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【No. 1159】Shiku Hakku (四苦八苦 - Struggling to Do)

Feb 19, 2018 15:01
Struggling to do something or floundering is called 四苦八苦 (shiku hakku) in Japanese.

四 means "four," 苦 means "suffering," and 八 means "eight," so the literal meaning of "shiku hakku" is "four sufferings, eight sufferings."

Originally, this term meant every suffering in Buddhism.

"Shiku" represents four sufferings caused by -- "live," "old," "disease," and "death."

"Hakku" represents four additional sufferings caused by -- "separating from your loved one," "meeting with a hateful person," "things that you can't obtain," and "a fact that you can't control your body and spirit as you think."

For example, you can say 四苦八苦する (shiku hakku suru) to mean that you struggle to do something.
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【No. 1158】Wakai Tsubame (若いツバメ - Toy Boy)

Feb 18, 2018 16:07
We sometimes refers to a young man who is a lover with older woman as 若いツバメ (wakai tsubame).

若い (wakai) means "young" and ツバメ means "swallow," so the literal meaning of "wakai tsubame" is "young swallow."

This term comes from a romantic relationship between Raicho Hiratsuka, a pioneering Japanese feminist, and Hiroshi Okumura, a young artist.

Okumura called Hiratsuka "wakai tsubame" or 弟 (otouto - younger brother).

However, this relationship was not good for Hiratsuka's activity that insists women's liberation.

For this reason, Hiratsuka decided to break up with Okumura, and sent a message something like "a young swallow flies away for the peace of a pond."

This words became famous, and "wakai tsubame" came to have the current meaning.
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【No. 1157】Udsagi Goya (ウサギ小屋 - Rabbit Hutch)

Feb 17, 2018 21:34
Japanese houses are sometimes described as ウサギ小屋 (usagi goya), the literal meaning of which is "rabbit hutch."

The reason is very simple -- it's because houses where Japanese live are basically narrow.

An informal report, issued by EC (European Communities) in 1979, said that Japanese houses are "cage a lapins" (narrow collective housing).

The literal translation of "cage a lapins" is ”usagi goya” (rabbit hutch), and this term has become popular as an ironic sense.

Indeed, in big cities such as Tokyo, the land is expensive and houses are very narrow.

However, I heard that the average site area of Japanese houses is similar to those of European countries.

(Of course it's narrow compared with houses of the US.)
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【No. 1156】Snowboarding and Skiing

Feb 16, 2018 20:19
Snowboarding and Skiing

I've been a snow mountain since yesterday due to my work.

Yesterday, I tried to do snowboarding.

Since I had little experience about snowboarding, I tipped over many times, but finally I somehow managed to be able to turn continuously.

Unfortunately, I felt a severe muscle pain, I thought that I couldn't do snowboarding today.

Instead, I skied because I thought that skiing is less influence to the body.

It was my first skiing in about 18 years, but I remembered how to ski somewhat, so it was fun.

I also fun very nice hot springs.

I will ski again tomorrow.
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【No. 1155】Oetsu (嗚咽 - Sobbing)

Feb 15, 2018 18:11
Oetsu

Last week I got a job interview of a new position, but I also got a notice of rejection yesterday.

I'm about to sob in a choking voice.

Such a state is sometimes called 嗚咽 (oetsu) in Japanese.

嗚 (o) means sorrowing or crying voice, and 咽 (etsu) means to cry or sob while choking. I think that there is no need to explain the etymology of this word.

Incidentally, we say おえ (oe) when feeling nauseated, so some people think that “oetsu” means to feel nauseat or cry while vomitting. However, since this thought is wrong, please be careful when you use it.
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【No. 1154】Kuragae (鞍替え - Changing Sides)

Feb 14, 2018 20:04
Have you ever changed your job?

Generally, changing your job or career is called 転職 (tenshoku) in Japanese.

Here 転 (ten) means "change" and 職 (shoku) means "job."

On the other hand, we sometimes call such changing your job/affiliation/sides 鞍替え (kuragae).

There are several theories about 鞍 (kura) -- some say that it comes from 倉 (kura), meaning "whereabouts," and others say that it comes from 郭 (kuruwa), meaning "licensed brothel."
(Also, "gae/kae" in "kuragae" means "change.")

This term was originally used when prostitutes changed their brothels.

Later, it has come to be used to mean to change your job.
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【No. 1153】Kimo ga Suwaru (肝が据わる)

Feb 13, 2018 18:53
Yesterday, I introduced you to the expression; 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru - hairs are sprouted on one's heart), which means to be stout.

I also talked about the fact that we think of livers as a symbol of courage/mind, and the above expression was 肝に毛が生える (kimo ni ke ga haeru - hairs are sprouted on one's liver).

Actually, even now there are several expressions that regards 肝 (kimo - liver) as 心 (mind/heart) -- one of them is 肝が据わる (kimo ga suwaru).

Here, the verb 据わる (suwar) means that something is stable and doesn't move.

That is to say, "kimo ga suwaru" means a person who have stable mind and is stout.

This expression is used in the similar meaning as "shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru."
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【No. 1152】Shinzo ni Ke ga Haeteiru (心臓に毛が生えている - Stout)

Feb 12, 2018 13:39
We sometimes call a person who is stout and brazen 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru).

心臓 (shinzo) means "heart," "毛" means "hair," "生えている" means "sprouting hair," so the literal meaning of this expression is "hairs are sprouted on one's heart."

Originally, this expression was said as 肝に毛が生える (kimo ni ke ga haeru), by using 肝 (kimo - liver) instead of 心臓 (shinzo - heart).

In Japan, "liver" was regarded as a symbol of courage, and it was thought that people who are stout and manful have strong hairy livers.

Later, "kimo" (liver) changed to "shinzo" (heart), influenced by Western thought that our spirits/minds/feelings are in our hearts.
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【No. 1151】Kokoro (心 - Heart)

Feb 11, 2018 14:55
One's mind, that would be basis of human feelings, knowledge, or intention, is called 心 (kokoro) in Japanese.

There is a theory that this word comes from the fact that we called organs of poultry animals 凝る (koru) or 凝こる (kokoru).

Here, the verb "koru" means that something concentrates on one point.

Originally, "kokoro" meant organs, but it came to mean a human's organ (especially heart), and later, it has come to mean a mind.

Also, there is another theory that "kokoro" comes from an onomatopoeia: コロコロ (koro koro), which expresses that something is rotating/changing.

In this theory, it's implied that human mind or thought is easy to change.

Incidentally, if you want to mean a heart of organs, you should say 心臓 (shinzō) by adding 臓 (zō - organ) to 心 (shin - heart).
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【No. 1150】人 (Hito - Person)

Feb 10, 2018 20:24
Today I'd like to talk about the Kanji: 人 (hito), which means "person" or "human."

In the famous Japanese drama, "Kinpachi-sensei," this kanji was introduced something like the following:

"This kanji, 人, represents that a person supports another person. That is to say, people are support each other."

I think that many Japanese people remember this etymology about 人.

However, this theory is wrong -- actually this kanji represents one person who is standing sideways.

It's difficult to explain with only words, but the line extending to the upper side, the lower left, and the lower right represent a head, arms, a lower body, respectively.
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【No. 1149】Kutabireru (くたびれる - Tired)

Feb 9, 2018 09:27
Yesterday, くたびれました (kutabire mashita – I was tired).

The verb くたびれる (kutabireru) means to lose your physical energy and tired/exhausted.

When expressing such a state, the verb 疲れる (tsukaresu) is commonly used.

I think that I also usually choose "tsukaresu" when I'm tired.

In my opinion, "kutabireru" is often used when you get mentally tired in addition to physical fatigue.

Incidentally, the subject of "tsukareru" is always people, whereas the subject of "kutabireru" can be things instead of people.

In this case, "kutabireru" means that something becomes shabby or beat-up.
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【No. 1148】Isse Ichidai (一世一代 - Something of One's Life)

Feb 8, 2018 18:40
Today may be a very important day called 一世一代 (isse ichidai) for me.

The four-character idiom, "isse ichidai," means an important thing of your lifetime or an important event that it might never happen.

Here, both 一世 (isse) and 一代 (ichidai) are words that mean a human life.

Originally, this idiom was used for meaning that a kabuki (traditional Japanese drama performed by male actors) actor played a performance that he could do best in his last stage.

Such a performance in the last stage is of course a very important event that could never happen again in the future.
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【No. 1147】"Doki Doki" (ドキドキ), "Waku Waku" (ワクワク), "Hara Hara" (ハラハラ)

Feb 7, 2018 16:02
I introduced you to two words related to "excitement" in the last two days.

Today I'd like to talk about three kind of onomatopoeia related to "excitement."

These are ドキドキ (doki doki), ワクワク (waku waku), and ハラハラ (hara hara).

"Doki doki" represents a beat of one's heart, and it's used for meaning various types of excitement -- anxiety, expectation, and fear.

"Waku waku" comes from the verb 湧く (waku), which means to well up, and it's usually used for meaning an excitement of joy or expectation.

"Hara hara" means an excitement due to a feeling of anxiety, and it's used when you worry about something.

ヒヤ (hiya hiya) is used instead of "hara hara."
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【No. 1146】Kokoro Odoru (心躍る - Exciting)

Feb 6, 2018 19:07
Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese term 胸騒ぎ (munasawagi), which means to have a bad feeling.

Today I'd like to talk about another Japanese term: 心躍る (kokoro odoru), which means to be excited with expecting good things.

心 (kokoro) means "heart" and 躍る (odoru) means "to leap up," so the literal meaning of this term si "one's heart leaps up."

This is comes from the fact that your heart skip a beat as if it would leap up when you're excited.

Remember that "munasawagi" is usually used for a bad feeling, but it can also used when expecting good things.

On the other hand, "kokoro odoru" is only used as a good meaning.
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【No. 1145】Munasawagi (胸騒ぎ - Bad Feeling)

Feb 5, 2018 20:54
Have you ever felt that something bad would happen?

Such a state is called 胸騒ぎ (munasawagi) in Japanese.

胸 (mune) means "chest" and 騒ぎ (sawagi) means "romp," so the literal meaning of 胸騒ぎ is "one's chest romps."

The etymology is very simple -- if you have a bad feeling about something, you will feel tension and your heart beat faster as if the chest would romp.

These days, you can also say 胸騒ぎ when you're expecting good things and being excited.

Incidentally, this term is usually used like 胸騒ぎがする (munasawagi ga suru - I feel 'munasawagi'),.
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【No. 1144】Sarusuberi (サルスベリ - Lagerstroemia Indica)

Feb 4, 2018 13:25
Yesterday, I introduced you to a term related to 猿 (saru - monkey).

Today I'd like to talk about a kind of tree: サルスベリ (sarusuberi), the name of which contains サル (saru - monkey).

"Sarusuberi" is a member of the family Lythraceae, and is called "Lagerstroemia indica" or "crape myrtle" in English.

Here, スベリ (suberi) of "sarusuberi" means "to slip."

Since the bark of "sarusuberi" is very smooth and even a monkey slips and falls from the tree, it has become such a name.

Incidentally, this tree has another name: クスグリノキ (kusuguri no ki - tickling tree).

This is because it swings as if it's tickled when stroking the trunk of the tree.
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【No. 1143】Sarushibai (猿芝居 - Stupid Trick)

Feb 3, 2018 05:26
Formerly, I introduced you to the Japanese term 猿真似 (sarumane), which means to imitate acts of others without thinking.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/63865845310158804822564330234895781584

Today I would like to talk about another Japanese term, 猿芝居 (sarushibai), which also contains the word 猿 (saru) as well as "sarumane" does.

Since 猿 (saru) means "monkey" and 芝居 (shibai) means "show" or "play," "sarushibai" originally meant a "monkey show" literally.

Later, it has come to mean a "poor show/performance," a "sucky play," and an "inept trick."

Incidentally, "sarushibai" is a little similar to the Japanese term 茶番 (chaban), which was introduced in the following my entry.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/203983428487821700505159013443589740611
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【No. 1142】Heppiri Goshi (へっぴり腰 - Full of Fear)

Feb 2, 2018 16:07
Have you ever seen a person who has a extremely diffident attitude or is full of fear?

Such a person is called へっぴり腰 (heppiri goshi) in Japanese.

へっぴり (heppiri) comes from へひり (hehiri) or 屁をひる (he wo hiru), which means "to fart," and 腰 (koshi) means "hip."

Therefore, the literal meaning of "heppiri goshi" is "one's hip (posture) when farting."

In fact, this term originally meant such a half-crouching posture that is unstable.

Later, since people have such a posture when they have less confidence, "heppiri goshi" has come to also mean a diffident attitude.
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【No. 1141】Iki wo Korosu (息を殺す - Holding/Bating One's Breath)

Feb 1, 2018 01:20
If you don't want anyone to find you, you will keep your body still and depress breathing.

Such an act is called 息を殺す (iki wo korosu) in Japanese.

息 (iki) means "breath" and 殺す (korosu) means "to kill," so the literal meaning of this "iki wo korosu" is "to kill one's breath."

It is thought that this idiom comes from the fact that if you kill (stop) your breath, it will be very quiet.

Also, some thought that the etymology is that "iki" means "life" or "soul," and if you kill it, it will be very quiet.
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【No. 1140】Jigyaku-fū Jiman (自虐風自慢 - Humblebrag)

Jan 31, 2018 04:12
There is a Japanese slang term: 自虐風自慢 (jigyaku-fū jiman), which was born from the Internet.

自虐 (jigyaku) means "self-condemnation," 風 (fū) means "sounds like," and 自慢 (jiman) means "brag."

Therefore, "jigyaku-fū jiman" means one's brag that sounds like self-condemnation.

For example, it's something like the following utterances.

"Oh, I received ONLY $10,000 as a bonus in summer, it's terrible."

"These days various men try to ask me out almost every day, sigh.., I'm tired of refusing them."

Since "jigyaku-fū jiman" makes people uncomfortable, please be careful not to say it.