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. 1903】Ashi ga Bō ni Naru (足が棒になる – One’s Legs Are Tired)Jul 12, 2021
【No. 1902】Oshinobi (お忍び – Incognito)Jul 11, 2021
【No. 1901】Roten Buro (露天風呂 – Outdoor Hot Spring Bath)Jul 10, 2021
【No. 1900】Fugen Jikkō and Yūgen Jikkō (不言実行と有言実行 – Action before Words / Walking the Talk)Jul 09, 2021
【No. 1899】Wara ni mo Sugaru (わらにもすがる – Act of Desperation)Jul 08, 2021
【No. 1898】Gunte (軍手 – Work Gloves)Jul 07, 2021
【No. 1897】Ishi no Ue ni mo San-nen (石の上にも三年 – Perseverance Pays Dividends)Jul 06, 2021
【No. 1896】Mune wo Utsu (胸を打つ – Moving One’s Heart)Jul 05, 2021
【No. 1895】Mushi ga Sukanai (虫が好かない – Just Don’t Like)Jul 04, 2021
【No. 1894】Shiri ni Hi ga Tsuku (尻に火がつく – Urgent)Jul 03, 2021
【No. 1893】Mi wo Musubu (実を結ぶ – Bearing Fruit)Jul 02, 2021
【No. 1892】Kao ni Doro wo Nuru (顔に泥を塗る – Making Someone Lose Face)Jul 01, 2021
【No. 1891】Kata wo Kasu (肩を貸す – Lending a Hand)Jun 30, 2021
【No. 1890】Kao ni Momiji wo Chirasu (顔に紅葉を散らす – Being Flushed)Jun 29, 2021
【No. 1889】Kao kara Hi ga Deru (顔から火が出る – One’s Face Burned with Shame)Jun 28, 2021
【No. 1888】Shinkei Suijaku (神経衰弱 – Concentration)Jun 27, 2021
【No. 1887】Hyaku mo Shōchi, Nihyaku mo Gatten (百も承知、二百も合点 – Being Fully Aware)Jun 26, 2021
【No. 1886】Hyaku mo Shōchi (百も承知 – Being Well Aware)Jun 25, 2021
【No. 1885】Hiza wo Majieru (膝を交える – Friendly Talking)Jun 24, 2021
【No. 1884】Hanashi ni Hana ga Saku (話に花が咲く – Talk and Talk)Jun 23, 2021
【No. 1883】Minazuki (水無月 – June)Jun 22, 2021
【No. 1882】Japanese Customs at the Summer SolsticeJun 21, 2021
【No. 1881】Samidare Shiki (五月雨式/さみだれ式 – Intermittent Manner)Jun 20, 2021
【No. 1880】Samidare (五月雨 – Early Summer Rain)Jun 19, 2021
【No. 1879】Kuchi ga Omoi (口が重い – Having Few Words)Jun 18, 2021
【No. 1878】Kuchi ga Karui (口が軽い – Having a Big Mouth)Jun 17, 2021
【No. 1877】Kuchi wo Suppaku Suru (口を酸っぱくする – Telling Over and Over Again)Jun 16, 2021
【No. 1876】Karitekita Neko (借りてきた猫 – Much Quieter than Usual)Jun 15, 2021
【No. 1875】Jūyaku Shukkin (重役出勤 – Fashionably Late)Jun 14, 2021
【No. 1874】Ki no Doku (気の毒 – Feeling Sorry)Jun 13, 2021
【No. 1873】Kao ga Ureru (顔が売れる – Becoming Famous)Jun 12, 2021
【No. 1872】Kao ga Hiroi (顔が広い – Knowing Many People)Jun 11, 2021
【No. 1871】Oteage (お手上げ – Getting Stuck)Jun 10, 2021
【No. 1870】Ude wo Gaeru / Te wo Ageru (腕を上げる/手を上げる – Improving One’s Skill)Jun 09, 2021
【No. 1869】Ushiroyubi wo Sasareru (後ろ指を指される – Being Talked Behind One’s Back)Jun 08, 2021
【No. 1868】Ushirogami wo Hikareru (後ろ髪を引かれる – With Painful Reluctance)Jun 07, 2021
【No. 1867】The Meaning of 河豚Jun 06, 2021
【No. 1866】The Meaning of 海豚Jun 05, 2021
【No. 1865】Kuchibi wo Kiru (口火を切る – Breaking the Ice)Jun 04, 2021
【No. 1864】Aji wo Shimeru (味をしめる – Getting a Taste)Jun 03, 2021
【No. 1863】Tenshin Ranman (天真爛漫 – Simplicity)Jun 02, 2021
【No. 1862】Kawa (皮/革 – Skin/Leather)Jun 01, 2021
【No. 1861】The Names of the Fingers for ChildrenMay 31, 2021
【No. 1860】The Names of the FingersMay 30, 2021
【No. 1859】Amenbo Akaina Aiueo (あめんぼあかいなあいうえお)May 29, 2021
【No. 1858】Amenbo (アメンボ – Water Strider)May 28, 2021
【No. 1857】Zento Tanan (前途多難 – Many Difficulties in Future), Zento Yōyō (前途洋々 – Bright Future)May 27, 2021
【No. 1856】Zehi (是非 – By All Means)May 26, 2021
【No. 1855】Iiete Myō (言い得て妙 – Perfect Phrasing)May 25, 2021
【No. 1854】Ottamageru/Buttamageru (おったまげる/ぶったまげる – Mind-blowing)May 24, 2021
【No. 1853】Tamageru (たまげる – Being Surprised)May 23, 2021
【No. 1852】Ijō Desu (以上です – That’s All)May 22, 2021
【No. 1851】Kiite Gokuraku Mite Jigoku (聞いて極楽見て地獄 – What Is a Paradise on Hearsay May Be a Hell at Sight)May 21, 2021
【No. 1850】Kaeru and Kawazu (「かえる」と「かわず」 – Frog)May 20, 2021
【No. 1849】Todo no Tsumari (とどのつまり – After All)May 19, 2021
【No. 1848】Ebi de Tai wo Tsuru (海老で鯛を釣る – Throw a Sprat to Catch a Whale)May 18, 2021
【No. 1847】Atatte Kudakero (当たって砕けろ – Go for Broke)May 17, 2021
【No. 1846】Kaikaburu (買いかぶる – Overestimating)May 16, 2021
【No. 1845】Nodo Moto Sugi reba Atsusa wo Wasureru (喉元過ぎれば熱さを忘れる – Danger Past and God Forgotten)May 15, 2021
【No. 1844】Nekubi wo Kaku (寝首をかく – Catching Someone off Guard)May 14, 2021
【No. 1843】Tebura (手ぶら – Empty-handed)May 13, 2021
【No. 1842】Kisama (貴様 – You!)May 12, 2021
【No. 1841】Senzai Ichigū (千載一遇 – Chance in a Million)May 11, 2021
【No. 1840】Shōsoku (消息 – Newsletter)May 10, 2021
【No. 1839】Oumu Gaeshi (オウム返し – Parroting)May 09, 2021
【No. 1838】Kaze no Tayori (風の便り – A Little Bird Told Me)May 08, 2021
【No. 1837】Etymology of Hatoko (はとこ) Part 2May 07, 2021
【No. 1836】Etymology of Hatoko (はとこ) Part 1May 06, 2021
【No. 1835】Hatoko (はとこ – Second Cousin)May 05, 2021
【No. 1834】Itoko (いとこ – Cousin)May 04, 2021
【No. 1833】Doraemon’s Three Sizes (ドラえもんのスリーサイズ)May 03, 2021
【No. 1832】Surī Saizu (スリーサイズ – Bust/waist/hip measurements)May 02, 2021
【No. 1831】Atama Dekkachi (頭でっかち – Brain Trust)May 01, 2021
【No. 1830】Oden (おでん)Apr 30, 2021
【No. 1829】Tsuppari and Sukeban (「ツッパリ」と「スケバン」 – Bad Boy/Girl)Apr 29, 2021
【No. 1828】Yankī (ヤンキー – “bad boy/girl”)Apr 28, 2021
【No. 1827】Furyō (不良 – Bad State/Boy/Girl)Apr 27, 2021
【No. 1826】Kobu and Tankobu (「瘤」と「たんこぶ」 – Bump)Apr 26, 2021
【No. 1825】Me no Ue no Kobu (目の上の瘤 – A Thorn in One’s Side)Apr 25, 2021
【No. 1824】Idobata Kaigi (井戸端会議 – Small Talk)Apr 24, 2021
【No. 1823】Otesū Desuga (お手数ですが – I’m Sorry to Trouble You)Apr 23, 2021
【No. 1822】Nezumi Tori (ねずみ捕り – Speed Trap)Apr 22, 2021
【No. 1821】Rōbashin (老婆心 – Excessive Kindness)Apr 21, 2021
【No. 1820】Iku Dō-on (異口同音 – Unanimously)Apr 20, 2021
【No. 1819】Namida ni Shizumu (涙に沈む – Bathing in Tears)Apr 19, 2021
【No. 1818】Gyafun to Iwaseru (ぎゃふんと言わせる – Beating Someone Down to Size)Apr 18, 2021
【No. 1817】Shitsunen (失念 – Slipping One’s Mind)Apr 17, 2021
【No. 1816】Icchōra (一張羅 – Best Clothes)Apr 16, 2021
【No. 1815】Donburako (どんぶらこ)Apr 15, 2021
【No. 1814】Totte Tsuketa Youna (取って付けたような – Unnatural/Artificial)Apr 14, 2021
【No. 1813】Hana wo Motaseru (花を持たせる – Letting Someone Take the Credit)Apr 13, 2021
【No. 1812】Suzu wo Korogasu youna Koe (鈴を転がすような声 – Clear and Beautiful Voice)Apr 12, 2021
【No. 1811】How to Use HitoshioApr 11, 2021
【No. 1810】Hito___ (一入 – strikingly)Apr 10, 2021
【No. 1809】Mī-Hā (ミーハー – A Person Who Follow the Crowd)Apr 09, 2021
【No. 1808】Okanmuri (お冠 – Bad Temper)Apr 08, 2021
【No. 1807】Sābisu Zangyō (サービス残業 – Wage Theft)Apr 07, 2021
【No. 1806】The Reason Why Cats’ Backs Are RoundedApr 06, 2021
【No. 1805】Nekoze (猫背 – Rounded Back)Apr 05, 2021
【No. 1804】Batsu ga Warui (ばつが悪い – Awkward/Uncomfortable)Apr 04, 2021