of Dog: Part 1May 30, 2023
【No. 2046】Shachiku (社畜 – Corporate Slaves)May 29, 2023
【No. 2045】Kyūshi ni Isshō wo Eru (九死に一生を得る – Having a Narrow Escape)May 28, 2023
【No. 2044】Muri ga Tōreba Dōri Hikkomu (無理が通れば道理引っ込む – Might Makes Right)May 27, 2023
【No. 2043】Kishi Kaisei (起死回生 – Turnning Around a Hopeless Situation)May 26, 2023
【No. 2042】Gaden Insui (我田引水 – Self-serving)May 25, 2023
【No. 2041】Nido Oshiete Ichido Shikare (二度教えて一度叱れ – Think before You Strike)May 24, 2023
【No. 2040】Genjitsu Tōhi (現実逃避 – Escapism)May 23, 2023
【No. 2039】Abata mo Ekubo (痘痕も靨 – Love Sees No Faults)May 22, 2023
【No. 2038】Hin sure ba Don suru (貧すれば鈍する – Poverty Dulls the Wit)May 21, 2023
【No. 2037】Kreki mo Yama no Nigiwai (枯れ木も山の賑わい – Anything Is Better than Nothing)May 20, 2023
【No. 2036】Nurete de Awa (濡れ手で粟 – Easy Profit)May 19, 2023
【No. 2035】Suzume Hyaku Made Odori Wasurezu (雀百まで踊り忘れず – What Is Learned in the Cradle Is Carried to the Tomb)May 18, 2023
【No. 2034】Inochi Atte no Monodane (命あっての物種 – While There Is Life, There Is Hope)May 17, 2023
【No. 2033】Moving to HiNativeMay 16, 2023
【No. 2032】Saki ga Omoiyarareru (先が思いやられる – Being Worried about the Future)May 15, 2023
【No. 2031】Tou ni Ochizu Kataru ni Ochiru (問うに落ちず語るに落ちる – The Tongue Is Ever Turning to the Aching Tooth)May 14, 2023
【No. 2030】Nanka (なんか – Somehow)May 13, 2023
【No. 2029】Jinji wo Tsukushite Tenmei wo Matsu (人事を尽くして天命を待つMay 12, 2023
【No. 2028】Kodomo wa Kaze no Ko (子供は風の子 – Children Are Open-air Creatures)May 11, 2023
【No. 2027】Oi no Tenarai (老いの手習い – It’s Never Too Late to Learn)May 10, 2023
【No. 2026】Shōji wa Daiji (小事は大事 – Big Things Have Small Beginnings)May 09, 2023
【No. 2025】Iwanu ga Hana (言わぬが花 – Silence Is Gold)May 08, 2023
【No. 2024】Kai Goroshi (飼い殺し – Keeping Somebody on the Payroll)May 07, 2023
【No. 2023】Mago ni mo Ishō (馬子にも衣装 – Fine Feathers Make Fine Bird)May 06, 2023
【No. 2022】Iegara yori Imogara (家柄より芋がら – Actions Speak Louder than Words.)May 05, 2023
【No. 2021】Yon-koma Manga (4コマ漫画 – Four-frame Manga)May 04, 2023
【No. 2020】Etiquette of Exchanging Business Cards: Part 2May 03, 2023
【No. 2019】Etiquette of Exchanging Business Cards: Part 1May 02, 2023
【No. 2018】Business Cards in JapanMay 01, 2023
【No. 2017】Meishi (名刺 – Business/Name Card)Apr 30, 2023
【No. 2016】Tegusune wo Hiku (手ぐすねを引く – Stand Ready)Apr 29, 2023
【No. 2015】Misu (ミス – Mistake/Miss)Apr 28, 2023
【No. 2014】Sankan Shion (三寒四温 – A Cycle of Three Cold Days and Four Warm Days)Apr 28, 2023
【No. 2013】Enpitsu Namename (鉛筆なめなめ – Think Seriously / Balance a Budget)Apr 27, 2023
【No. 2012】Amayo no Tsuki (雨夜の月 – Something that Exists but Is Invisible)Apr 26, 2023
【No. 2011】Shibō (しぼう – Wish/Death/Fat/Ovary)Apr 25, 2023
【No. 2010】Okaka (おかか – Dried Bonito Flakes)Apr 23, 2023
【No. 2009】Zunda Mochi (ずんだ餅 – Green Soybean Rice Cake)Apr 22, 2023
【No. 2008】Tukiyo no Kani (月夜の蟹 – A Superficial/Empty-Headed Person)Apr 21, 2023
【No. 2007】Yūjū Fudan (優柔不断 – Indecision)Apr 20, 2023
【No. 2006】Hanabie (花冷え – Cold in Cherry-Blossom Time)Apr 19, 2023
【No. 2005】Yumizu no You ni Tsukau (湯水のように使う – Like It Grows on Trees)Apr 18, 2023
【No. 2004】Iitai Koto wa Asu Ie (言いたいことは明日言え – If You Want to Say Something, Say It Tomorrow)Apr 17, 2023