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【No. 1698】Petto Botoru (ペットボトル - Plastic Bottles)

Aug 13, 2019 15:51
Petto Botoru

Plastic bottles are called petto botoru (ペットボトル) in Japanese.

Petto botoru can be written as "PET bottle" in English, and "PET" is short for a kind of plastic, "polyethylene terephthalate."

That is to say, the literal meaning of petto botoru is "bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate."

If English speakers hear that you say "pet bottle," they can make a big misunderstanding, so please be careful when using this term.

Incidentally, the consumption of plastic bottles in the world exceeds one million every minute, and the garbage problem is getting more acute.
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【No. 1699】Amamoyō (雨模様 - Threatening Sky)

Aug 13, 2019 18:39
Amamoyō

It was not amamoyō (雨模様) this morning, but it started to rain in the afternoon.

Ama/ame (雨) means "rain" and moyō (模様) means "pattern," so the literal meaning of amamoyō (you can read this as 'amemoyō') is "rain pattern."

In actual conversations, this term is used to express a sky that looks like it is going to rain soon.

However, these days, people tend to use amamoyō when expressing rainy (drizzling) weather.

The latter is not the original correct meaning, but the new usage has gradually come to be accepted.
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【No. 1697】Open Campus

Aug 12, 2019 16:38
Open Campus

Today, an event called "Open Campus" was held at my university.

"Open Campus" is an event where universities, colleges, or vocational schools provide information and explanations about their facilities to people who are thinking about entering the school.

I heard some universities offer simulated lectures, laboratory tours, the experience of school cafeterias, stamp rallies, and free shuttle buses.

In the past, universities usually did not like to disclose their facilities of the campus, but most universities have held open campuses and disclose various information since the 2000s.

Note that the meaning of "open campus" in Japan seems to be different from that in English.
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【No. 1696】Shikō Sakugo (試行錯誤 - Trial and Error)

Aug 11, 2019 15:16
Shikō Sakugo

I like a kind of methods for solving problems, shikō sakugo (試行錯誤).

Shikō (試行) means "to try something" and sakugo (錯誤) means "error" or "mistake."

That is to say, sikō sakugo means that you try to find a method for solving a problem by repeating trial and error.

As mentioned above, this four-character idiom is often translated as "trial and error."

However, somehow many Japanese people refer to "trial and error" as torai ando erā (トライアンドエラー - "try and error").
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【No. 1695】Shunjun (逡巡 - Flinching)

Aug 9, 2019 18:14
Shunjun

To flinch or hesitate can be described as shunjun (逡巡) in Japanese.

Shince shun (逡) means "to step back" or "to hesitate" and jun (巡) means "to move around," the literal meaning of shunjun is "to move around while feeling hesitant."

In other words, shunhun means to be shy away from something.

Usually, this term is used like shunjun-suru (逡巡する) by adding suru (する), which means "do."

Incidentally, 逡巡 can also be used as a unit of number that represents 10 to the power of -14, though this unit is rarely used.
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【No. 1694】Nekomatagi (ねこまたぎ - Bad Fish/Fish Bone)

Aug 8, 2019 16:42
Nekomatagi

Today, I learned the Japanese expression, nekomatagi (ねこまたぎ).

Since neko (ねこ/猫) means "cat" and matagi (またぎ) means "to step over," the literal meaning of nekomatagi is "what a cat steps over."

This term seems to be used mainly in Hokkaido (northern Japan) and the Kansai region (western Japan), but the meanings are very different.

In Hokkaido, it means fish that taste so bad that even cats pass by.

In the Kansai region, it means fish that were eaten neatly leaving only bones -- there is no part to eat even for cats.
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【No. 1693】Gyokuseki Konkō (玉石混淆 - Mixture of Wheat and Chaff)

Aug 7, 2019 20:22
Gyokuseki Konkō

A state that superior things and inferior things are mixed is described as gyokuseki konkō (玉石混淆).

Gyoku (玉) means "jewel" or "genuine one," and seki (石) means "stone" or "fake."

In addition, konkō (混淆/混交) means that different things are mixed.

That is to say, gyokuseki konkō literally means a state that "genuine and fake things," "superior and inferior things," or "worth and worthless things" are mixed.

This four-character idiom comes from the Chinese book "Baopuzi," which was written by Ge Hong in around 300 AD.
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【No. 1692】Bucchake (ぶっちゃけ - Frankly)

Aug 6, 2019 22:58
Bucchake

When saying your thoughts simply without disguise, you can use the slang term, bucchake (ぶっちゃけ).

Bucchake became popular among young people in 2003 and is still used mainly by current young people.

It is thought that this term comes from uchiakeru (打ち明ける), which means "to confess something."

Usually, bucchake is used at the beginning of a statement or as a verb.

For example, you can say bucchake, kaeritai (ぶっちゃけ、帰りたい - "frankly, I wanna go home"), or kare wa fuman wo bucchaketa (彼は不満をぶっちゃけた - "he let out all his complaints").
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【No. 1691】Capsule Hotel (カプセルホテル)

Aug 5, 2019 18:22
Capsule Hotel

Have you ever stayed at a capsule hotel (カプセルホテル)?

There are many capsule hotels in Japan, especially in Tokyo.

Capsule hotels are one of the types of lodging, and guests sleep in capsule-shaped boxes that are stacked in two rows and aligned horizontally.

Since it is cheaper than regular hotels, you can save money, but there are several problems with noise, comfort, and security.

I used capsule hotels on business trips several times, but I could not relax and rest enough, because the space of the capsule was very narrow and noise such as snoring irritated me.
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【No. 1690】Wasshoi (わっしょい)

Aug 4, 2019 12:12
Wasshoi

Summer has come, and festivals began to be held in various places.

In summer festivals in Japan, portable shrines called mikosi (神輿) are often carried by dozens of people as a part of the events.

Since mikoshi is heavy, people have to call out to adjust the timing of putting muscle.

The most common phrase when carrying mikoshi is wasshoi (わっしょい).

There are several theories about the etymology of wasshoi.

One of the most acceptable theories says that wa (わ) and shoi (しょい) comes from heiwa (平和 - "peace") and seou (背負う - "to carry something piggyback").
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【No. 1689】Shibu-shibu (渋々 - Unwillingly/Reluctantly)

Aug 3, 2019 23:39
Shibu-shibu

Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese term shibui kao (渋い顔), which means "sour face."

By repeating shibu (渋 - "bitter"), it becomes another term shibu-shibu (渋々/渋渋), which means to do something unwillingly.

Shibui kao conveys an unwilling emotion to the surroundings, whereas shibu-shibu implies that someone is unwillingly moved into action.

Usually, terms that describe an action follows shibu-shibu.

For example, you can say hikkoshi wo shibu-shibu tetsudatta (引っ越しを渋々手伝った - "I unwillingly helped someone move") or shibu-shibu aruita (渋々歩いた - "I reluctantly walked").
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【No. 1687】Yome (嫁 - Daughter-in-Law)

Aug 2, 2019 14:30
Yome

A daughter-in-law is called yome (嫁) in Japanese.

However, many Japanese men refer to their wives as yome.

Originally, this usage was not correct, but recently it has been widely spread and has been listed in Japanese dictionaries as the meaning of "wife" or "newlywed wife."

On the internet, some people called otaku (おたく - "geek/nerd") say '○○ wa ore no yome' (○○は俺の嫁 - which literally means "○○ is my wife") to an anime character.

Incidentally, according to the internet, some people hate the term yome, so please be careful when using it.
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【No. 1688】Shibui Kao (渋い顔 - Sour Face)

Aug 2, 2019 18:38
Shibui Kao

I usually have a shibui kao (渋い顔) when feeling bad, uncomfortable, or offended.

Since shibui (渋い) means "bitter" and kao (顔) means "face," the literal meaning of shibui kao is "bitter face."

Shibui kao is usually used to mean a sour face, but it can also mean an attractive face of a man.

The adjective shibui can be a compliment to express an adult firm man or a tasteful thing.

For example, you can say shibui otoko (渋い男 - "dandy") or shibui tokei (渋い時計 - "cool watch").
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【No. 1686】Shikeru (時化る - Stormy Sea)

Jul 31, 2019 18:15
Shikeru

The Japanese term shikeru (時化る) means that a storm makes the rough sea or the rough sea brings a poor haul.

Shikeru comes from Shikke (湿気), which means "humidity/moisture," and it was originally meant cloudy weather.

Later, shikeru came to mean the stormy sea from the meaning of cloudy weather.

In addition, it can also mean deterioration in the economy or feeling depressed.

For example, you can say shiketa mise (しけた店 - which means "seedy store") or shiketa kao (しけた顔 which means "glum look").
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【No. 1684】JIS Standards

Jul 30, 2019 15:08
JIS Standards

In Japan, there are national standards called JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards).

When referring to JIS, we often say JIS kikaku (JIS規格) by adding the term kikaku (規格).

In fact, this expression is also used on the web page of JISC (Japanese Industrial Standards Committee), which coordinates and publishes JIS.

However, since kikaku means "standard," some people think that the expression JIS kikaku is redundant and wrong.

Such redundant expressions are called RAS syndrome (Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome).

For example, IT gijutsu (IT技術 - literally means "Information Technology technology") is a kind of RAS syndrome.
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【No. 1685】Akubi wo Kamikorosu (あくびを噛み殺す - Suppressing a Yawn)

Jul 30, 2019 17:53
Akubi wo Kamikorosu

It is not good to yawn when someone is talking about important things.

If you want to yawn in such a case, you will close your mouth and try hard not to yawn.

This act is expressed as akubi wo kamikorosu (あくびを噛み殺す) in Japanese.

Akubi (あくび) means "yawn," kami (噛み) means "to bite," and korosu (殺す) means "to kill," so the literal meaning of akubi wo kamikorosu is "to bite and kill a yawn."

I think that this expression is easy to convey a feeling that you do not want to yawn.
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【No. 1682】Shaka ni Seppō (釈迦に説法 - Preaching to the Choir)

Jul 28, 2019 15:54
Shaka ni Seppō

I noticed that some presenters used the Japanese phrase shaka ni seppō (釈迦に説法) in an academic conference I participated in.

Since shaka (釈迦) means "Buddha" and seppō (説法) means "preach (of Buddha)," the literal meaning of shaka ni seppō is "preach of Buddha to Buddha."

Imagine a situation that someone teaches a Buddha's sermon to Buddha himself.

You know it is an embarrassing and stupid act.

Like this, to teach or explain something to an expert/specialist in the field is described as shaka ni seppō.
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【No. 1683】Hakaba made Motteiku (墓場まで持っていく - Taking Something to One's Grave)

Jul 28, 2019 19:04
Hakaba made Motteiku

Do you have a serious secret that you cannot talk to anyone?

Such a deep secret is sometimes described as hakaba/haka made motteiku (墓場/墓まで持っていく).

Since hakaba/haka (墓場/墓 means "grave" and motteiku (持っていく) means "to take something to somewhere," the literal meaning of hakaba made motteiku is "to take something (secret) to one's grave."

In other words, this expression implies that someone never tells his/her secret in their life, and goes into the grave with the secret.
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【No. 1681】Harebutai (晴れ舞台 - Big Moment)

Jul 26, 2019 22:34
Harebutai

In most cases, everyone will have several harebutai (晴れ舞台) in his/her life.

Hare (晴れ) usually means "sunny," but it can also mean "radiant/beaming."

In addition, butai (舞台) means "stage," so the literal meaning of harebutai is a "radiant stage."

In other words, it is a very important and radiant moment in one's life.

For example, an entrance ceremony, a graduation ceremony, and a wedding ceremony can be described as harebutai.

Incidentally, the dressed-up and proud appearance in harebutai is called haresugata (晴れ姿 - "radiant appearance").
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【No. 1680】Jinkō Chinō (人工知能 - Artificial Intelligence)

Jul 25, 2019 20:17
Jinkō Chinō

Jinkō Chinō (人工知能) is one of the major themes of the academic conference I am participating in.

Since jin (人) means "human" or "people" and kō (工) means "create," jinko (人工) means "man-made" or "artificial."

In addition, since chi (知) means "knowledge" and nō (能) means "ability," chinō (知能) means "intelligence."

As you can guess, jinkō chinō literally means "artificial intelligence (AI)."

In Japan, this stream of AI is described as "the third artificial intelligence boom," and it is expected to use AI in various fields.