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【No. 0994】Undei no Sa (雲泥の差 - A World of Difference)

Sep 7, 2017 19:57
You will feel "undei no sa" (雲泥の差) for various things, as long as you live a life.

"Undei no sa" means a very big difference or a huge gap of something.

The "un" (雲) means "cloud," the "deo" (泥) means "dirt," the "sa" (差) means "difference," so the literal meaning of the combination is "differences between cloud and dirt."

Here the cloud implies the sky, and the dirt implies the ground.

That is to say, the phrase "undei no sa" represents a big difference/gap, like the distance between the sky and the ground.
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【No. 0993】Tarafuku (たらふく - Having Enough)

Sep 6, 2017 12:52
These days, since I eat meals until I become a state called "tarafuku" (たらふく), I am getting a little bit fat.

"Tarafuku" is a word that represents a state that you can't eat any more due to a feeling of fullness, or an act of eating or drinking a lot.

"Tarafuku" is written as "鱈腹" in Kanji, where the "鱈" (tara) means "cod/codfish," and the "腹" (fuku) means "stomach."

In fact, the stomach of cod is swollen, but this kanji is a kind of phonetic equivalents, and the etymology of "tarafuku" isn't related to cod.

The actual etymology is more simple -- the adverbial suffix "ku" (く) has been added to the verb "tarafu" (足らふ), which means that something is enough.

In Japan, it's generally said that eating moderately is better than eating until "tarafuku."
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【No. 0992】Hūzen no Tomoshibi (風前の灯火 - Hang by A Thread)

Sep 5, 2017 10:30
If you want to say that a thing or a person is in danger, or it is about to disappear, you can use the phrase, "hūzen no yomoshibi" (風前の灯火) in Japanese.

The "hūzen" (風前) means "front of wind," that is to say, "a windy place."

The "tomoshibi" (灯火) means a light with fire, such as a flaring candle, in a literal sense.

If there is a flaring candle in a windy place, obviously the fire will be about to go out, so this phrase has come to have the current meaning.

It seems to be similar to the English phrase, "hang by a thread."
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【No. 0991】Shinsetsu (親切 - Kindness)

Sep 4, 2017 21:44
It is very important to be "shinsetsu" (親切).

"Shinsetsu" is a word that represents kindness and compassion toward other people.

Generally, the "shin" (親) means "parents," the "setsu" means "cut," but it doesn't mean to cut parents.

The kanji "親" (shin) means not only "parents," but also "being familiar."

Also, the kanji "切" (setsu) can mean to fit well or reach, because if you want to cut something using a knife or something, the knife will touch the object.

That is to say, "shinsetsu" implies that you become familiar with someone and reach his/her heart.
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【No. 0990】Hitohada Nugu (一肌脱ぐ - Giving Someone A Helping Hand)

Sep 3, 2017 17:33
Have you ever give assistance to someone in earnest?

Such an act is called "hitohada nugu" (一肌脱ぐ) in Japanese.

The "hito" (一) means "one," "hada" (肌) means "skin," and "nugu" (脱ぐ) means "to take off clothes/something."

In the past, Japanese people wear kimonos that have wide sleeves.

Also, when they did something in earnest, they took off one the kimono from one side of the shoulder, in order not to be disturbed by the sleeve of the kimono.

Because of this fact, "hitohada nugu" has come to be used the current meaning.
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【No. 0985】Kai ni Naru (貝になる - Saying Nothing)

Aug 29, 2017 09:11
I often do "kai ni naru" (貝になる).

The "kai" (貝) means "shellfish," the "naru" (なる) means "become/be," so the literal meaning of "kai ni naru" is to become a shellfish.

Since shellfishes close their shells tightly, it's hard to open them.

Because of this, "kai ni naru" (becoming a shellfish) has come to mean to close your mouth and say nothing, just like a shellfish.

Incidentally, there is the Japanese movie and drama, titled "watashi ha kai ni naritai" (私は貝になりたい - I'd Rather Be a Shellfish).

I haven't watched them, but according to the Internet, the title "kai ni naritai" just literally means to want to be a shellfish living at the bottom of the sea.
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【No. 0984】Setsuna (刹那 - Moment)

Aug 28, 2017 10:50
We usually use "second," "minute" and "hour" as units of time, and this fact is worldwide.

Apart from such general units in the world, Japanese people sometimes use "setsuna" (刹那) when expressing just a moment.

"Setsuna" is one of the concepts of time in Buddhism, and it refers to an extremely short time.

There are several detailed definitions -- one of most famous definitions is that the moment of flicking your fingers is equal to 65 setsuna.

Also, in countries that use the Chinese writing system, setsuna is used as a numerical unit that represents 10 to the power of -18.
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【No. 0983】Gou wo Niyasu (業を煮やす - Getting Irritated)

Aug 27, 2017 15:04
Have you ever gotten angry because things didn't go well as you expected?

Getting angry like this is called "gou wo niyasu" (業を煮やす) in Japanese.

The word "gou" (業) of "gou wo niyasu" is a Buddhism term, meaning an act by the body, the mouth, or the mind (it especially means an act by the mind here).

Also, the literal meaning of "niyasu" (煮やす) means to boil something, but since the act heats something using fire, it can also mean to strengthen feelings or emotions.

Therefore, "gou wo niyasu" means to get angry/irritated, and the feeling is strengthened.
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【No. 0982】Premature Laws

Aug 26, 2017 13:46
There are several premature laws in Japan.

Today I would like to talk about two interesting laws among them.

The first one is established in 1966, and is related to activities on the Moon and asteroids.

According to this law, we are prohibited from conducting military exercises on the moon and asteroids, and all facilities there have to be released to all astronauts in other countries.

The second one is established in 2000, and is related to cloning technology.

According to this law, a person who made a cloned human will be imprisoned for 10 years.

As of today, there are no cases that these laws were applied.
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【No. 0981】Oi (おい - Hey)

Aug 25, 2017 16:01
Recently, I watched the animated movie, "Sing."

When I watched it repeatedly on Blu-ray, I found that Johnny and his father said "Oi" several times.

One of these scenes can be confirmed in around 40 seconds of the following video (spoiler alert).



It's written as "Boy" in the Youtube subtitles, but it's written as "Oi" in the Blu-ray subtitles.

"Oi" is a British slang term, and is used as an interjection to catch someone's attention.

Interestingly, "Oi" (おい) is also used in Japan as the almost same meaning.

However, note that "Oi" in Japan is an expression used by men that sounded a little rude.
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【No. 0980】Hiyakasu (冷やかす - Bantering)

Aug 24, 2017 14:46
Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese idiom, "chacha wo ireru" (茶々を入れる), which means to tease someone by saying something unnecessary.

There is another Japanese verb, "hiyakasu" (冷やかす), which has the similar meaning to "chacha wo ireru."

The literal meaning of "hiyakasu" is just cooling something down, but it's usually used to mean to tease someone, or criticize goods without having the intention of buying.

It is said that this meaning comes from the fact that paper craftsmen in Asakusa brought prostitutes in Yoshiwara into ridicule during cooling paper materials down.
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【No. 0979】Chacha wo Ireru (茶々を入れる - Teasing)

Aug 23, 2017 14:01
Have you ever broken into a conversation of others, and said unnecessary things or cracks?

Such an act is called "chacha wo ireru" (茶々を入れる) in Japanese.

The "chacha" (茶々) contains the kanji, "茶," which means "tea," but this idiom doesn't related to tea.
(Incidentally, the kanji "々" means repetition the previous character.)

One of the most accepted theories about its etymology is that it's comes from "jaja" (邪邪).

"Jaja" meant to disturb someone or act spoiled, and the theory states that "jaja" has changed into "chacha."
("Jaja" is no longer used.)
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【No. 0978】Atezuppou (当てずっぽう - Random Guess)

Aug 22, 2017 18:26
If you do or say something irresponsible with no basis, you will be told "atezuppou" (当てずっぽう) in Japanese.

"Atezuppou" means something like random guess, and it's used like "Atezuppou na koto wo iuna" (当てずっぽうなことを言うな - Don't say atezuppo things.)

The most acceptable theory about its etymology is that it comes from the term "ate zuiryou" (当て推量), which has come to be used since the Edo period.

Here "ate" (当て) means "prospect," and "zuiryou/suiryou" (推量) means "guess."

The theory says that "ate zuiryou" became "atezui" for short, and it became "atezuibou" by personifying ("bou" is a suffix word that is sometimes added to boys' names), and finally it became "atezuppou."
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【No. 0977】Kuda wo Maku (管を巻く - Blathering)

Aug 21, 2017 19:38
Today I'd like to talk about the Japanese idiom, "kuda wo maku" (管を巻く).

Here, the "kuda" (管) means a small spindle that is used in fiber spinning, and "maku" (巻く) means to wind something.

In fiber spinning, in order to make thread, fiber is wound to the kuda (spindle) by rotating the spinning wheel.

This act is called "kudamaki" (管巻き) or "kuda wo maku" (管を巻く).

The act called "kuda wo maku" and the sound from it are very monotonous, and it's similar to a drunk person who talks same things monotonously.

Because of this, "kuda wo maku" has come to mean that a drunk person talks nonsensical things monotonously and repeatedly.
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【No. 0976】Shinshō Boudai (針小棒大 - Making Mountains out of Molehills)

Aug 20, 2017 14:12
Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese idiom, "ohire wo tsukeru" (尾ひれを付ける), which menas to embellish or exaggerate a story using something that's not true.

Today I would like to talk about the Japanese four-character idiom, "shinshō boudai" (針小棒大), which has the similar meaning of "ohire wo tsukeru."

The "shin" (針) means "needle," the "shō" (小) means "small," the "bou" (棒) means "stick," and the "dai" (大) means "big."

Therefore, this idiom means to talk about or express a small needle as if it would be a big stick.

The usage example is: "Hanashi wo shinshō boudai ni iu" (話を針小棒大に言う - I talk about a story like shinshō boudai).
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【No. 0975】Ohire wo Tsukeru (尾ひれをつける - Embellishing a Story)

Aug 19, 2017 14:14
Some people embellish a story using something that's not true.

Such an act is called "ohire wo tsukeru" (尾ひれを付ける) in Japan.

The "ohire" means a tail and a fin of fish, and the "tsukeru" means to attach, so the literal meaning of it is "attaching a tail and a fin."

If you add a tail and a fin to fish, its look will be flashy.

However, since the number of tails and fins of fish is determined, of course such fish doesn't exist.

Because of this, people have come to say "ohire wo tsukeru" to mean to embellish/exaggerate a story by adding lie information.
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【No. 0974】Urashima Tarō Part 2

Aug 18, 2017 14:47
(Today's post is the continuation of yesterday's post.)

Urashima Tarō decided to return to his village after he spent some time in Ryūgū-jō.

At that time, Orihime presented tamatebako (玉手箱 - treasure box) to him, with saying "You must never open this."

When Tarō came back to the ground, he found that there is no people he knows.

Then, he opened tamatebako -- smoke came out from the box, and he became an old man.

That is to say, a few days he spent in Ryūgū-jō was equal to long years on the ground.

This is the outline of the famous Japanese fairy tale, "Urashima Tarō."

【No. 0973】Urashima Tarō Part 1

Aug 17, 2017 15:31
Day before yesterday, I stayed at a resort hotel called "Hotel Urashima" (ホテル浦島).

The name of this hotel comes from the famous Japanese fairy tale, "Urashima Tarō."

The outline of "Urashima Tarō" is something like the following.

A fisherman called Urashima Tarō, found a turtle that is being tormented by children, and rescued it.

In order to express gratitude, the turtle put Tarō on the back, and invited him to Ryūgū-jō (竜宮城 - Dragon Palace) in the sea.

In Ryūgū-jō, Tarō was welcomed by the beautiful princess, Otohime (乙姫), and he enjoyed fish dancing and gorgeous food.

To be continued later.
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【No. 0971】Zako (雑魚 - Small Fry)

Aug 15, 2017 16:47
Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese word, "sanshita" (三下), which means a lower-level member of an organization.

Today I'd like to talk about the word, "zako" (雑魚), which is used as the similar meaning of "sanshita."

Originally "zako" is a word to call all small fish with low commercial value.

By extension, it has come to mean low-level or weak people.

Recent young people tend to use "zako" rather than "sanshita."

Incidentally, "zako" is often used in manga and anime.

Since both "sanshita" and "zako" contain derogatory meanings, please be careful when you use them.
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【No. 0970】Sanshita (三下 - Small Fry)

Aug 14, 2017 07:19
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese word "sanshita" (三下), which means a lower-level member of an organization.

Here the "san" (三) means "three," and the "shita" (下) means "under," so the literal meaning of "sanshita" is just "under three."

Originally, "sanshita" was used to mean a lower-level person among gamblers.

In Japanese gambling using dice, one and two (under three) were weak, so losers have come to be called "sanshita."

From this, lower-level people/small fry have come to be called "sanshita" even outside the field of gambling.

I work at a university, but I have the least experience among teachers, that is, I'm a sanshita.