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【No. 2024】Kai Goroshi (飼い殺し - Keeping Somebody on the Payroll)

May 7, 2023 17:49
Kai Goroshi

When someone does not receive appropriate treatment in organizations or human relationships and is left unattended, the situation is sometimes described as kai goroshi (飼い殺し) in Japanese.

Since kai (飼い) means "to keep (animals)" and goroshi/koroshi (殺し) means "to kill," the literal meaning of kai goroshi is "to keep and kill something."

Originally, this phrase was used to mean that useless animals were kept until they died.

Later, it came to be used to mean "to hire someone in a job without giving them an appropriate position" or "a situation where someone refuses to leave his/her lover even though there is no romantic interest."
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【No. 2023】Mago ni mo Ishō (馬子にも衣装 - Fine Feathers Make Fine Bird)

May 6, 2023 16:39
Mago ni mo Ishō

(This topic was previously posted, but I'll rewrite it.)

Anyone can look respectable if they are well-dressed.

To describe the situation, you can use the proverb, mago ni mo ishō (馬子にも衣装).

Mago (馬子) is a person whose job is to lead a horse to help carry people and luggage, and here it is a metaphor for a person who is low in status and looks shabby.

In addition, ishō (衣装) means "clothes."

In other words, this proverb says that even people who are low in status or look shabby can look respectable (deceive others) by dressing up.

This proverb is usually used for modesty or teasing, so please be careful when referring to other people.
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【No. 2022】Iegara yori Imogara (家柄より芋がら - Actions Speak Louder than Words.)

May 5, 2023 15:38
Iegara yori Imogara

Have you ever been aware of people's family status?

Even if a person has a good family background, boasting it without any accompanying abilities may look foolish.

There is a sarcastic Japanese proverb regarding such a person: iegara yori imogara (家柄より芋がら).

Since iegara (家柄) means "family status," yori (より) means "rather than," imogara (芋がら) means "dried taro leafstalks," the literal meaning of iegara yori imogara is "dried taro leafstalks rather than family background."

In other words, this proverb says that eatable dried taro leafstalks are more valuable than a family status that cannot fill one's stomach by itself.

【No. 2021】Yon-koma Manga (4コマ漫画 - Four-frame Manga)

May 4, 2023 19:22
Yon-koma Manga

I have recently begun drawing yon-koma manga (4コマ漫画).

Since yon means "four," koma (コマ) means "frame," and manga (漫画) means "manga/comic," yon-koma manga literally means "four-frame manga/comic."

The content of the manga is a brief introduction to an article that I submitted to Lang-8.

In the manga world, some characters such as Chikuwa-kun (ちくわ君), a chipmunk, Omochi-kun (おもち君), a rabbit are featured.

I learned that it takes a lot of time and effort to make a manga, even though it is only four frames.

I will do my best to submit yon-koma manga, on Twitter from now on, so please check them if you have time.

https://twitter.com/kanotown
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【No. 2020】Etiquette of Exchanging Business Cards: Part 2

May 3, 2023 08:34
Etiquette of Exchanging Business Cards: Part 2

When you receive a business card, do not put it in your pocket or a card case, but place it on the table.

Placing it on top of your business card holder is even better.

If you receive business cards from multiple people, place them in a line, not pile them on top of each other.

It is better to place the business card of the person with the most senior position on top of your business card holder.

After the meeting/discussion is over, put the business cards in your holder.

Moreover, there are various detailed etiquette rules, such as "do not give/receive business cards across the table" and "do not cover name or the company logo with your finger when receiving business cards."
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【No. 2019】Etiquette of Exchanging Business Cards: Part 1

May 2, 2023 17:28
Etiquette of Exchanging Business Cards: Part 1

There are various kinds of etiquette in exchanging business cards in Japan.

First, a person of lower rank should present their business card before a person of higher rank does so.

Here, you should hold the business card in both hands and briefly introduce yourself, including your name and affiliation.

If the higher-ranking person introduced themselves first, it is better for the lower-ranking person to say a simple apology.

When only one person presents a business card, the other person should receive it with both hands.

When two people exchange business cards simultaneously, both hold out their business cards with their right hand and receive the other's cards with their left hand.

At this time, the lower-ranking person should hold out their card at a lower position than the position of the higher-ranking person's business card.

Continue to Part 2.
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【No. 2018】Business Cards in Japan

May 1, 2023 13:23
Business Cards in Japan

Yesterday, I introduced the word meishi (名刺), which means "business/name card."

In Japanese business situations, people usually do a ritual called meishi kōkan (名刺交換) when they meet each other for the first time.

Since kōkan (交換) means "exchange," meishi kōkan literally means "exchanging business cards."

Exchanging business cards in Japan is a part of the greeting, and the procedure is very formal and even ritualistic.

Unfortunately, there are various etiquette requirements involved in exchanging business cards. Therefore, most Japanese companies provide opportunities for new employees to learn about the manners of this ritual.

Tomorrow, I will introduce the etiquette of exchanging business cards in Japan.
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【No. 2017】Meishi (名刺 - Business/Name Card)

Apr 30, 2023 14:56
Meishi

Today, I designed meishi (名刺) for my new position, then requested a specialized vendor to print it.

Meishi means "business card" or "name card," which is a very important item in Japanese business situations because exchanging business cards is a customary practice in Japan.

Here, mei (名) means "name," and shi (刺) means "wooden or bamboo plate."

Business cards originated in China, and people used to write their names on wooden or bamboo plates to let others know they had come, which is thought to have led to the origin of the word meishi.
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【No. 2016】Tegusune wo Hiku (手ぐすねを引く - Stand Ready)

Apr 29, 2023 08:15
Tegusune wo Hiku

To stand fully ready to do something is called tegusune wo hiku in Japanese.

Since te (手) means "hand," kusune/gusune (くすね/薬煉) means "pine resin boiled with oil," and hiku (引く) means "to put something on," the literal meaning of this idiom is "to put kusune (pine resin boiled with oil) on one's hands."

Kusune has strong adhesive power; in the past, it was applied to a bowstring for reinforcing purposes.

The action was in preparation for battle, which is how tegusune wo hiku came to have its current meaning.
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【No. 2014】Sankan Shion (三寒四温 - A Cycle of Three Cold Days and Four Warm Days)

Apr 28, 2023 17:33
Sankan Shion

Recently, warm and cold days have been repeated every few days.

Such a climate seen from winter to spring is called sankan shion (三寒四温).

Since san (三) means "three," kan (寒) means "cold," shi (四) means "four," and on (温) means "warm," the literal meaning of this four-character idiom is "three cold (days) and four warm (days)."

In other words, three warm days will be after three cold days.

Originally, this is a proverb that describes the features of the winter climate in northeastern China and the Korean Penisula, whereas such a climate is seen only once a year or less in Japan.
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【No. 2015】Misu (ミス - Mistake/Miss)

Apr 28, 2023 18:21
Misu

On April 24, I made a misu (ミス - meaning "mistake") of missing the submit button on Lang-8.

(That is why I am posting two articles today.)

Until today, I believed that misu came from the English word "mistake."

In fact, many Web sites explain such a theory.

However, I learned that the English word "miss" also includes the meaning of "failure."

According to the Internet, the "miss" came from the Old English "missan," and from the Germanic "missjan," meaning "to go wrong."
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【No. 2013】Enpitsu Namename (鉛筆なめなめ - Think Seriously / Balance a Budget)

Apr 27, 2023 21:45
Enpitsu Namename

Today, I learned a phrase used by older people, enpitsu namename (鉛筆なめなめ).

Since enpitsu (鉛筆) means "pencil," and namename (なめなめ) is a repetition of name (なめ) in nameru (舐める), which means "to lick," the literal meaning of enpitsu namename is "to lick a pencil."

Can you guess what it actually means?

The answer is "to think seriously" or "to balance a budget."

The former came from the fact that the licking of a pencil looks like a thinking gesture, and the latter came from the fact that people used to lick the tips of poor-quality pencils to write clearly.
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【No. 2012】Amayo no Tsuki (雨夜の月 - Something That Exists but Is Invisible)

Apr 26, 2023 11:31
Amayo no Tsuki

Something that exists there but is not visible, or an imaginary thing that does not exist is sometimes described as amayo no tsuki (雨夜の月).

Since ama/ame (雨) means "rain," yo (夜) means "night," and tsuki (月) means "moon," the literal meaning of amayo no tsuki is "moon on a rainy night."

This phrase was used in a poem of the Shika Wakashū (詞花和歌集 - "Collection of Verbal Flowers") written around 1151, as a metaphor for the moon hidden by clouds on a rainy night to a loved person one cannot meet, then it came to have the current meaning.

Sometimes it simply means "the harvest(full) moon which cannot be seen because of the rain."
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【No. 2011】Shibō (しぼう - Wish/Death/Fat/Ovary)

Apr 25, 2023 13:51
Shibō

As you may know, the Japanese language has many homonyms.

Yesterday I typed shibō (しぼう) on my keyboard and nearly made a dangerous mistake when converting it to kanji.

What I wanted to type was shibō (志望), which means "wish," "desire," and "ambition."

However, the first result that appeared in the conversion candidates was 死亡, which means "death." The text would have meant something completely different.

Since other possible conversion results include 脂肪, which means "fat," and 子房, which means "ovary," be careful when converting shibō to kanji.
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【No. 2010】Okaka (おかか - Dried Bonito Flakes)

Apr 23, 2023 20:58
Okaka

A few days ago, I ate a rice ball containing okaka (おかか).

Okaka means "dried bonito flakes" or "dried bonito flakes shaved into small pieces and seasoned."

In the Muromachi period (1336-1357), when dried bonito flakes (called katsuobushi (かつおぶし) in Japanese) were first made, it was also called kaka (かか) by repeating the first character of katsuobushi.

Later, court ladies who worked for the imperial court came to call it okaka (おかか) by adding the polite prefix o (お) to kaka, which seems to have become common.
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【No. 2009】Zunda Mochi (ずんだ餅 - Green Soybeans Rice Cake)

Apr 22, 2023 11:25
Zunda Mochi

I bought zunda mochi (ずんだ餅) today.

Zunda mochi is a rice cake made from mashed green soybeans and is one of the popular local delicacies in Miyagi Prefecture.

The word mochi (餅) in zunda mochi means "rice cake," but there are several theories about the etymology of 'zunda'(ずんだ).

The most accepted theory is that it comes from zuda (豆打), which means to beat and crush beans.

Other theories include that it comes from a farmer named jinta (甚太), who created zunda mochi.
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【No. 2008】Tsukiyo no Kani (月夜の蟹 - A Superficial/Empty-Headed Person)

Apr 21, 2023 19:14
Tukiyo no Kani

Superficial or empty-headed people are sometimes referred to as tukiyo no kani (月夜の蟹) in Japanese.

Since tuki (月) means "moon," yo (夜) means "night," and kani (蟹) means "crab," the literal meaning of tukiyo no kani is "a crab on a moonlit night."

It is believed that crabs caught on moonlit nights have less flesh and are skinnier; hence this phrase has the above meaning.

It is also said that crabs are scared of moonlight and do not feed on moonlit nights, although I am unsure whether this is biologically true.
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【No. 2007】Yūjū Fudan (優柔不断 - Indecision)

Apr 20, 2023 21:17
Yūjū Fudan

Someone sometimes calls me yūjū fudan (優柔不断).

Yū (優) means "kind" and jū (柔) means "soft," both of which have positive nuances, but the combination yūjū (優柔) has a negative meaning such as "indecision" or "feeble-minded."

In addition, since fu (不) is a negative prefix and dan (断) means "decision," fudan (不断) has the same meaning as 'yūjū': "indecision."

Of course, the four-character idiom yūjū fudan, which combines these two idioms, also has the same meaning.

Note that yūjū and fudan are rarely used separately but are usually used in combination, as in yūjū fudan.
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【No. 2006】Hanabie (花冷え - Cold in Cherry-Blossom Time)

Apr 19, 2023 09:35
Hanabie

Over the past few days, we have been experiencing a climate called hanabie (花冷え).

Since hana (花) means "flower" and hie/bie (冷え) means "get cold," the literal meaning of hanabie is "flowers get cold."

In April in the northern hemisphere, there are more warm days and cherry blossoms bloom, but sometimes the climate suddenly turns cold and snow falls.

Such a climate is described as hanabie in Japanese because the blooming cherry blossoms get cold.

Please be careful not to catch a cold due to the severe temperature difference in hanabie.
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【No. 2005】Yumizu no You ni Tsukau (湯水のように使う - Like It Grows on Trees)

Apr 18, 2023 09:39
Yumizu no You ni Tsukau

Recently, I may have thrown a lot of money around to set up my new living environment.

As such, to spend or waste something too much is described in Japanese as yumizu no you ni tsukau (湯水のように使う).

Yu (湯) means "hot water," mizu (水) means "water," and the combination yumizu (湯水 - "hot water and water") is used as a metaphor for something that exists everywhere.

In addition, since no you ni (のように) means "as if/like" and tsukau (使う) means "to use," the literal meaning of yumizu no you ni tsukau is "to use something as if it were water."

Perhaps this phrase cannot be used in regions/countries where water is precious.