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【No. 1533】Kaze wo Kiru (風を切る - Feeling the Wind)

Feb 28, 2019 21:46
Kaze wo Kiru

To walk, run, or rotate swiftly can be described as kaze wo kiru (風を切る) in Japanese.

Kaze (風) means "wind" and kiru (切る) means "to cut," so the literal meaning of kaze wo kiru is "to cut the wind."

Here the verb kiru (cut) expresses that something moves swiftly against the wind.

In addition, to walk proudly or strut while rising and lowering the shoulders is referred to as kata de kaze wo kiru (肩で風を切る - literally means "to cut the wind with one's shoulders."

[Example sentence] Kare wa kata de kaze wo kitte aruita (彼は肩で風を切って歩いた - "He strutted/swaggered.")
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【No. 1532】Nami no Hana (波の花)

Feb 27, 2019 19:52
Nami no Hana

Today, I would like to introduce the term nami no hana (波の花), which even Japanese people do not use frequently.

Nami (波) means "(sea) wave," and hana (花) means "flower," but can you imagine what the combination nami no hana (literally means "flowers of waves") means?

There are two answers.

One is simple -- it means sea waves with white foam.

The sea foam is regarded as flowers or ears of rice.

The other is "salt," which is made from seawater.

In the past, since the word shio (塩 - "salt") could be misunderstood as shi wo (死を - "death to you"), court ladies used nami no hana instead of shio.
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【No. 1531】Kinu wo Saku youna Koe (絹を裂くような声 - A Piercing Scream)

Feb 26, 2019 19:35
Kinu wo Saku youna Koe

Have you ever heard of a woman's piercing or shrill scream?

Such a voice can be referred to as kinu wo saku youna koe (絹を裂くような声) in Japanese.

Kinu (絹) means "silk," saku (裂く) means "to split" or "to tear," youna (ような) means "-like" or "as if," and koe (声) means "voice," so the literal meaning of this expression is "a voice like a sound generated when splitting a silk."

This comes from the fact that a high-pitched and sharp sound is produced when splitting a silk cloth.
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【No. 1530】Kirifuda (切り札 - Trump)

Feb 25, 2019 22:12
Kirifuda

Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term denka no houtou (伝家の宝刀), which means a measure of last resort that you use in an emergency.

There is another Japanese term that has a similar meaning, kirifuda (切り札).

Kiri (切り) means "cut," fuda (札) means "card," and kirifuda was originally used to mean the strongest card in card games.

As you can guess, the strongest card is a measure/thing that you can use in an emergency.

There are several theories about its etymology, but one of them explains that it comes from the fact that the strongest card could cut other cards.
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【No. 1529】Denka no Houtou (伝家の宝刀 - A Last Resort)

Feb 24, 2019 23:27
Denka no Houtou

A measure of last resort that you use in an emergency is referred to as denka no houtou (伝家の宝刀) in Japanese.

Den (伝) means "tradition," ka (家) means "family" or "house," and the combination denka (伝家) means something that has been passed down in someone's family for generations.

In addition, hou (宝) means "treasure" and tou (刀) means "sword," so the literal meaning of denka no houtou is "a treasured sword that has been passed down in someone's family for generations."

Since such a sword of the heirloom is a strong weapon used in an emergency, this term came to have its current meaning.
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【No. 1528】Shōnenba (正念場 - A Crucial Phase)

Feb 23, 2019 04:04
Shōnenba

In the meeting of my university several days ago, the word shōnenba (正念場) was used to the university operations next fiscal year.

Shōnenba means a crucial phase or situation.

Shōnen (正念) is a Buddhist term, meaning to seek the right mind or the truth.

In addition, ba (場) means "field" or "situation."

That is to say, shōnenba represents a very important situation that requires the right heart or the truth.

[Example]
Senkyo ga shōnenba wo mukaeru (選挙が正念場を迎える - "The election faces a crucial stage").
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【No. 1527】Katazu wo Nomu (固唾を呑む - Bating One's Breath)

Feb 22, 2019 23:51
Katazu wo Nomu

I am sometimes concerned about what is going to happen and wait with bated breath.

Such an action is referred to as katazu wo nomu (固唾を呑む).

Kata (固) means "firm," zu (唾) means "saliva," and nomu (呑む) means "to swallow" or "to drink," so the literal meaning of this phrase is "to swallow one's firm saliva."

Here, katazu (固唾 - literally "firm saliva") is saliva that accumulates in your mouth when you are nervous.

If you are concerning about what is going to happen, you probably swallow your katazu.

Because of this, katazu wo nomu came to have its current meaning.
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【No. 1526】Kamatoto (かまとと - Playing Innocent)

Feb 21, 2019 20:45
Kamatoto

When someone (especially a woman) pretends she does not know something even if she knows it well, we call her kamatoto (かまとと).

Kama (かま) is short for kamaboko (かまぼこ - "boiled fish paste"), and toto (とと) is a baby word to mean "fish."

Kamaboko is the common Japanese food made from fish paste.

However, in the Edo period, a prostitute said in a very artificial way "かまぼこ was made from とと?" to pretend she was ignorant of the world.

It is said that the word kamatoto was borne from the story.
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【No. 1525】Udatsu ga Agaranai (うだつが上がらない - Never Get Ahead)

Feb 20, 2019 21:26
Udatsu ga Agaranai

I will move to a different university in a few months, but my title will not change.

When someone can't get ahead or raise the status like this, you can express the situation using the phrase udatsu ga agaranai (うだつが上がらない - literally means "udatsu does not raise").

There are several theories about its etymology, but one of them is as follows:

Udatsu (うだつ) is a small pillar/decoration with a small roof placed on the roof of a traditional Japanese house, and people who lived in the house which was raising udatsu on the roof was wealthy.

Because of this, udatsu ga agaranai came to mean that someone does not wealthy, then it came to have its current meaning.
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【No. 1524】Yūmei Mujitsu (有名無実 - Titular)

Feb 19, 2019 22:52
Yūmei Mujitsu

I ate a famous food last week, but it was not delicious at all.

Something famous but superficial is referred to as yūmei mujitsu (有名無実).

Yū (有) means "there is" or "exist," and mei (名) means "name," so the literal meaning of the combination means "there is a name" or "name exists" -- it actually means "famous" or "well-known."

Mu (無) means "no" or "nothing," and jitsu (実) means "content," so the combination means "no content."
(Mujitsu is also used to mean "innocent.")

That is to say, yūmei mujitsu means "it is famous but is void of content."
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【No. 1521】Hōmu shikku (ホームシック - Homesickness)

Feb 17, 2019 01:44
Hōmu shikku

Five days have passed since I came to Italy, and I am gradually becoming hōmu shikku (ホームシック).

Hōmu shikku is a nostalgic feeling that you want to back to your hometown or home, and it comes from the English term "homesick."

However, note that "homesick" is an adjective, whereas hōmu shikku is a noun. (In other words, hōmu shikku can be translated as "homesickness.")

Incidentally, you can say kaikyō-byō (懐郷病) instead of hōmu shikku.

Since kai (懐) means "nostalgia," kyō (郷) means "home/hometown," and byō (病) means "sick," the literal meaning of the combination is "a sick that you feel nostalgic about your home/hometown."

【No. 1522】Suri (スリ - Pickpocket)

Feb 17, 2019 14:10
Suri

Today is the last day of my stay in Italy, and I will visit Venice.

In sightseeing areas where there are many people such as Venice, you have to be careful about suri (スリ).

Suri means an act of stealing money or goods from someone's bag or pocket without being seen, or a person who does that.

There are several theories about its etymology, but one theory explains that it comes from the fact that karada wo kosuri tsukeru (体を擦り付ける - literally means "to rub one's body (against other's body)" while stealing.

Incidentally, according to the Internet, suris (pickpockets) in Venice pretend to tourists, so you need to pay close attention.
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【No. 1519】Ikken Rakuchaku (一件落着 - Problem Solved)

Feb 15, 2019 07:31
Ikken Rakuchaku

Today, my presentation at an academic conference was finally finished.

To describe such a situation, you can use the four-character idiom ikken rakuchaku (一件落着).

I/ichi (一) means "one," ken (件) means "case," raku (落) means "to fall," chaku (着) means to land, so the literal meaning of this idiom is "one case falls and lands."

Here, rakuchaku (落着) is an idiom meaning that something is settled or resolved.

That is to say, ikken rakuchaku means that one thing/case is settled or solved.
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【No. 1520】Makuhiki (幕引き - Closing a Curtain)

Feb 15, 2019 22:07
Makuhiki

The academic conference in which I am participating is approaching makuhiki (幕引き).

Makihiki means that things or events end.

Since maku (幕) means "curtain" and hiki (引き) means "to draw," the literal meaning of the combination is "to draw a curtain" or "to lower a curtain."

Originally, this term meant to lower the curtain of a play to end it, or a person who had a role of that.

From that, its meaning was extended, and it has been used to not only plays but also various things or events.

【No. 1518】Nigashita Sakana wa Ookii (逃した魚は大きい)

Feb 14, 2019 04:41
Nigashita Sakana wa Ookii

Today, I knew that I missed a very big chance.

However, something that you were about to get but missed may looks greater than it is.

There is a proverb to express the fact; it is nigashita sakana wa ookii (逃がした魚は大きい).

Nigashita (逃がした) means "missed," sakana (魚) means "fish," and ookii (大きい) means "big," so the literal meaning of this proverb is "the missed fish was big."

Anyway, in order not to regret, I will try to seize a chance as soon as it comes in front of me.

【No. 1517】Bottakuri (ぼったくり - RIp-Off)

Feb 12, 2019 23:51
Bottakuri

I am in Italy now.

Unfortunately, today I experienced bottakuri (ぼったくり) at a pizza store.

Bottakuri means to be requested an exorbitant fee.

I ordered one kebab of four euros.

After placing the money on a tray, it was picked up by the store owner.

In addition, when the kebab was made, he further claimed four euros.

I complained several times that I had already paid for the kebab, but he did not get my message.

Probably, the first four euros on which I placed was regarded as a payment for a pizza of another person (In fact, another person ordered and received a piece of pizza, and it seemed that he did not pay money).

Eventually, I paid eight euros in total -- it was very frustrating.
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【No. 1516】Kara Shucchō (カラ出張 - A Fake Business Trip)

Feb 11, 2019 12:42
Kara Shucchō

I work at a university and sometimes go on a business trip using public research spending.

Unfortunately, kara shucchō (カラ出張) is often taken up as a problem in Japan.

Kara (カラ/空) means "empty" and shucchō (出張) means "business trip," so the literal meaning of kara shucchō is "an empty business trip."

As its literal meaning implies, kara shucchō means a fraudulent act of claiming expenses such as transportation or accommodation expenses, despite not actually going on a business trip.

Of course, if you do kara shucchō and someone finds it, you will be strictly punished.

Incidentally, since I will go on a business trip to Italy for a week from tomorrow, the frequency of posting on Lang-8 might be reduced.
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【No. 1515】Sihan Seiki (四半世紀 - Quarter-Century)

Feb 10, 2019 23:49
Sihan Seiki

Today, I found the expression shihan seiki (四半世紀) when reading a novel.

Shi (四) means "four," han (半) means "half," and seiki (世紀) means "century."

I think that it is easy to guess what it means -- shihan seiki means a quarter of a century, that is, twenty-five years.

In many cases, we just say nijū-go nen (25年 - literally means "twenty-five years"), but by using shihan seiki, the wording/sentence will become more formal.

In addition, it can emphasize the length of the 25 years.
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【No. 1513】Jigou Jitoku (自業自得 - Having It Coming)

Feb 9, 2019 00:36
Jigou Jitoku

Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese idiom boketsu wo horu (墓穴を掘る), which means to make a factor that ruins yourself with your own hands.

Today, I would like to talk about the four-character idiom jigou jitoku (自業自得), which has a similar meaning to boketsu wo horu.

Ji (自) means "oneself," gou (業) means "deed," and toku (得) means "profit."

Originally, this idiom was a Buddhist term and is usually used to mean that your good or bad deed give you what you deserve.

However, these days, this idiom is usually used to mean that you pay a price for your bad behavior.
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【No. 1514】Yatsuatari (八つ当たり - Misdirected Anger)

Feb 9, 2019 22:12
Yatsuatari

Today, I did an act called yatsuatari (八つ当たり).

Yatsuatari means that when you get angry with something, you lose calmness and take your anger out on unrelated people for no reason.

Yatsu (八つ) means "eight" and atari (当たり) means "to hit" or "to bump," the literal meaning of yatsuatari is "to bump something eight times (or eight directions)."

In Japan, when describing every direction in the surroundings, we use the number eight, such as happou (八方 - literally "eight directions")

That is to say, yatsuatari implies that you take your anger out toward surroundings.