Skip to content

2019

  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1762】Tajitatan (多事多端 - Eventful)

Nov 15, 2019 22:30
Tajitatan

This is the first post for a month.

I could not write English essays on Lang-8 because I have been given a lot of work from several facilities.

To describe situations where you need to do many things and are busy, you can say the four-character idiom tajitatan (多事多端).

Since ta (多) means "many," ji (事) means "thing," and tan (端) means "beginning/edge," the literal meaning of tajitatan is "many things and beginnings."

As you can image, a situation where there are many things that you have to begin is a very busy situation.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1760】Unlucky Coins Part 2

Oct 14, 2019 22:29
Unlucky Coins Part 2

Yesterday, I introduced jūen-dama (十円玉 - "ten-yen coin") and gohyakuen-dama (五百円玉 - "five-hundred-yen coin"), which are unpopular/unlucky coins as offertory money, and explained the reason for the former.

The reason for the latter is as follows:

Dama/tama (玉) meaning "coin" can be rephrased as kōka (硬貨).

Kōka (硬貨) has the same sound as 効果, which means "effect."

In addition, the most expensive coin in Japan is "five-hundred-yen coin."

In other words, there are no coins (effects) larger than that.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1761】Typhoon No. 19

Oct 14, 2019 22:55
Typhoon No. 19

A super large typhoon, Typhoon No. 19, hit Japan from October 12th to 13th.

The typhoon, which is also called as "Hagibis," belongs to Category five in hurricane indicators.

There were various damages caused by this typhoon -- especially the damage of river break and river flooding seems to be severe.

At present, it has been confirmed that 21 rivers broke, and 142 rivers are flooded.

In addition, 30 people died and 15people were missing.

Rescue and recovery efforts are still being carried out in various places.

It is my sincere wish that the damage will not be magnified any more.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1758】Five-yen Coin

Oct 13, 2019 22:31
Five-yen Coin

Usually, there is saisenbako (賽銭箱) in Japanese shrines and temples.

Saisen (賽銭) means money that is dedicated when you pray for something to gods/Buddha, or when your prayer was fulfilled.

In addition, bako/hako (箱) means "box," so saisenbako means an offertory box.

The most popular coin to put in there is goen-dama (五円玉 - "five-yen coin").

This is because goen (五円 - "five-yen") has the same sound as goen (ご縁), which means "relationship."

People devote a five-yen coin in hopes of having a good encounter.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1759】Unlucky Coins Part 1

Oct 13, 2019 23:25
Unlucky Coins Part 1

Yesterday, I introduced goen-dama (五円玉 - "five-yen coin") as a popular offertory coin.

On the other hand, there are two unpopular coins as offertory money -- they are jūen-dama (十円玉 - "ten-yen coin") and gohyakuen-dama (五百円玉 - "five-hundred-yen coin").

The kanji character 十 of 十円玉 can also be read as tō (とお).

Tō can be written as 遠, which means "distance."

In addition, en (円) has the same sound as 縁, which means "relationship."

That is to say, 十円 implies the unlucky term tōen (遠縁), which means "distance relationship."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1757】En mo Yukari mo Nai (縁もゆかりもない - Complete Stranger)

Oct 9, 2019 20:32
En mo Yukari mo Nai

When describing that there is no relationship between things or people, you can say en mo yukari mo nai (縁もゆかりもない) in Japanese.

Both en (縁) and yukari (ゆかり) means relationships between family members, friends, or things.

In fact, yukari can be written in kanji as 縁 or 所縁 -- this kanji character is the same as en.

In addition, nai (ない) in a negative word.

That is to say, this phrase emphasizes the lack of relationships by repeating similar terms.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1756】Ato no Matsuri (後の祭り - Too Late) Part 2

Oct 8, 2019 13:41
Ato no Matsuri Part 2

Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese phrase ato no matsuri (後の祭り), which means a situation where something is too late, and explained a theory about its etymology.

The other accepted theory about the etymology is related to the deceased.

In Japan, when a person dies, people will hold some events called sōshiki (葬式 - "funeral") and hōji (法事 - "Buddhist memorial service").

This theory compared these events with matsuri (祭り - "festival") and says that it is too late to hold such festivals for the deceased.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1753】Aku wa Nobeyo (悪は延べよ)

Oct 7, 2019 08:52
Aku wa Nobeyo

Yesterday, I introduced the proverb zen wa isoge (善は急げ),

Actually, this proverb has an additional part -- it is aku wa nobeyo (悪は延べよ).

(Usually, the latter part is omitted.)

Since aku (悪) means "bad" and nobeyo (延べよ) means "postpone," the literal meaning of aku wa nobeyo is "postpone bad things."

In other words, this proverb says that if you think it is bad, you should postpone doing it as much as possible.

If you postpone doing the bad thing, sometime you may come less need to do it.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1754】Shirokuro Tsukeru (白黒つける - Determining Clearly)

Oct 7, 2019 17:32
Shirokuro Tsukeru

Sometimes you will have a situation where you need to determine whether something is right or wrong, good or bad.

Determining such a thing is expressed as shirokuro tsukeru (白黒つける) in Japanese.

Shiro (白) means "white," kuro (黒) means "black," and tsukeru means "determine," so the literal meaning of this phrase is "to determine whether something is white or black."

It is said that this phrase comes from "Go" (a board game using white and black stones).

Since "Go" determines whether the winner is white side or black side, shirokuro tsukeru came to mean to make a clear conclusion.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1755】Ato no Matsuri (後の祭り - Too Late) Part 1

Oct 7, 2019 18:51
Ato no Matsuri Part 1

I often get into a situation called ato no matsuri (後の祭り).

Since ato (後) means "latter" and matsuri (祭り) means "festival," the literal meaning of ato no matsuri is "latter festival," but it actually means a situation where something is too late.

There are two major theories about its etymology.

One theory says that it comes from the Gion Festival in Kyoto.

The Gion Festival takes place throughout a month, and it consists of two parts: Saki-matsuri (前祭 - "Pre-Festival") and Ato-matsuri (後祭 - "Post-Festival").

Since the Ato-matsuri is relatively low-key, it came to mean "too late" or "let a chance go by."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1752】Zen wa Isoge (善は急げ - Now is the Time for Action)

Oct 5, 2019 20:04
Zen wa Isoge

I sometimes remind myself of the Japanese proverb zen wa isoge (善は急げ).

Since zen (善) means "good/virtue" and isoge (急げ) means "hasten/hurry," the literal meaning of zen wa isoge is "hasten to do good things."

In other words, this proverb says that if you think it is a good thing, you should do it immediately without hesitation.

However, unplanned and imprudent actions can cause a bad result, so you should also have some caution.

It can be translated into English as "Now is the time for action."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1751】Kenmin no Hi (県民の日 - "Prefecture Citizens Day")

Oct 4, 2019 18:22
Kenmin no Hi

Yesterday, I introduced Tomin no Hi (都民の日 - "Tokyo Citizens Day"), which was established for Tokyo citizens.

In addition to Tokyo, 20 out of 46 prefectures have established the regional anniversary as Kenmin no Hi (県民の日 - "Prefecture Citizens Day").

Usually, the day when the prefecture or its name was borne is defined as Kenmin no Hi.

However, except for Tokyo, only five prefectures (Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, Saitama, and Yamanashi) close most elementary, junior high, and high schools on that day.

Incidentally, in Aichi where I grew up, there was no such a day.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1749】10% Consumption Tax

Oct 2, 2019 20:13
10% Consumption Tax

On October 1, 2019, the consumption tax in Japan was raised from 8% to 10%.

Originally, the rising tax to 10% was scheduled to be implemented in 2015, but it was postponed twice, and it was finally raised this year.

There are pros and cons to this raising consumption tax, but I do not care really much.

Because the consumption tax related food and drink are out of the tax increase -- I mainly spend money on them in my current life.

According to TV news, many people bought large home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines before the consumption tax increased.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1750】Tomin no Hi (都民の日 - Tokyo Citizens Day)

Oct 2, 2019 20:43
Tomin no Hi

October 1st was Tomin no Hi (都民の日).

Since to (都) means "Tokyo," min (民) means "people/citizens," and hi (日) means "day," the literal meaning of tomin no hi is "Tokyo Citizens Day."

Tomin no hi was established by Tokyo in 1952, and most elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools in Tokyo are closed on this day.

I had no idea about this day until recently, because I started living in Tokyo after graduating from my university.

I heard that many facilities in Tokyo, such as Tokyo Sky Tree, zoos and aquariums, are free to enter on this day.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1747】Kakukaku Shikazika (かくかくしかじか)

Oct 1, 2019 13:47
Kakukaku Shikazika

When you feel tired of explaining something concretely, you can say kakukaku shikazika (かくかくしかじか).

Actually, its etymology has not been cleared, but kaku (かく) and shika/zika (しか/じか) can be written in kanji as 斯く and 然, respectively.

Both 斯く and 然, mean "such," that is, you can avoid concrete expressions or explanations by using these terms.

Because of this, it is thought that the expression kakukaku shikazika came to be used when avoiding concrete expressions, explanations or descriptions.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1748】Hito no Furi mite Wa-ga Furi Naose (人の振り見て我が振り直せ)

Oct 1, 2019 15:06
Hito no Furi mite Wa-ga Furi Naose

The day before yesterday, I introduced the idiom hanmen kyōshi (反面教師), which comes from China and means a negative exemplar.

There is a Japanese proverb that has a similar meaning to this -- it is hito no furi mite wa-ga furi naose (人の振り見て我が振り直せ).

Since hito (人) means "person," furi (振り) means "behavior," 'mite (見て) means "look," wa-ga' (我が) means "my," and naose (直せ) means "fix," the literal meaning of this proverb is "Fix your behavior by looking other's behavior."

I think there is no need to explain the etymology.

It just says that you should learn what to do and what not to do from other's behavior.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1746】Hanmen Kyōshi (反面教師 - A Negative Exemplar)

Sep 30, 2019 08:54
Hanmen Kyōshi

There are many people and things that can be described as hanmen kyōshi (反面教師) in the world.

(It is difficult to notice for myself, but I might become that.)

Hanmen (反面) means "other side" and kyōshi (教師) means "teacher," so the literal meaning of hanmen kyōshi is "the other side teacher."

Actually, it means a bad example that can be a material for reflection.

This four-character idiom was created by a leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Mao Zedong, and it was used for the first time in his speech in 1957.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1745】Neguse (寝癖 - Bed Hair)

Sep 27, 2019 18:06
Neguse

Somehow I often have a neguse (寝癖).

Since ne (寝) means "sleep" and kuse (癖) usually means "habit," the literal meaning of neguse is "sleeping habit."

Here, kuse is also used for hair, and in which case, it means "bent hair."

If you say kuse no aru kami (癖のある髪 - "hair having kuse "), it means "wavy hair."

Commonly, the term neguse also implies one's hair (after sleeping) -- it can be translated into English as "bed hair."

Sometimes my hair looks like it exploded when I wake up.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1744】Umi no Sachi, Yama no Sachi (海の幸と山の幸) Part 2

Sep 26, 2019 17:46
Umi no Sachi, Yama no Sachi Part 2

This entry is continuation of yesterday's post.

Yesterday, I introduced umi no sachi (海の幸), meaning "sea produce," and yama no sachi (山の幸), meaning "mountain harvest."

I explained that sachi (幸) means "products/produce/harvest," but sachi originally meant tools for catching fish or animals, such as fishhooks or arrows.

Later, it came to have the meaning of produce/harvest itself.

Incidentally, since the kanji 幸 often means "happiness," some people think that umi no sachi and yama no sachi are "gifts from the sea" and "gifts from mountains," respectively.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1743】Umi no Sachi, Yama no Sachi (海の幸と山の幸) Part 1

Sep 25, 2019 09:40
Umi no Sachi, Yama no Sachi Part 1

Yesterday, I introduced some foods that are often eaten in fall/autumn in Japan.

In particular, something caught in the sea, such as saury, is called umi no sachi (海の幸), and something caught in mountains, such as chestnuts or mushrooms, is called yama no sachi (山の幸).

Since umi (海) means "sea," yama (山) means "mountain," and sachi (幸) means "products," the literal meaning of umi no sachi and yama no sachi are "sea products" and "mountain products," respectively.

To be continued.