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【No. 1038】Kogarashi (木枯らし - Cold Autumn Wind)

Oct 21, 2017 13:43
I think that "kogarashi" (木枯らし) will blow in a few days.

"Kogarashi" is strong cold winds that are blew from late autumn to early winter.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, if a wind blows from the north at a speed of 8m/s or more after the pressure pattern became a typical winter one (high-pressure area to the west, and the low-pressure area to the east), the wind will be regarded as "kogarashi."

The etymology of this term is very simple.

The "ko" (木) of "kogarashi" means "tree," and the "garashi" (枯らし) means "to blight green things."

Therefore, "kogarashi" implies a wind that is a strong/cold wind enough to blight trees.
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【No. 1037】Hipparidako (引っ張りだこ - Sought After)

Oct 20, 2017 10:27
Have you ever seen a person who is in great demand from many people?

Or perhaps are you such a person?

Such a demand or such a person is referred to as "hipparidako" (引っ張りだこ) in Japanese.

Here "hippari" of "hipparidako" means "pulling something up," and "dako/tako" means "octopus."

In Japan, when making a dried octopus, people pull its eight legs up.

Such an act/scene was called "hipparidako," and this term meant "punishment of crucifixion" or "sinner" due to the figure, but it has come to mean a popular person who is much in demand.
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【No. 1036】Manaita (まな板 - Cutting Board)

Oct 19, 2017 18:19
The Japanese word "manaita" (まな板) means a board that is used when cutting ingredients, that is a cutting board.

Here the "mana" (まな) of "manaita" means "fish," and "ita" (板) means "board."

Therefore, it's thought that in the past manaita meant a board just for cooking fish.

Until recently manaita represented a cutting board made of wood, but now it's usually made by plastic or rubber due to the antibacterial property.

Incidentally, please be careful not to say "manaita" to a small breasted woman.

Since manaita is usually flat, it sometimes used as a slang term that implies a woman who has small and flat breasts.
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【No. 1035】The Definition of Vegetable Part 2

Oct 18, 2017 16:09
In some countries, there are several definitions about the classification of vegetable and fruit like the following.

・It's a fruit when it has seeds, whereas it's a vegetable when it has no seeds, but there're some exceptions.

・When processing to a paste, a fruit will become jam, whereas a vegetable will become sauce.
(According to this definition, if tomato is a fruit, it will become tomato jam instead of tomato sauce.)

Incidentally, in the past in the US, 10 percents tariffs was applied to vegetables, and fruits were excluded.

Because of this, a trading merchant tried to import tomatoes as fruit, but in 1893, the US Supreme Court decided that tomato is a vegetable because it don't dessert.

Unfortunately, the debate about the classification of vegetable and fruit has continued, and there seems to be no definitive criteria for it yet.
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【No. 1034】The Definition of Vegetable Part 1

Oct 17, 2017 13:50
In my previous post, I wrote something like "eggplant is a vegetable," but a commenter pointed out that "eggplant is a fruit."

Thanks to this comment, I noticed an interesting fact that the definitions of vegetable and fruit are different depending on the country/region.

Actually, there are no clear definitions between them in most countries including Japan, but many Japanese people believe that eggplant is a vegetable.

According to the classification proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, herbaceous plants are vegetables, and plants grown on trees are fruits.

Therefore, tomato, watermelon, melon, and strawberry are classified as vegetable, though foreigners might not believe it.

Continue to Part 2.
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【No. 1033】Akinasu wa Yome ni Kuwasuna (秋茄子は嫁に食わすな - Don't Let Daughter-in-Law Eat Autumn Eggplants)

Oct 16, 2017 05:21
Yesterday, I introduced the etymology of "nasu" (茄子 - eggplant).

Today I'd like to talk about a Japanese proverb that uses the word, "Aaki-nasu wa yome ni kuwasuna" (秋茄子は嫁に食わすな).

The literal meaning of it is "Don't let daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants," but there are several interpretations about this.

Commonly, this proverb is often used to mean that autumn eggplants are very delicious, so it should not let hateful daughter-in-law eat them.

In addition, it's sometimes used to mean that daughter-in-law/wife blessed with a baby shouldn't eat eggplants too much because they chill the body, or since autumn eggplants have few seeds, it may become difficult to make a baby (this is a kind of superstition).
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【No. 1032】Nasu (ナス - Eggplant)

Oct 15, 2017 11:44
Do you like a kind of vegetable called "nasu" (ナス)?

Nasu is a vegetable native to India, and is grown from summer to autumn.

In English, it is called "eggplant" due to the shape.

Previously in Japan, "nasu" is commonly called "nasubi" (なすび).

There are several theories about the etymology of "nasubi."

For example, there are a theory that it comes from "natsumi" (夏実 - summer berry) due to the harvest period, and a theory that it comes from "nasumi" (中酸実 - berry having a sour center) due to the taste.

To tell you the truth, I don't like the texture of eggplants very much.
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【No. 1031】Jigajisan (自画自賛 - Self-Admiration)

Oct 14, 2017 12:23
I think that everyone would like to praise himself/herself sometimes.

To praise oneself is often referred to as "jigajisan" (自画自賛) in Japanese.

Here the "ji" (自) means "my" or "myself," and "ga" (画) means "painting."

Also, in Oriental paintings, inscriptions/poetry related to the painting are called "san" (賛).

That is to say, the original meaning of "jigajisan" is to write an inscription/poetry of your painting.

It is thought that since the kanji "賛" (san) include the meaning of "praise," this term has come to mean "praising oneself" or "self-admiration."
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【No. 1030】Ame (雨/飴 - rain/candy)

Oct 13, 2017 10:53
Since there are so many homonyms in Japanese, I think that it's hard for foreigners to learn these Japanese words.

Because of this, I will also introduce Japanese homonyms on Lang-8 from today.
(To tell you the truth, no longer I have little topics related to Japanese etymologies.)

Today I'd like to talk about the very common Japanese word, "ame" (あめ).

"Ame" has mainly two different meanings -- "rain" (雨) and "candy" (飴).

If you accent "a" of "ame," it will imply "rain," and if you accent "me," it will imply "candy."

"Ame" (雨 - rain) comes from "ame" (天 - sky) or "amamizu" (天水 - meteoric water), whereas "ame" (飴 - candy) comes from "amai" (甘い - sweet).

Incidentally, in the Kansai region (western Japan), "ame" (飴 - candy) is often called "ame-chan" by attaching "chan" ("chan" is a suffix used for girls or kids).
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【No. 1029】Occhoko Choi (おっちょこちょい - Goofy)

Oct 12, 2017 14:50
People who do a careless thing without thinking are called "occhoko choi" (おっちょこちょい) in Japanese.

It is thought that this term is composed of three words -- "o," "choko," and "choi."

The "o" is an interjection that is used when you're surprised, or is a just prefix.

The "choko" comes from an onomatopoeia, "choko choko" (ちょこちょこ), which represents that you move around quickly.

The "choi" comes from "choito" (ちょいと), which means a trivial matter.

That is to say, "occhoko choi" implies that you move around by yourself due to a trivial matter and surprise/worry other people.
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【No. 1028】Uso Happyaku (嘘八百 - A Lot of Lies)

Oct 11, 2017 13:30
Have you ever been surrounded by a lot of lies?

Such a situation where as if everything is lie is called "uso happyaku" (嘘八百) in Japan.

Here "uso" (嘘) means "lie," and "happyaku" (八百) means "eight hundred."

In Japan, eight hundred is a number that represents that the number of things is huge.

It is said that this comes from the fact that the number eight has been used for saying an enormous number in Buddhism.

Incidentally, "uso happyaku" can also means "a complete lie," in addition to "a lot of lies."
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【No. 1027】Akami-zakana and Shiromi-zakana (赤身魚と白身魚 - Fish with Red Flesh and Fish with White Flesh)

Oct 10, 2017 09:38
In Japan, fish is often classified into two categories; akami-zakana (赤身魚 - fish having red flesh) and shiromi-zakana (白身魚 - fish having white flesh).
(Strictly speaking, the classification is based on the amount of hemoglobin or myoglobin contained in the flesh.)

Akami-zakana, such as scads, mackerels, sauries and tunas, have a deep taste, contain a lot of fat, and are rich in iron.

On the other hand, shiromi-zakana, such as porgies, flatfishes, pufferfish and salmons, are balnd in taste, low in fat and rich in protein.

Salmons are often misunderstood as akami-zakana because of the reddish color of the flesh, but it's because they eat plankton called krill containing red pigment.

Incidentally, fishes having blue back, such as scads and mackerels, are also called "ao-zakana" (青魚 - blue fish).
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【No. 1026】Tanki wa Sonki (短気は損気 - Haste Makes Waste)

Oct 9, 2017 10:18
Are you a person who loses your temper easily or gets bored quickly?

Such a personality is called "tanki" (短気) in Japan.

Here "tan" (短) of "tanki" means "short," and "ki" (気) means "temper."

Also, there is a famous Japanese proverb, "tanki wa sonki" (短気は損気 - tanki makes sonki).

This proverb means that if you lose your temper easily, you will make a loss.

Since "ki" (気) of "sonki" is added to "son" (損 - loss) for matching with the sound of "tanki," it has no meaning.
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【No. 1025】Daigomi (醍醐味 - The True Pleasure)

Oct 8, 2017 07:37
There are several Japanese terms that describe a pleasure.

Today I'd like to talk about "daigomi" (醍醐味) among them.

"Daigomi" means a true pleasure or depth of favor.

The "daigo" (醍醐) of "daigomi" is a Buddhist term, and it means a high-grade milk product that is made from cow or sheep milk through various processes.

Because "daigomi" (醍醐味 - taste of daigo) is pure and the bast taste, it originally means "the best thing/teaching" in Buddhism, and it has come to mean the current meaning.

Some people think that "daigo" is equivalent to yogurt in the modern meaning.
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【No. 1024】Daikokubashira (大黒柱 - Breadwinner)

Oct 7, 2017 18:36
Daikokubashira

In a traditional Japanese residence, we often set a very thick pillar in the center of the house.

This pillar is called "daikokubashira" (大黒柱).

"Daikokubashira" is composed of three kanji, "大" (big), "黒" (black), and "柱" (pillar), but it's not usually black.

There are several theories about the etymology.
One is that it comes from "Daigokuden bashira" (大極殿柱), which is pillars in Daigokuden (大極殿).
(The Daigokuden is a main hall of Chodoin (朝堂院 - a state chamber of the Greater Imperial Palace).)
The other theory is that it comes from Daikokuten (大黒天), who is the god of wealth.

Because of the importance, "daikokubashira" also represents a person who supports a group such as family or country.
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【No. 1023】Guden Guden (ぐでんぐでん)

Oct 6, 2017 11:20
Yesterday we held a drinking party.

I got back to work in the middle of the second party, but some people might have become a state called "guden guden" (ぐでんぐでん).

"Guden guden" is a term that means that someone gets so drunk that he doesn't know who he is.

The "guden" (ぐでん) of "guden guden" comes from "kiden" (貴殿), which is a honorific title for a man.

The "ki" (貴) of "kiden" means "you," and "guden" was born by replacing it with "gu" (愚), which means "fool."

Previously, I introduced the Japanese term "hebereke," which means a drunk state, but "guden guden" represents a much wors state than that.

[ Hebereke (へべれけ) ]
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/9388743911506033614267133588286983646
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【No. 1022】Katsu Katsu (かつかつ)

Oct 5, 2017 10:21
Now I am falling into a state called "katsu katsu" (かつかつ).

"Katsu katsu" represents a state that someone is barely keeping a certain condition, or a state that someone can't afford anything.

It is said that this term was born by repeating the old Japanese word "katsu" (かつ), which means "narrowly" or "barely."

You can use it something like "Schedule ga katsu katsu da" (スケジュールがかつかつだ - I have a tight schedule) or "Katsu katsu no seikatsu wo okuru" (かつかつの生活を送る - I'm living hand to mouth).

If you want to mean the opposite meaning of "katsu katsu," you can use "yoyu ga aru" (余裕がある - having the luxury) or "yutori ga aru" (ゆとりがある - having enough leeway).
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【No. 1021】Jūgoya (十五夜 - Full Moon Night)

Oct 4, 2017 08:56
Tonight is "jūgoya" (十五夜).

The "jūgo" (十五) means "fifteen," the "ya" (夜) means "night," so the literal meaning of the composite is "fifteenth night."

Actually, "jūgoya" means a full moon night around August 15th in the lunar calendar.

Since the date was based on the phases of the moon in the lunar calendar, August 15th at that time is currently from the middle of September to the beginning of October.

In the night, people enjoy watching the moon with family while decorating Tsukimi Dango (月見団子 - rice dumplings for moon viewing) and Japanese pampas grass.

Incidentally, "jūgoya" is also called "chūjū no meigetsu" (中秋の名月 - harvest moon).
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【No. 1020】Hame wo Hazusu (羽目を外す - Getting Carried Away)

Oct 3, 2017 21:07
Have you ever had too much fun and let yourself get carried away?

Such an act is called "hame wo hazusu" (羽目を外す) in Japan.

It is said that the "hame" of "hame wo hazusu" comes from "hami/hame" (馬銜), which is a rod-like metal harness that is used to control horses.

If you take the hame off from a horse ("hazusu" means to take something off), the horse will act freely and you won't able to control it.

Because of this, "hame wo hazusu" (taking a harness off) has come to have the current meaning.
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【No. 1019】Liberal Shipping

Oct 2, 2017 11:36
A few days ago, the clothing shopping site "ZOZOTOWN" started liberal shipping service (it's not free shipping).

This service is that you can decide a shipping fee freely (within the range of 0 yen to 3000 yen), according to your feeling or circumstance.

Many Japanese shopping sites provide free shipping service, but it's because the shipping fee is contained in the price of goods in most cases.

Since there is no tipping custom in Japan, most Japanese people may choose 0 yen as the shipping fee.

However, the shipping fee is set to 400 yen by default, and the fee selection menu shows 100 yen as the lowest fee.

Therefore, if you want to select free shipping, you have to select "Others" and type "0" on the keyboard.

I think that many people will pay 100 yen or 400 yen as shipping fee due to this a little confusing system.