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【No. 0768】Obenchara (Empty Flattery)

Jan 24, 2017 00:06
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term "obenchara."

"Obenchara" means to say empty flattery for buttering up to someone, or means such a person.

Usage example: "Don't say obenchara (empty flattery)." "You are an obenchara (polisher)."

The "o" in "obenchara" is a prefix word, "ben" means "speech" and "chara" means "joke" or "gibberish."

I like the sound of "obenchara," but I don't like "obenchara" very much.

There is another word called "obekka," which means almost the same meaning of "obenchara."

It is said that "obekka" comes from the word "obenko," which means that someone is good at flattery.
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【No. 0767】Plus Driver and Minus Driver

Jan 23, 2017 00:10
There are "plus driver" and "minus driver" as screwdrivers in Japan.

Many Japanese people think that "driver" (screwdriver), "plus driver" and "minus driver" make sense.

However, in order to convey the meaning, first we have to use "screwdriver" instead of "driver."

Also, Japanese people often call "plus driver (screwdriver)" or "minus driver (screwdriver)" depending on the shape of the groove, but they might not make sense.

We have to use "Phillips screwdriver" or "Frearson screwdriver" instead of "plus driver," and have to use "slotted screwdriver" or "flat head screwdriver" instead of "minus driver."

Incidentally, "minus screw" (slotted screw) is often used in places where it is prone to become tainted.
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【No. 0766】Hitode (Starfish)

Jan 22, 2017 11:20
"Hitode" is a star-shaped creature, and it is said that star marks that are now commonly used comes from "hitode."

"Hitode" is "starfish" or "sea star" in English, "étoile de mer" (sea star) in French, "Seestern" (sea star) in German, and "海星" (sea star) in Chinese.

As just described, many countries has named after stars.

On the other hand, the literal meaning of "hitode" is "human's hand."

Since starfish's arms looked like human's hand, Japanese fishermen began calling like that.

Previously in a Japanese TV show, an interesting information related to starfish was introduced -- "Starfish can escape even if their bodies are all tied up with ropes."

You can see the validation video in the following link:

ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDbcajhnLoA
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【No. 0765】Ashimoto o Miru (To Take Unfair Advantage of Someone)

Jan 21, 2017 14:34
Today I will talk about the Japanese idom "ashimoto o miru."

The literal meaning is "to look at feet," and it means to take unfair advantage of someone.

Former in Japan, on highway streets or lodgings, palanquin bearers and packhorse drivers observed traveler's feet.

They determined the traveler's tiredness and offered a ridiculous fee only for tired people.

Even if the fee was too expensive, the tired customer would pay it with half a heart.

From this reason, "ashimoto o miru" has become to mean "to take unfair advantage of someone."

It seems that idiom can be translated as "to find the length of someone's foot."
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【No. 0763】You will become a cow if you lie down soon after eating.

Jan 19, 2017 10:14
There is a famous superstition in Japan as the following:

"You will become a cow if you lie down soon after eating."

In fact, I was also taught like that.

I have no idea why it is a cow, but I think that it says "you will get fat like a cow."

Lying down soon after eating is regarded as a bad manner in Japan.

Therefore, in order to admonish such behavior, this superstition was born.

However, according to a medical study, lying down for about 30 minutes soon after eating is good for your health -- it will play a role in the digestive process.
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【No. 0762】Noroma

Jan 18, 2017 23:54
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "noroma".

"Noroma" means a dull person or something dull.

It is said that this word comes from "Noroma ningyo" (Noroma doll) in "Ai Kyogen" (comic interludes), which was performed by a puppeteer called Noromatsu Kanbe.

The Noroma ningyo was a dubious doll that has a flat and pale face, and moves slowly.

The noun "noroma" was made from this fact, and a adjective "noroi" (dull) was also made.

By the way, "noroi" can be regarded as a noun, and in such a case, it means "curse".

"A dull curse" can be translated to into Japanese as "noroi noroi".
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【No. 0761】Kinakusai

Jan 17, 2017 23:37
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term "kinakusai".

"Kinakusai" means that something or someone is dubious or fishy.

The original meaning of this term is "to smell like that papers or clothes are burnt".

"Kina" in "kinakusai" is said to have been changed from "kinu", which means clothes.
("Kusai" means "to smell".)

Also, since burnt smells are something like a smell of gunpowder, "kinakusai" can mean an atmosphere that war is about to happen.

There meanings came to be expanded, then this term came to have the meaning mentioned at the beginning.

Even now you can express all of the above three meanings by "kinakusai".
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【No. 0760】Nicchimo Sacchimo Ikanai

Jan 16, 2017 23:43
Today I will talk about the phrase "nicchimo sacchimo ikanai".

"Nicchimo sacchimo ikanai" means that something/someone is completely pinned down.

This phrase comes from an abacus term "nshin-mo sanshin-mo".

"Nishin" means "two divided by two", "sanshin" means "three divided by three", and both of them can be calculated without remainder.

From these terms, "nishin-mo sanshin-mo ikanai" (both nishin and sanshin can't go well) came to express that a number can't be divided by 2 and 3, then it came to mean that a calculation with abacus doesn't go well.

Furthermore it came to mean that business doesn't go well, finally it came to mean the meaning mentioned at the beginning.

【No. 0759】National Center Test for University Admissions

Jan 15, 2017 16:35
The National Center Test for University Admissions has been held since yesterday in Japan.

This test is something like a common preliminary exam, which is necessary for entering Japanese national universities.

Lately, the number of private universities that evaluates the results of this test has been increased.

This test has several characteristics -- all problems are tested using computer-scored answer sheets, and IC players are used in the listening exam.

Unfortunately, since the test is held in winter every day, several students can't arrive at the venue due to snow.

I hope that this day will cause a good result for many students.
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【No. 0758】Mikka Bozu

Jan 14, 2017 22:43
Today I will talk about the Japanese term "mikka bozu".

The literal meaning is "three days guy", and it means that someone gives up easily, or means such a person.

Usage example: Although he declared that he would post on Lang-8 every day and he got all fired up about that, he was mikka bozu (he quit easily).

In Buddhism, once you become a priest, you have to wake up in the early morning, and do strict training every day.

Since some of people who became priests quit the training and return to a secular life in three days, this term was made.
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【No. 0757】Fuda Tsuki (Notorious)

Jan 13, 2017 20:45
I talked about "osumi tsuki" yesterday, and "origami tsuki" the day before yesterday.

Both of these terms are used in good meanings.

Today I will talk about the Japanese term "fuda tsuki", which is used in a bad meaning.

The literal meaning is "attached tag", and it means that someone is notorious.

During the Edo period, when someone committed a crime, his/her family and surrounding people were treated as suspicious characters.

At that time, tags were attached on such people on their family registers, so "fuda tsuki" (attached tag) came to mean the above meaning.
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【No. 0756】Osumi Tsuki (Certified)

Jan 12, 2017 09:54
Yesterday I talked about the Japanese term "origami tsuki".

Today I will talk about the Japanese term "osumi tsuki", which is a little similar to the yesterday's one.

The literal meaning is "attached ink", and it means that something is accepted or guaranteed by a person in authority.

Originally, this term meant a document related to an acceptance or a guarantee of domains made by a general or a vassal lord in the Edo period.

Here, kao (written seal mark) is used as a signing, and it was written by sumi (ink).

Therefore, the document was called "osumi tsuki" (attached ink), and it came to have the current meaning.

By the way, basically "origami tsuki" is used for a thing, while "osumi tsuki" is used for a person.
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【No. 0755】Origami Tsuki (Hallmark)

Jan 11, 2017 14:37
Today I will talk about the Japanese term "origami tsuki".

The literal meaning is "attached origami", and it means that something is guaranteed to have reliable quality.

Here, "origami" means a document that is folded in half, and it has been used as an official document or a catalog since the Heian period.
(Note that this "origami" is not a traditional Japanese art of folding paper.)

In the Edo period, the "origami" came to be also used as a certificate that guarantees that art or katana (Japanese sword) is not fake.

Then, "origami tsuki" came to have the above meaning.
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【No. 0754】Kuromaku (A Black Curtain)

Jan 10, 2017 21:46
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "kuromaku".

The literal meaning is "a black curtain", and it means "a person who gives instructions under the counter", or "a person who has real power".

This word comes from a tool that is used in Kabuki (traditional Japanese drama performed by male actors).

In the Kabuki, a black curtain is used for hiding the stage when the scene is changing, or showing a night scene.

Since operations of the stage were conducted behind the black curtain, "a person who has influence behind the curtain" came to be referred to as "kuromaku" (a black curtain).
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【No. 0753】Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day)

Jan 9, 2017 13:00
Today is a national holiday called "Seijin no Hi" in Japan.

"Seijin no Hi" is held in order to congratulate and encourage all those who have become adults and are trying to become independent.

On this day, each municipality invites people who have reached 20 years old, and a coming-of-age ceremony is held.

New adults participate in the ceremony in full dress -- women wear furisode (long-sleeved kimono), and men wear hakama (formal men's divided skirt) or suits.

Unfortunately, these days the number of new adults who cause problems in the coming-of-age ceremony increases.

In the last hour, I got the news that a new adult made a mess of the ceremony and was arrested.
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【No. 0752】Kokera Otoshi (Dropping Chips of Wood)

Jan 8, 2017 11:56
Today I will talk about the Japanese event called "kokera otoshi".

"Kokera otoshi" is the first event that is held in a newly constructed theater as part of the opening festivities.

"Kokera" means chips of wood that are produced when cutting timber, and "otoshi" means "to drop".

After building a wooden building, we first brush down "kokera" that are left on the roof.

From this fact, the event which will be held for the first time after the theater is constructed came to be referred to as "kokera otoshi".

By the way, "kokera" is written as "杮" in kanji.

This kanji is really similar to "柿" (kaki) (which means "persimmons"), but it's different at the right part -- the vertical bar is connected in "杮" (kokera), while it's separated in "柿" (kaki).
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【No. 0751】Mask Dependence

Jan 7, 2017 11:03
Nowadays in Japan, the number of mask dependence increases.

They are always wearing dummy masks -- it is not hygienic reasons such as a prevention of a cold.

For example, the actual reasons are something like the following:

・To hide the face with no makeup
・To hide complexes about their faces
・To avoid talking with people
・To avoid people's gaze
・To avoid showing emotions

According to a survey, especially young women tend to be mask dependence.

I think that there is a social problem contributing to fact that the number of mask dependence increases for psychological reasons.
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【No. 0750】Sukebe

Jan 6, 2017 21:13
Today I will talk about the Japanese slang "sukebe".

"Sukebe" means that something or someone is lascivious, and it is usually used to men.

It is said that this slang comes from the word 「助兵衛」 (sukebe), which was used in the Edo period.

It was originally written as "好兵衛" (sukibe), and meant a person who had a strong interest in something.

(「好き」 (suki) means "to like", and 「兵衛」 is a suffix that personifies verbs and nouns.)

Since 「助兵衛」 (sukebe) was very popular name in that age, 「好兵衛」 (sukibe) changed to 「助兵衛」, then it came to mean only lascivious things.
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【No. 0749】Itachi Gokko

Jan 5, 2017 17:57
Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom "itachi gokko".

The literal meaning of "itachi gokko" is "to pretend a weasel", and it means that two people repeat a same thing to each other, and it will not make any progress.

This idiom comes from a children's play that was popular in the late Edo period.

The play called "itachi gokko" is: two children pinch the back of the other's hand alternately, while saying "itachi gokko" (to pretend a weasel) and "nezumi gokko" (to pretend a mouse).

Since this play is just to do the same thing repeatedly, and has no end, it has come to express the above meaning.
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【No. 0748】元日(Ganjitsu), 元旦(Gantan), 正月(Shogatsu) -- (New Year's Day)

Jan 4, 2017 14:41
Today I will talk about the Japanese words, "ganjitsu", "gantan" and "shogatsu", which are often misunderstood.

"元日 (ganjitsu)" means the first day of the new year, that is January 1st.

"元旦 (gantan)" could mean the first day of the new year, but it usually means "the morning of ganjitsu".

The kanji "旦" in "元旦" expresses that the sun (日) is coming out of the horizon (＿).

"正月 (shogatsu)" means the first month of the new year, that is January.

However, "正月" often means a period for new year's celebration -- it is "三が日 (san ga nichi)" (January 1-3), or "松の内 (matsu no uchi)" (January 1-7).