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【No. 0722】Makura-Nage Part 2

Dec 9, 2016 12:34
Yesterday I talked about a customary Japanese event "makura-nage".

Today I will talk about the official rules of it.

Players wear yukata (Japanese bathrobe) as uniform, and the game is held on tatami (straw mat) where futon and pillows are placed.

Each team consists of eight persons -- five players (including one general, one libero) who throw pillows and three supporters who collect pillows that went outside of the tatami area.

Players who were hit by pillows leave from the field, and the winning condition is to eject the opponent's general.

A libero has a role of defending the friendly general from pillows using futon (Japanese bedding).

Also, one supporter can call "a teacher is approaching～" once in each game.

If this phrase is called, the opponent's general have to go into futon quickly and pretend to be asleep.

All players except generals have to get down on their knees for 10 seconds assuming the teacher found them.
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【No. 0721】Makura-Nage Part 1

Dec 8, 2016 21:06
In many Japanese schools, students and teachers go a school trip for a few days annually.

In the midnight in the trip, there is a customary annual event called "makura-nage."

"Makura" means "pillow", "nage" means "to throw", and during the "makura-nage", students throw pillows to each other.

There is no rules in many cases -- they just throw pillows heart and soul.

Here, futon (Japanese bedding) is often used as shields to pillows.

By the way, I heard that pillows are regarded as a weapon in Germany.

Tomorrow I will talk about the official rule of the makura-nage in Japan.
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【No. 0720】Zokkon

Dec 7, 2016 21:05
Today I will talk about the slang "zokkon".

"Zokkon" means to be crazy about someone or to love someone passionately.

For example: "Ano onna no ko ni zokkon nanda" (I'm crazy about that woman).

It is thought that this word comes from "底根" (sokone), which can be read as "sokokon".

"Sokone" literally means "the bottom of roots", and it can express "the bottom of your heart".

In the past, "zokkon horekomu" ("horekomu" means "to love with someone") was often used to mean to be crazy about someone, but recently, you can express the meaning by just using "zokkon".
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【No. 0719】Hobo wo Kamu (To Bite a Belly Button)

Dec 6, 2016 11:57
Today I will talk about the idiom "hozo wo kamu."

"Hozo" means "a belly button" ("hozo" is commonly said as "heso" in Japan), "kamu" means "to bite", and "hozo wo kamu" describes to bitterly regret or to cry over split milk.

This idiom comes from the fact that even if you try to bite your belly button, your mouth would never reach it.

It has been confirmed that this idiom had been used in ancient Chinese stories during the Chunqiu period.

By the way, although both "heso" and "hozo" have the same meaning "a belly button" and the same kanji character "臍", "heso wo kamu" is regarded as a wrong usage.
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【No. 0718】On no Ji (The Character "on" (御))

Dec 5, 2016 22:06
Today I will talk about the Japanese term "on no ji".

The literal meaning is "the character on (御)", and it describes that something is much appreciated or very satisfying.

The character "御" (on) is one of the highest grade honorific words which is attached to the head of a noun.

Therefore, when you want to attach "御" to something, it is quite impressive and terrific.

However, this term is often used to wrongly mean something like that it's not satisfying but enough.

According to the public opinion survey in Japan, 51.4% use the term wrongly, and 38.5% use it correctly.
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【No. 0717】Mimi wo Katamukeru (To Lean an Ear)

Dec 4, 2016 13:53
Today I will talk about the idiom "mimi wo katamukeru."

The literal meaning is "to lean an ear," and it describes to listen carefully/keenly so as not to miss talks.

This idiom comes from the fact that when you try to listen to something carefully, your ear leans.

The common kanji for "kiku", which means "to hear", is "聞く", but if you use another kanji "聴く" for "kiku", you can imply the meaning of "mimi wo katamukeru" (to listen carefully).

By the way, it will be said "to lend an ear" in English.

There is also another idiom "mimi wo kasu," which is the literal translation of "to lend an ear," but it has a little different nuances.

"Mimi wo katamukeru" (to lean an ear) implies that you listen to speaker's talk respectfully, while "mimi wo kasu" (to lend an ear) implies that you listen to your close person's talk or you provide consultation for him/her.
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【No. 0716】Te Haccho Kuchi Haccho

Dec 3, 2016 12:13
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese idiom "te haccho kuchi haccho."

This idiom describes a person who does something well and has a smart mouth.

"Te" means "hand", "kuchi" means "mouth", and "haccho" means "eight things", so this idiom literally describes a person who can use eight tools by his/her hands or mouth.

Of course, you can use just "te haccho" for a person who does something well, and just "kuchi haccho" for a person who has a smart mouth, respectively.

This idiom originally used as a good meaning to praise someone, but recently, it is often used sarcastically for an insincere person who just looks a good worker or a good talker.
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【No. 0715】Hebi ni Niramareta Kaeru (A Frog Aimed by a Snake)

Dec 2, 2016 22:33
Today I will talk about the Japanese proverb "hebi ni niramareta kaeru."

The literal meaning of this proverb is "a frog aimed by a snake," and it expresses that someone stands frozen in front of something scary.

Since snakes swallow frogs, snakes are regarded as a natural enemy of frogs, and this proverb was made.

By the way, it is famous in Japan that snakes, frogs and slugs are natural enemies to each other; this relationship is called "sansukumi" (three-way standoff), and it is similar to scissors-paper-rock.

Frogs can eat slugs, but snakes' venom doesnt work to slugs, and slugs mucus melt snakes' body.
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【No. 0714】Shippo wo Tsukamu (Grab a Tail)

Dec 1, 2016 10:40
Today I will talk about the Japanese phrase "shippo wo tsukamu."

The literal meaning is "to grab a tail," and it expresses "to get evidence of secrets or crime."

In Japan, secrets and crime could be referred to "shippo" (tail).

Here, the tail represents a tail of a raccoon dog or fox.

Even if a raccoon dog or fox changed their figure into something, you could reveal the true identity by grabbing their tails, thus this idiom was made.

Also, to come out secrets or crime is called "shippo wo dasu" (to come out a tail).

You can find these phrases frequently in Japanese criminal dramas.
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【No. 0713】Ibara no Michi (Thorny Path)

Nov 30, 2016 10:21
Today I would like to talk about the idiom "ibara no michi".

"Ibara" means "thorn", "michi" means "path", therefore "ibara no michi" sometimes literally means "a path where thorns are growing."

However, in many cases, this idiom is used to express a difficult situation or a life full of hardships.

This comes from the fact that it's very difficult to follow a path covered with thorns.

The English word "thorn" and "thorny" even mean something like "hardship", so this idiom "ibara no michi" might have come from English.

By the way, I heard that "thorn" symbolizes "curse" in the Bible.
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【No. 0712】Tachi Ojo

Nov 29, 2016 16:25
Today I will talk about the Japanese term "tachi ojo".

"Tachi" means "to stand", "ojo" means "to die", so "tachi ojo" refers to "to die while standing."

Yesterday I talked about "Benkei".

It is believed that Benkei was shot by a lot of arrows from surroundings in the battle of Koromogawa, and he died while standing supported by his long halberd called naginata.

From this story, "tachi ojo" can also refer to a state that someone is incapable of moving or something is dead-end.

By the way, I found that "Benkei's tachi ojo" was translated into "the last stand of Benkei" in English on the Internet.
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【No. 0711】Benke no Nakidokoro (Benke's Weak Point)

Nov 28, 2016 16:23
Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term "benke no nakidokoro."

The literal meaning is "Benke's weak point," and it expresses "shin" (that is a part of your body), "weak point" or "vital spot" .

In the past in Japan, there was a tough heroic figure named "Musashibo Benke".

Although he was heavily built, he cried when he would be kicked his shin, so this term was made.

By the way, it is said "Achilles' heel" in English.

Achilles is a legendary and immortal hero in Greek mythology, but he had the only weak point on his heel, so this term was made.

The term "Achilles tendon" comes from the same story.
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【No. 0710】Sarumane

Nov 27, 2016 19:13
Today I will talk about the Japanese word "sarumane."

"Sarumane" means to imitate acts or surfaces of other people without thinking.

The etymology is very simple: "saru" means "monkey", "mane" means "to imitate", and "sarumane" comes from the fact that monkeys often imitate people's acts without reason.

Basically, to imitate something merely without your own thinking will not work well.

Therefore, "sarumane" is a derogatory word against such people.

According to the dictionary web site, this word can be translated into "awkward imitation", "poor imitation", or "cheap imitation" in English.

By the way, I also found the word "copycat".

I think that "copycat" is appropriate as a translation of "sarumane".
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【No. 0708】Tanto Chokunyu

Nov 25, 2016 19:48
Today I will talk about the four-Chinese character idiom "tanto chokunyu."

"Tanto chokunyu" means to get straight to the main point with no preamble.

For example: "Tanto chokunyu ni iuto, kimi wa kubi da." (I'll get straight to the point. You're fired.)

This idiom comes from the Chinese history book called "The Records of the Transmission of the Lamp."

"Tanto" means "a single sword," "chokunyu" means "to enter straight into somewhere," and "tanto chokunyu" originally meant that someone rushes into an enemy position by oneself with a single sword.

Deriving from it, this idiom has come to mean to the above meaning.
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【No. 0705】Neko ni Katsuobushi (Dried Bonito to Cats)Neko ni Katsuobushi (Silver Vine to Cats)

Nov 23, 2016 09:10
Recently, I've talked about Japanese phrases related to cats.

Today I would like to talk about the two Japanese proverbs "neko ni katsuobushi" and "neko ni matatabi."

Cats like both "katsuobushi" and "matatabi", but the meanings of these proverbs are different from each other.

The literal meaning of "neko ni katsuobushi" is "dried bonito to cats," and it expresses to fall into a dangerous situation.

This comes from the fact that if you put dried bonito in front of a cat, the cat will eat it very quickly.

On the other hand, the literal meaning of "neko ni matatabi" is "silver vine to cats," and it expresses that something is very effective.

This comes from the fact that if you give a cat silver vine, the cat become happy drunkenly.
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【No. 0704】Nekobaba

Nov 21, 2016 21:36
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese word "nekobaba."

"Nekobaba" means that someone steals something from others sneakily.

"Neko" means "cat", and "baba" ("糞" in kanji) is an infant word in Edo period that means "feces".

It is said that this word comes from cats' behavior that they hide their feces by putting sands.

Also, "baba" can be written as "婆" in kanji, and it means "an old woman."

There is another theory about "nekobaba", and it insists that the word comes from a story that an old woman.who likes cats didn't return her debt.
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【No. 0703】Neko wo Kaburu (To Wear a Cat)

Nov 20, 2016 00:07
Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "neko wo kaburu."

The literal meaning is "to wear a cat," and it expresses that someone hides his/her actual character, and behaves like an innocent person.

Perhaps many Japanese people think that this phrase comes from a fact that cats looks innocent, but they're actually fierce.

However, there are another theory about the etymology of this phrase.

"Mushiro" (Japanese matting made of rice straw) can be referred to as "neko" or "nekoda".

The other theory insists that this phrase comes from that to wear such a matting is identical with to profess ignorance.
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【No. 0701】Ippiki Ookami (A Lone Wolf)

Nov 18, 2016 16:09
Today, I will talk about the Japanese term "ippiki ookami."

The literal meaning is "a (lone) wolf," and it indicates a person who doesn't rely on organizations or fellows, and acts by his/her own.

Wolves usually make groups, but some of them get away from the herd and drift alone.

Such a wolf is called "ippiki ookami" (a lone wolf), and this term has come to be used for a person.

Several years ago, a Japanese TV show examined what a wild lone wolf is saying by using Bow-Lingual, which is a kind of communication tool with dogs made in Japan.

As a result, the wild lone wolf said something like "what should I do?"

Both lone wolves in wild and human society might not want to become lone wolves.
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【No. 0700】Kabe ni Mimi Ari Shoji ni Me Ari

Nov 17, 2016 21:34
Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb "kabe ni mimi ari shoji ni me ari."

This proverb expresses that secret things or gossips are prone to leak.

The literal meaning of "kabe ni mimi ari" is "there are ears on walls," and it indicates that someone might listen to anytime while placing his/her ear against a wall.

The literal meaning of "shoji ni me ari" is "there are eyes on shoji (Japanese paper sliding doors)," and it indicates that someone might peep inside through the door.

That is to say, this proverb says that you have no idea when and who listen/see your talks and acts, so you have to be careful whatever you do.

By the way, I heard that there is almost the same proverb in English "Walls have ears."
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【No. 0698】Hara ga Tatsu

Nov 15, 2016 14:21
Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "hara ga tatsu."

Usually "hara" means "stomach" and "tatsu" means "to stand," so learners of Japanese might think that it means "one's stomach stands."

However, this phrase actually means "to be angry."

In Japan, it has been thought that stomachs contain one's feelings since a long time ago.

Also, "tatsu" can mean that something appears intensely.

Therefore, "hara ga tatsu" means "one's feeling come out intensely," and it has come to express the feeling of angry.

By the way, if you want to use this phrase as an adjective, you can say "hara data shi-i（はらだたしい）."