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2017

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【No. 1109】New Year's Eve Events

Dec 31, 2017 17:26
In my post just one year ago, I wrote about that December 31st is called 大晦日 "omisoka" in Japanese.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/224394078701397240103991911399205800908

Today, as I declared in the post, I will introduce you to a Japanese traditional event held in omisoka.

It is 除夜の鐘 (joya no kane), the literal meaning of which is a temple bell of December 31st night.

In this event, the temple bell is struck 108 times across midnight.

It is said that the reason is because people have 108 earthly desires, and they are purified by striking the bell.

Also, 年越しそば (toshikoshi soba) is another famous traditional event held in omisoka.

I told you about it in the following post.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/56610173602368085034687509221862048814
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【No. 1108】Toshi no Se (年の瀬 - The End of the Year)

Dec 30, 2017 20:00
The end of the year is sometimes referred to as 年の瀬 (toshi no se) in Japanese.

The 年 (toshi) means "year" and the 瀬 (se) means "shallow area of a river."

Since the flow of water becomes faster in the shallow area of the river, it's difficult to cross over there by ship.

On the other hand, many Japanese people in the Edo period often used money on deferred payments, and they settled these bills at the end of the year.

By comparing such a rush at the end of the year with a shallow area of a river, this term 年の瀬 (toshi no se) was born.
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【No. 1107】New Year Holidays

Dec 29, 2017 15:08
Today I'd like to tell you the information about New Year holidays in Japan.

According to a survey conducted by a Japanese company, the most common last business day for Japanese workers in 2017 is today, December 29th.

This is because December 29th, 2017 is Friday.

Also, the most common first business day in 2018 seems to be January 4th.

That is to say, New Year holidays are five to six days for many Japanese workers.

Saturday and Sunday are included in them, so the actual holidays that are given specially for New Year are about three days.

I thought that this number is small, but I found that it was more than holidays of the US.
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【No. 1106】Mochi (餅 - Rice Cake)

Dec 28, 2017 21:04
Today I did 餅つき (mochitsuki).

Mochitsuki is a traditional Japanese event that people make 餅 (mochi - rice cake) -- I explained about that just one year ago in the following entry.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/76091474305243240897493045035997627438

Today, I'd like to talk about one accepted theory about the reason why Japanese people eat mochi on New Year holidays.

The theory says that it comes from 歯固めの儀 (hagatame no gi - teeth hardening ritual), which was held during the Heian period.

In this ritual, people ate hard food from January 1st to 3rd in order to make their teeth strong, while wishing for longevity and health.

Here mochi were used as hard food.
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【No. 1105】Hara wo Waru (腹を割る - Heart to Heart)

Dec 27, 2017 12:23
Sometimes it is important to talk with someone heart to heart.

To lay one's heart bare like this is expressed as 腹を割る (hara wo waru) in Japanese.

The 腹 (hara) means "stomach" and the 割る (waru) means "to split," so the literal meaning of idiom is "to split one's stomach."

Before the age of science, people seemed to believe that one’s stomach thought things, and one’s heart (mind) was located in the stomach.

Because of this, 腹を割る (hara wo waru - to split one's stomach) has come to mean to talk heart to heart.
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【No. 1104】Yakatabune (屋形船 - Houseboat)

Dec 26, 2017 17:07
I'd like to take a 屋形船 (yakatabune) someday.

屋形船 means a Japanese style boat that is equipped with a roof and tatami mats, and it is mainly used for enjoying meals and sightseeing while cruising.

Here the 屋形 (yakata) means a mansion of nobles and the 船 (fune/bune) means a boat/ship.

Formerly, 屋形船 was used by nobles for enjoying cherry blossom viewing, moon viewing, and fireworks.

These days everyone can enjoy 屋形船, but the cost to reserve it is expensive, so it's not easy to take it.

If you have time, check for "yakatabune" or "屋形船" on Google Images.
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【No. 1103】Kuri Bocchi (クリぼっち)

Dec 25, 2017 12:40
Merry Christmas.

Have you ever heard the Japanese term クリぼっち (kuri bocchi)?

This is a slang term born on the Internet, which means to spend Christmas on your own.

The etymology is very simple -- クリぼっち (kuri bocchi) is a compound word of the クリスマス (kurisumasu - Christmas) and the ひとりぼっち (hitori bocchi - loneliness).

Since it's a standard to spend Christmas with a lover in Japan, even if you spend with your family, it may be called クリぼっち.

Incidentally, I will work at the university until late at night as usual.
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【No. 1102】Yoi Otoshi wo (良いお年を)

Dec 24, 2017 14:16
This year will be over in about a week.

There is a Japanese parting greeting that is used only during this time of year.

It is 良いお年を (yoi otoshi wo).

The 良い (yoi) means "good" and the お年 means "year."

This expression is short for 良いお年をお迎えください (yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai), where the お迎えください (omukae kudasai) means something like "to wish you a prosperous something."

I think that the most similar English expression to 良いお年を is "Have a happy new year."

【No. 1101】Bounenkai (忘年会)

Dec 23, 2017 12:22
During this time of year, a lot of 忘年会 (bounenkai) are held in Japan.

A bounenkai is a drinking party that is held at the end of the year, in order to forget the past year.

There is no religious meaning or particular style.

The 忘 (bou) means "to forget," the 年 (nen) means "year," and the 会 (kai) means "party," so 忘年会 (bounenkai) literally means "forget the part year party."

I think that End of the Year Party is very similar to bounenkai.

Incidentally, today I will participate in a bounenkai - this is the third time this week.
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【No. 1100】Mizu wo Sasu (水を差す - Casting a Damper)

Dec 22, 2017 21:38
Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese expression 話の腰を折る
(hanashi no koshi wo oru), which means to interrupt others when theyare talking.

Today I'd like to talk about the similar expression, 水を差す (mizu wo sasu).

The 水 (mizu) means "water" and the 差す (sasu) means "to put in/pour," so the literal meaning of this expression is "to put water in something."

If you put water in hot water or tasty dish, they will become tepid or thin, then they can be ruined.

Because of this, 水を差す (mizu wo sasu) has come to be used the currect meaning.
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【No. 1099】Hanashi no Koshi wo Oru (話の腰を折る - Interrupting when Someone is Talking)

Dec 21, 2017 20:35
Today, I sometimes interrupted others in the middle of talking.

Such an action is called 話の腰を折る (hanashi no koshi wo oru) in Japanese.

The 話 (hanashi) means "story/conversation," the 腰 (koshi) means "a lower back/waist," and the 折る (oru) means "to break," so the literal meaning of this term is "to break a lower back of conversation."

"A lower back" is a very important part of the body, and if it's hurt, it will become difficult to support your body.

Because of this, 話の腰を折る has come to mean to interrupt when someone is talking.
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【No. 1098】How to Go to the Bathroom: Part 2

Dec 20, 2017 09:40
Yesterday, I introduced you to a common expression that is used when you want to go to the bathroom.

Today I'd like to talk about other Japanese expressions implying that you will go to the bathroom.

*お花摘みに行く* (*ohana tsumi ni iku* - I will go picking flowers): This is an expression for women.

*雉撃ちに行く* (*kiji uchi ni iku* - I will go pheasant hunting): This is an expression for men.

Originally, it seems that these expression was used to imply urinating/defecating on climbing.

This is because the posture of urinating/defecating in the grass is similar to the posture of flower picking or pheasant hunting.
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【No. 1097】How to Go to a Bathroom Part 1

Dec 19, 2017 16:37
I posted an entry about how to use a toilet yesterday.

Today I'd like to tell you about how to express in Japanese that you want to go to a bathroom.

The most simple expression is that "toile ni ittekimasu" (トイレに行ってきます - I will go to a toilet).

However, such a direct expression is not elegant.

In my opinion, the most common and accepted expression is "otearai ni ittekimasu" (お手洗いに行ってきます - I will go to an otearai), here the "otearai" (お手洗い) is a place where you wash your hands.

Japanese people have been sure to wash their hands carefully after urinating/defecating since a long time ago.

Because of this, "to go to a bathroom" has come to be expressed as "otearai ni iku" (お手洗いに行く - I will go to an otearai).
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【No. 1096】Toilet Lids

Dec 18, 2017 14:55
Of course you will flush a toilet after using it.

At this time, do you run the water in the sink after closing the lid of the toilet?

Or do you close the lid of the toilet after running the water in the sink?

(Please don't say that you don't close lids of toilets.)

According to the study at University of Leeds,if you flush a toilet while opening the lid, pathogens called Clostridium difficile contained in your feces will become aerosol, and they will scatter to 25 cm above the toilet seat.

It was also reported that the contamination was detected within 90 min after flushing.

From now on, all we should flush toilets after closing the lids.
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【No. 1095】Guchi (愚痴 - Moaning)

Dec 17, 2017 14:54
I want to say some "guchi" (愚痴) now.

However, in most cases, since "guchi" makes others feel bad, I shouldn't say it.

"Guchi" means to say something silly or complain about something people have no power over.

Originally, this is a Buddhist term, which means that someone has no heart to understand the truth, or is ignorance.

After the beginning of the Edo period came, "guchi" came to be used to mean "to say something silly," and since the middle of the Edo period, it has come to mean "to complain about something people have no power over."
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【No. 1094】Asappara (朝っぱら - First Thing in the Morning)

Dec 16, 2017 15:58
These days, I'm annoyed with a neighborhood resident for singing loudly first thing in the morning.

If you want to express "in the morning," you can use the Japanese "asa kara" (朝から) or "asa ni" (朝に).

However, especially if you want to emphasize that it's early morning or it's a lack in common sense, you can imply it by using "asappara kara" (朝っぱらから) instead of "asa kara."

The "asappara" (朝っぱら) comes from "asahara" (朝腹) -- where the "asa" (朝) means "morning," the "hara" (腹) means "stomach," and the "asahara" means something like "one's empty stomach in the early morning (before breakfast)."

Because of this, "asappara" can imply that something happens early in the morning.
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【No. 1093】Enryo (遠慮 - Constraint)

Dec 15, 2017 16:59
Japanese people often take an act called "enryo" (遠慮).

"Enryo" means "to refrain from words or deeds to others" or "to decline something."

The "en" (遠) means "far" and the "ryo" (慮) means "to give adequate consideration," so originally "enryo" meant "to give adequate consideration to far future."

If you give too much thought to your far future, you may not move into action soon.

Because of this, "enryo" has come to mean "to refrain from your attitude."

To take "enryo" is translated into English as "behave with modesty" or "respect someone's feeling."
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【No. 1092】Mi kara deta Sabi (身から出た錆 - You Asked for It)

Dec 14, 2017 10:44
Have you ever suffered from a bad deed that you did?

Getting into such a situation can be expressed using the Japanese proverb "mi kara deta sabi" (身から出た錆).

Here, the "mi" (身) means "sword blade" and the "sabi" (錆) means "rust," so the literal meaning of this term is "rust generated from a sword blade."

If you neglect to take care of your sword, rust will be generated from the blade, and you may lose your life in a critical moment.

Because of this, "mi kara deta sabi" has come to be used to mean to suffering from your own bad act.
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【No. 1091】Superstition concerning Swallow

Dec 13, 2017 21:18
There are many superstitions in Japan.

Almost all of them have no scientific basis, but some have make sense.

For example, it is said that "It will rain if swallows fly at low altitude."

As a low pressure system approaches, small bugs/flies get less able to fly at high altitude, because moisture attaches to their wings.

Since these small bugs/flies are baits of swallows, when they fly at low altitude, swallows also fly low to catch them.

I heard that the rain forecast based on the behavior of swallows is reliable in many cases.
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【No. 1090】Ichiru no Nozomi (一縷の望み - A Ray of Hope)

Dec 12, 2017 15:45
Have you ever experienced a situation that it was desperate, but there certainly was a hope.

Such a little hope is sometime called "ichiru no nozomi" (一縷の望み) in Japanese.

The "ichi" (一) means "one" and the "ru" (縷) means "slender thread" or "slight," so the "ichiru" (一縷) means "something slight like a slender thread."

Also, since the "nozomi" (望み) means "hope," "ichiru no nozomi" means something like "a spark of hope" or "a ray of hope."

The "nozomi," which means "hope," is commonly used in daily conversation, but the is only used in the expression "ichiru no nozomi" in most cases.