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【No. 1199】Hanami Dango (花見団子)

Mar 31, 2018 13:02
Japanese people often eat 団子 (dango - dumpling) while 花見 (hanami - cherry blossom viewing).

This kind of dumplings is called 花見団子 (hanami dango), and it has become basic food in "hanami" since the Edo period.

In many cases, "hanami dango" is composed of three color dumplings, and they are usually skewered by a bamboo skewer.

These colors of dumplings are cherry-pink, white and green in order from the top, and it is said that they represent spring, winter and summer, respectively.

There is also another theory that all three colors represent spring -- cherry-pink is cherry blossoms, white is the sky of spring, and green is Artemisia indica.
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【No. 1198】Hana yori Dango (花より団子 - Dumplings rather than Flowers)

Mar 30, 2018 14:25
The season of cherry blossoms is gradually approaching.

Speaking of cherry blossoms, many Japanese people will image 花見 (hanami - literally "bloom viewing").

Also, 団子 (dango - dumpling) is often prepared while "hanami."

Since a long time ago in Japan, there has been a custom to view cherry blossoms while eating some food such as dumplings.

However, some people might be interested in dumplings than cherry blossoms.

Like this way, when someone chooses a practicable thing such as dumplings over an aesthetic or gracious act, we use the proverb 花より団子 (hana yori dango - literally "dumplings rather than flowers").
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【No. 1197】Happa wo Kakeru (はっぱをかける - Firing Someone up)

Mar 29, 2018 21:52
If you want to give someone a kick in the back, you may use strong language.

Such an act is called はっぱをかける (happa wo kakeru) in Japanese.

I think that most Japanese people will image "leaf" when they hear はっぱ (happa), but this is wrong.

"Happa" in "happa wo kakeru" means an explosive or to blow up something in a construction site.

Also, かける (kakeru) means to set something.

Therefore, the literal meaning of "happa wo kakeru" is to set off an explosive, and it implies that you use strong words like a bomb to hurry someone.
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【No. 1196】Shaku (尺)

Mar 28, 2018 18:03
The day before yesterday, I talked about 丈 (jō), which is used as a unit of length in East Asia.

There is another unit of length, 尺 (shaku), which is more common, and 1丈 is defined as 10尺.

Originally, "shaku" represents the length between the thumb and the index finger when spreading one's hand.

This length was around 18 cm, but of course, people have different hand sizes, so it was not an absolute unit.

Later, people decided to fix the length of the unit, and it gradually became long.

Finally, 1尺 became 1/3 meters in China, 10/33 meters in Japan.

As you can guess 1丈 (= 10尺) has also changed.

In the past, 1丈 (about 180 cm at that time) represented a grown man, but now it exceeds 3 meters.
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【No. 1195】Waki Aiai (和気あいあい - Cozy)

Mar 27, 2018 22:07
I think that many people like situations where peaceful and open-minded atmosphere are filled.

Such a situation or atmosphere is called 和気あいあい (waki aiai) in Japanese.

和 (wa) means "peaceful" and 気 (ki) means "feeling," so the literal meaning of "waki" is "peaceful feeling."

Also, あい/藹/靄 (ai) means that vegetation is lush, and the repetition emphasizes the meaning itself.

That is to say, this term implies that peaceful feelings spread as if vegetation were lush.

For example, you can say 昨日の面接は和気藹藹としていた (kinou no mensetsu wa waki-aiai to shiteita - Yesterday's job interview was cozy.)
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【No. 1194】Daijōbu (大丈夫 - It's Okay) Part 2

Mar 26, 2018 19:58
Previously, I introduced you to the Japanese term 大丈夫 (daijōbu), which is often used as the meaning of "it's okay" or "no problem."

http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/81720289771087487824771147428200042192

Today I'd like to talk about its etymology.

大 (dai) means "big," 丈 (jō) means a unit of length based on a height of an adult male, and 夫 (bu/fu) means "man."

In the past in China, adult men were called 丈夫, and especially fully grown men were called 大丈夫.

After this term was brought to Japan, the meaning of fully grown men was extended to other meanings; "it's strong," "it's okay," and "no problem."

Incidentally, the length of 1 丈 was about 1.8 meters in those days in China, but now it is about 3 meters.
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【No. 1193】Nodoka (のどか - Peaceful)

Mar 25, 2018 14:56
I love a situation expressed as のどか (nodoka).

"Nodoka" means that something is quiet, calm, and relaxing, or the weather is serene and mild.

For example, you can say 今日はのどかだなあ (kyou wa nodoka dana - Today is peaceful).

のど (nodo) of "nodoka" is an ancient word that means that something is calm.

By adding the suffix か (ka) that means that something is in a certain state to "nodo", "nodoka" was created.

"Nodoka" is usually used for a mood or weather.

However, note that if you use it for a person, it can be an ironic meaning.
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【No. 1192】Kawaribanko (かわりばんこ - Switching)

Mar 24, 2018 17:37
When people switch or change places repeatedly, we refer to the action as the Japanese term かわりばんこ (kawaribanko).

かわり (kawari) means "switch," "change," or "rotate," but there are two theories about the etymology of ばんこ (banko).

One is that it comes from the fact that we called steelworkers who switched their tasks frequently 番子 (banko).

The other one is that "kawaribanko" was created by adding 子 (ko - child) to 代わり番 (kawariban).
(When expressing something informally, we sometimes adding "ko.")

番 (ban) means "sequential order," and "kawariban" has the same meaning as "kawaribanko."
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【No. 1191】Hokuro (ほくろ - Mole)

Mar 23, 2018 09:02
I have several ほくろ (hokuro) on my face, palms, and body, etc.

"Hokuro" refers to a black spot on the body surface formed by gathering melanin pigments (ie "mole").

In the past, this word was ははくそ (hahakuso).

はは (haha) means "mother" and くそ (kuso) means "excrement," so the literal meaning of its combination is "mother's excrement."

That is to say, Japanese people thought that moles were excrements adhered in mother's body.

Later, "hahakuso" changed to ははくろ (hahakuro) due to mole's color ("kuro" means "black").

Furthermore, "hahakuro" changed to "haukuro," "houkuro," and "hokuro."
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【No. 1190】Yubune (湯船 - Bathtub)

Mar 22, 2018 09:09
Most Japanese houses have 湯船 (yubune).

湯 (yu) means "hot water," 船 (fune/bune) means "boat," and "yubune" is a large container to keep hot water for bath, that is to say, it's a bathtub.

In the Edo period in Japan, the custom of getting in a bathtub became gradually popular.

At that time, 銭湯 (sento - public bath house) was common, but the number of "sento" was limited because it needed a lot of hot water.

Because of this, a mobile bath house made by renovating a boat was born.

This is the derivation of the Japanese word 湯船 (yubune - lit. a hot water boat).
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【No. 1189】Snow on the Vernal Equinox Day

Mar 21, 2018 18:17
Today is a holiday called 春分の日 (shunbun no hi).

春 (shun) means "spring," 分 (bun) means "split," 日 (hi) means "day," and the combination means "Vernal Equinox Day."

It is known as a day that has almost an equally long day and night, and I explained the detail on it in the following entry:
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/117369300646573421504006656544654396364

This day has been treated as a day for celebrating the coming of spring since ancient times, and various events have been held.

However, in the Kanto region containing Tokyo, it was hit by heavy snow today.

Actually, cherry trees in Tokyo started to bloom from four days ago.

This year, you may see 雪桜 (yukizakura - snow cherry).
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【No. 1188】Te wo Yaku (手を焼く - Having Trouble with Something)

Mar 20, 2018 18:50
Today a graduation ceremony took place at my university.

In this year, it was hard to take care of my graduating students.

Like this way, when you have difficulty with something or things are too much to handle, you can say 手を焼く (te wo yaku) to express it.

手 (te) means "hand" and 焼く (yaku) means "to burn," so the literal meaning of "te wo yaku" is "to burn one's hand."

If you get a burn while doing something, it will become hard to try to touch it again.

Because of this, "te wo yaku" has come to mean "to have difficulty/trouble with something."
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【No. 1187】Tateba Shakuyaku, Suwareba Botan, Aruku Sugata wa Yuri no Hana (立てば芍薬、座れば牡丹、歩く姿は百合の花) Part 2

Mar 19, 2018 19:13
Today's post is the continuation of yesterday's post.

座れば (suwareba) means "when she sits down," and 牡丹 (botan) means "tree peony."

"Botan" bears beautiful flowers on tips of spread branches.

The figure spreading sideways evokes a beautiful woman sitting down.

歩く姿 (aruku sugata) means "walking figure," and 百合の花 (yuri no hana) means "a lily flower."

"Yuri" bears a flower on the tip of its supple stem.

A scene that a lily flower sways in the wind evokes a woman walking gracefully.

Because of these ideas, this phrase was born.

"Tateba shakuyaku, suwareba botan, aruku sugata wa yuri no hana" is one of the best compliment with women.
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【No. 1186】Tateba Shakuyaku, Suwareba Botan, Aruku Sugata wa Yuri no Hana (立てば芍薬、座れば牡丹、歩く姿は百合の花) Part 1

Mar 18, 2018 14:36
Yesterday, I introduced you to that 姥桜 (uba zakura) can describe a beautiful elderly lady.

There is another Japanese phrase using flowers, that can also describe a beauty of woman's appearance, feel and act.

It is 立てば芍薬、座れば牡丹、歩く姿は百合の花 (tateba shakuyaku, suwareba botan, aruku sugata wa yuri no hana).

立てば (tateba) means "when she stands," and 芍薬 (shakuyaku) means "Paeoniae lactiflora."

"Shakuyaku" bears a beautiful flower on the top of the long slender stem.

This figure is as if a beautiful woman were standing.

(Since this entry would be long, it continues on Part 2.)
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【No. 1185】Uba Zakura (姥桜) Part 2

Mar 17, 2018 22:18
Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term 姥桜 (uba zakura), which is a popular name for cherry trees in which flowers bloom earlier than leaves.

Actually, "uba zakura" can also describe a woman who is past her prime but is beautiful still now.

That is to say, this term is surely a compliment.

However, since 姥 (uba) means "old lady," some Japanese people are regarding this term as an insult, such as "just a woman past her prime" or "a woman who is trying to make herself look young."

Please be careful when you use it to women.
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【No. 1183】Odabutsu (お陀仏 - Dying/Becoming Useless)

Mar 16, 2018 20:15
Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term おしゃかになる (oshaka ni naru), which means to become useless.

Actually, there is a similar term, お陀仏 (odabutsu).

"Odabutsu" means that someone dies or something becomes useless.

お (o) is a polite prefix and 陀仏 (dabutsu) is short for 阿弥陀仏 (Amidabutsu), means Amida Buddha.

In Buddhism, adherents chant a prayer 南無阿弥陀仏 (namu amidabutsu), when someone died.

This changed to "odabutsu," and now it can be not only used when someone dies but also when something becomes useless.

(Ahhh, I definitely wrote this essay on March 15th, but I couldn't publish it properly... I'm so sad.)
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【No. 1184】Uba Zakura (姥桜) Part 1

Mar 16, 2018 20:16
姥桜 (uba zakura) is a popular name for cherry trees in which flowers bloom earlier than leaves appear.

姥 (uba) means "old lady" and 桜 (sakura/zakura) means "cherry."

In Japanese, both "tooth" and "leaf" have the same reading -- "tooth" is 歯 (ha) and "leaf" is 葉 (ha).

That is to say, 姥桜/葉がない桜 (ha ga nai sakura - a cherry tree with no leaves) is a metaphor for 歯がない姥 (ha ga nai uba - an old lady with no teeth).

Also, "uba zakura" can be used for describing an appearance of a woman.

Imagine what it describes.
(To be continued.)
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【No. 1182】Oshaka ni Naru (おしゃかになる - Becoming Useless)

Mar 14, 2018 17:47
When things are ruined, or something is broken and become useless, we refer to it as おしゃかになる (oshaka ni naru) in Japanese.

お (o) is a polite prefix and しゃか (Shaka) is Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

There are several theories about the etymology of this term, but the famous one is something like the following.

One day, a casting craftworker was trying to cast a statue of 阿弥陀仏 (Amida Buddha), but accidentally he cast a statue of "Shaka."
(Note that "Amida" and "Shaka" are completely different.)

Because of this, "oshaka ni naru" (becoming oshaka) has come to have the current meaning.

This term is similar to おじゃん (ojan), to which I introduced you.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/175639051782742719229043226410411131950
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【No. 1181】Bonkura (ぼんくら - Idiot)

Mar 13, 2018 15:30
Yesterday I introduced you to the Japanese word 間抜け (manuke - stupid).

There is another Japanese term, ぼんくら (bonkura), which has the similar meaning of "manuke."

ぼん (bon) means "tray," but it is also a gambling term that means "gambling parlor."

くら (kura) means "dark," but it also means "careless" in the gambling field.

That is to say, "bonkura" originally represented a careless person/personality in gambling, and it has come to mean a stupid person/personality.

Since being careless could become a matter of life and death for gamblers, "bonkura" was one of the most hated personality in gambling.
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【No. 1180】Manuke (間抜け - Stupid)

Mar 12, 2018 08:49
I might be a person called 間抜け (manuke).

"Manuke" is a word referring to a foolish, stupid, or goofy person.

間 (ma) means a pause interval that is inserted between musics, actions, or lines in plays or speeches.

Also, 抜け (nuke) means "to skip something."

That is to say, "manuke" implies that you skip such intervals and go out of tune.

Because of this, it has come to mean a stupid person.

Incidentally, I found an interesting and surprising fact today.

According to an online dictionary site, there are more than 300 English terms that mean "manuke."
https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=%E9%96%93%E6%8A%9C%E3%81%91