Skip to content

2016

  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0744】Omisoka (New Year's Eve)

Dec 31, 2016 21:42
Today is 大晦日 (omisoka), which means new year's eve.

"晦日 (misoka)" was originally written as "三十日 (misoka)", and it meant "the 30th day of a month".

Then, it has come to mean "the last day of a month".

Furthermore, "the last day of a year" has come to be referred to as "大晦日 (omisoka)" with the letter "大 (o)", which means "large".

Also, "晦日" can be read as "tsugomori".

"Tsugomori" is an abbreviation for "月隠り (tsuki-gomori)", which means "the day that the moon hides".

I talked about the etymology of "大晦日 (omisoka)" on new year's eve of this year.

I will talk about traditional Japanese events that are held in "大晦日 (omisoka)" on new year's eve of next year.

I hope that I will continue to Lang-8 until one year later.
  • in Essay
  • 4 min read

【No. 0743】Mushi no Shirase (Word of Insects)

Dec 30, 2016 18:16
Today I will talk about the idiom "mushi no shirase", the literal meaning of which is "word of insects".

"Mushi no shirase" means to feel that something will happen.

In many cases, this idiom is used to bad events, such as a death in family/friends, a traffic accident or a disaster.

There are two major theories as the etymology.

One is derived from the fact that in Edo period, people thought that insects lived in human bodies and they affected emotions and consciousness.

The other one is derived from the fact that in Taoism of China, it is thought that three insects are live in human bodies since humans were born, and these insects inform God of humans' guilts while humans are sleeping.
  • in Diary
  • 3 min read

【No. 0742】E ni Kaita Mochi (A Rice Cake Drawn in a Picture)

Dec 29, 2016 11:58
Yesterday I wrote about "mochitsuki" (rice cake pounding).

Today I will talk about the proverb "e ni kaita mochi", which includes the word "mochi".

The literal meaning of "e ni kaita mochi" is "a rice cake drawn in a picture", and it means that something is totally useless or there is no possibility to realize something, even if it looks/sounds good.

This proverb comes from the fact that even if you can draw mochi (rice cake) in a picture very well, you can't eat it, and it is not useful.

The etymology is the Chinese word "gabei", ("ga" means "picture" and "bei" means "mochi") which can be found in Sangokushi.
  • in Diary
  • 2 min read

【No. 0741】Mochitsuki

Dec 28, 2016 20:38
Today I went to a professor's house and did mochitsuki.

The literal meaning of mochitsuki is "rice cake pounding", and it is a traditional Japanese event that is held around the new year.

In the mochituki, we pound boiled rice using a mortar and a pestle, and make mochi (sticky rice cake).

Unfortunately, since I had less stamina, physical strength, and experience, I couldn't pound mochi well.

On the other hand, professors and associate professors were getting used to the action, and they pounded mochi skillfully.

I could not contribute much to making mochi, but I ate very delicious mochi after the mochitsuki.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0740】Hesokuri

Dec 27, 2016 22:58
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "hesokuri".

"Hesokuri" means saving money that is piled up economically and secretly.

Here, "heso" means "a thread winding that is wound with hemp threads", and "maki" means "to wind threads", that is, "to make a thread winding".

In the past, the job of "heso wo kuru" (to make a hemp thread winding) is a housewife's important sideline business that supports poor living.

A little money that can be gained by this job was called "hesokuri gane" (hesokuri money), and it became "hesokuri" for short.

By the way, "hesokuri" is referred to as "a stash of money", "secret money" or "mad money" in English.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0739】Mono no Kazu

Dec 26, 2016 22:51
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term "mono no kazu."

The literal meaning of "mono no kazu" is "the number of things," and it means something valuable, something special, or something that has to be problematic.

This term is often used with a negative word -- it's something like "mono no kazu deha nai" (it's not mono no kazu).

Usage example: The cold in Japan is not mono no kazu compared to the one in Russia.

Although the literal meaning of this term is "the number of things," it expresses "thing".

I feel a little strange about that.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 0738】Christmas and Japan

Dec 25, 2016 13:36
Since today is Christmas, I will talk about trivia related to Christmas.

The first Christmas (Mass of Nativity Festival) in Japan was held at Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1552.

However, because Edo shogunate government issued Anti-Christian Edicts and prohibited Christianity, Christmas was not held for more than 200 years.

It is said that Christmas was gradually accepted around 1900, when Christmas business competition began.

Also, along with Taisho Emperor system was collapsed on December 25, 1926, this day became a holiday as Taisho Emperor Festival only around that years.

This fact seems to be also deeply related that Christmas became an annual event in Japan.

Unfortunately, according to a questionnaire survey, around half of Japanese people will spend alone this Christmas.
  • in Diary
  • 2 min read

【No. 0737】Christmas Gift for Myself

Dec 24, 2016 19:22
Today is Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately, there remains a work of proofreading students' graduation theses.

At first I was correcting PDF files by using Adobe Acrobat, but it was hard because there were many points that have to be modified.

Therefore, I decided to purchase iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, and use them to correct theses.

Immediately I'm working with these devices.

The hard works became easy and fun.

Actually, I thought a MacBook Pro was a Christmas gift to myself, but it has keyboard trouble and I decided to return it, so the iPad Pro became a true Christmas gift of this year.
  • in Diary
  • 3 min read

【No. 0736】Bonenkai

Dec 23, 2016 23:57
Today university staffs and teachers gathered and a big year-end party called "bonenkai" was held.

I eat delicious meats, sushi, fruits, and drank alcohol a lot.

Songs and showy dance by Brazilians were presented as a sideshow act.

After that, a lottery event that contains gorgeous prizes was performed.

I couldn't get anything, but they were really fun.

The literal meaning of "bonenkai" is "a party to forget the year", and it is often held in Japan to forget the hardship of the year.

However, since I still have a lot of work remain, I cannot forget this year yet.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 0735】Purchase a MacBook Pro

Dec 22, 2016 23:56
I ordered a MacBook Pro, and it arrived yesterday.

Since I was looking forward to it, I was very excited.

However, when I was setting it up, I noticed that something is strange.

Only the key "A" on the keyboard had a different feeling, and it sounded a little big clack compared to other keys.

If you listened to my keyboard typing sound, you would notice the timing when I pressed the key.

Although the sound is not remarkably loud, I often type the "A" key, so it is disturbing.

I'm wondering whether I should endure it or ask for an exchange.

I'm feeling depressed.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0734】Goma wo Suru (To Butter Up)

Dec 21, 2016 20:43
Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "goma wo suru."

The literal meaning is "to grind sesame seeds," and it often means to butter up someone.

(Of course, it can mean to just grind sesame seeds in a mortar.)

If you grind roasted sesame seeds, they will be smeared throughout in the mortar.

From the fact that such sticky sesame seeds looked like that someone tried to gain another's favor, this idiom was made.

This idiom is often said to be "goma suri" for short.

By the way, there are many English phrases that means "goma wo suru," but many of them seems to be vulgar expressions.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 0733】Omou Tsubo (Thought Pot)

Dec 20, 2016 11:38
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term "omou tsubo".

The literal meaning is "thought pot", and it means that something goes what you wanted or what you expected.

Usage example: The war situation became enemy's omou tsubo (thought pot).

Here, "tsubo" means a pot, especially which is used to roll a dice in gambling.

It is said that an experienced dealer who had a role of rolling a dice could decide the number of the dice as he thought.

From this fact, to become what you wanted/expected has come to be referred to as "omou tsubo" (thought pot).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0732】Sune wo Kajiru

Dec 19, 2016 23:30
Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "sune wo kajiru."

"Sune" means "shin", "kajiru" means "to bite", and this idiom describes that children cannot be economically independent, and lives depending on their parents.

(Here, "sune" (shin) implies "oya no sune" (parents' shins), so this idiom is also often referred to as "oya no sune wo kajiru.")

Since shins are important part that support people, they are sometimes used as a synonym for "labor".

That is to say, this idiom expresses that children bite (depend on) their parents' labor forces.

By the way, I was biting my parents' shins until I graduated from my doctoral course.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0731】Kanko-dori ga Naku

Dec 18, 2016 17:32
Today I will talk about the idiom "kanko-dori ga naku."

"Kanko-dori" means "cuckoo", "naku" means "to sing", and this idiom describes that there are no customers in shops or shops are lonesome.

(By the way, the kanji meanings of "kan" is "spare time", "ko" is "old" and "dori" is "bird".)

Usage example: A cuckoo (kanko-dori) is always singing in your shop.
(Your shop has hardly any customers.)

Cuckoos usually sing in quiet mountains or forests.

Our ancestors felt that the song of cuckoos is "lonely" and "sad", then such an idiom was made.

There are many other idioms that are derived from what our ancestors felt in nature.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 0730】Tokoya (Barber Shop)

Dec 17, 2016 14:00
Today I will talk about the etymology of the Japanese word "tokoya", which means "barber shop".

The literal meaning of "toko" is "floor", and "ya" is "shop".

In the Edo period in Japan, people who make men's hairstyle or cut men's hair were called "kami-yui" ("kami" means "hair" and "yui" means "to fix").

Also, since hairstyles were made / hairs were cut on a simple floor, such a store was called "kami-yui doko" ("doko" means "floor").

Then "kami-yui" in "kami-yui doko" was omitted, and "ya" which means "shop" or "occupation" was attached, it became "tokoya".

By the way, most customers of tokoya are men, and women usually go "biyoin" (hair salon).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0729】Funuke

Dec 16, 2016 20:57
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term "funuke".

"Funuke" means people who has no backbone, no energy, or no guts.

Usage example: He fell out of love and became funuke since last week.

The literal meaning "fu" of "funuke" is "bowels", and it has also come to mean "courage" or "heart".

(I think this is similar that "guts" can express "courage" in English.)

Also, "nuke" of "funuke" means "to drop out".

Therefore, "funuke" came to mean people who drop out their courage or hearts, and express the above meanings.

By the way, according to my dictionary, an English word which means "funuke" is "coward" or "fool".
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0728】"Narau" and "Manabu" (To Learn)

Dec 15, 2016 23:11
When I read sentences written by people who learn Japanese on Lang-8, I found that "narau" is often confused with "manabu".

You can say just "I learn Japanese" to mean both "nihongo wo narau" and "nihongo wo manabu", but there is a determinate difference between these Japanese sentences.

In most cases, "narau" means to be taught something by someone.

On the other hand, "manabu" means to remember or study something by oneself.

Therefore, it's unnatural to use "narau" when teaching yourself something, and you should use "manabu" in such a case.

By the way, it is said that "manabu" is derived from "manebu", which means "to imitate".
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0727】Ocha wo Nigosu

Dec 14, 2016 18:40
Today I will talk about the Japanese phrase "ocha wo nigosu."

The literal meaning is "to roil tea", and it describes to manage to avoid an issue by saying something irresponsible.

It is said that this phrase comes from the fact that people who don't know sado (Japanese art of tea ceremony) roil tea so that it looks like appropriate Matcha.

In the past, Matcha was a special thing that only high rank people can drink.

Therefore most ordinary people didn't know how to make Matcha.

By the way, now sado is thought of as one of Japanese hobbies and has spread, but I don't know how to make Matcha.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 0726】"Mizu" and "Oyu" (Water and Hot Water)

Dec 13, 2016 14:30
In English, the word "water" is used regardless of the temperature.

However, the literal translation "atsui mizu" ("atsui" means "hot" and "mizu" means "water" in Japan) is a little unnatural.

In Japanese language, nouns that represent water change depending on the temperature.

"Mizu" often translates into "water", but if you say just "mizu", it will represent "cold water".

If you want to represent "hot water" or "boiled water", you have to say "oyu/yu" or "netto".

If you want to represent "chilled water", you have to say "reisui" or "hyosui".

By the way, "lukewarm water" is referred to as "nuruma yu", and if the water was once boiled, it's referred to as "sayu".
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 0725】Ita ni Tsuku

Dec 12, 2016 00:41
Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "ita ni tsuku."

"Ita ni tsuku" means that someone's attitude or behavior becomes to be suitable for his/her occupation or status.

Where "ita" means "a boarded stage", and "tsuku" means "to fit perfectly".
(Normally, "ita" means just "a board".)

Since acting of experienced actors is match up precisely with the stage, such actors have been said "ita ni tsuiteiru" (you're fitting the boarded stage).

This phrase "ita ni tsuku" became to have the above meaning, moreover it became to express that clothes fit someone well.

By the way, as a result of searching for the English translation of it, an expression "to become natural to one" was found.