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【No. 0633】Ishi (Stone / Doctor / Inclination / Intention)

Sep 11, 2016 04:14
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese word "ishi", which has several meanings and kanji.

"石" and "医師" mean "stone" and "(medical) doctor" respectively, so it's easy to use them properly.

However, there are three other different kanji for "ishi", and all of them are related to "thinking".

「意思」･･･ This kanji shows an inclination or thought, and is most commonly used among the three.
For example: "帰りたいという意思を示す。" (I show my inclination to want to go home.)

「意志」･･･ This kanji shows a stronger thought or intention than "意思".
For example: "強い意志を持って毎日勉強する。" (I study every day with a strong intention.)

「遺志」･･･ This kanji shows an intention of the deceased (a testamentary intention).
For example: "祖母の遺志を継ぐ。" (I receive my grandmother's dying wish.)

By the way, the "し" in "石" is stressed, while in any other kanji, the "い" is stressed.
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【No. 0632】Rhinoceros Horn

Sep 10, 2016 21:49
Today, I will talk about rhinoceros horn.

A rhinoceros is known to have a very hard skin, and a horn.

Actually, this horn is made of a protein called keratin, and there is no bone in the horn.

This is similar to hair (beard) or nails of humans, and if anything, it's closer to hair.

Therefore, even if the horn breaks, it will grow again naturally.

Since the rhinoceros horns are useful as herbal medicine, and the price can be higher than gold or platinum, rhinoceros poaching often takes place in massive.

By the way, bull's horns seem to be closer to nails.
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【No. 0631】Left-hand Traffic

Sep 9, 2016 01:51
I've written several posts related to left and right.

Today, I will talk about the reason why people keep the left in Japan.

Actually, the left-hand traffic had already established in the early Edo period.

The most widely-accepted theory comes from a rule to avoid fights between samurais.

A right handed wore a sheath on his left-side waist.

Of course there were more right-handed people than left-handed, so their sheaths (and they) would clash if they walked the right-hand .

Also, after the Edo period, it is said that Japan established the left-hand traffic as a traffic law officially to deepen friendly relations with the UK.
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【No. 0630】Oaiso

Sep 8, 2016 02:51
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "Oaiso".

"Oaiso" comes from the word "aiso", which means "an affable attitude".

Originally, this word was used by restaurant staff as the meaning of "sorry I'm not affable" when they gave customers bills.

However, today it's often used when customers want to pay bills.

Actually, if customers say "oaiso" to restaurant staff, it can imply something like "since I'm disgusted at this restaurant, the check please."

Although meanings of words have been changed, I think that it's more acceptable to use "okaikei (okanjo) onegai shimasu" (could you bring me the check, please?) instead of "oaiso".
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【No. 0629】Kami (God / Paper / Hair / Seasoning or Consideration)

Sep 7, 2016 01:29
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "kami", which has several meanings and kanji.

The most commonly used kanji for "kami" are "神" (God), "紙" (paper) and "髪" (hair).

Actually, only "神" has the different accent among the three kanji.

The primary accent of "神" is "か", while that of "紙" and "髪" is "み".

Therefore, it's easy to distinguish "神" in a conversation.

It's a little difficult to distinguish "紙" from "髪", but "髪" is often expressed as "髪の毛" (hair) for clarity.

By the way, although it's a little formal expression, "加味 (kami)" (seasoning/consideration) is also often used.

"加味" has the same primary accent as "神", but it's easy to distinguish between the two, because "加味" is normally used with "～する (suru)" (do something), just like "加味する."
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【No. 0628】Komekami (Temple)

Sep 6, 2016 01:15
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "komekami."

"Kome" means "rice", "kami" means "to bite", and "komekami" means "temples on a head."

The etymology of which is that your temples move when you bite rice.

Of course, it doesn't need to be rice, but our traditional staple food is rice, so the word "kome" has been used.

(Please make sure that your temples move when you bite something.)

By the way, since the bone thickness of around "komekami" is thin, it's vulnerable to impact, and is referred to as a vital part in various fighting sports, same as the chin.
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【No. 0627】Hana mo Hajirau (Even Flowers Get Shy)

Sep 5, 2016 01:31
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese adjective "hana mo hajirau."

This is used to describe that a young woman is greenly and beautiful.

The literal meaning is "even flowers get shy," that is to say, it implies that the woman is so beautiful it makes even beautiful flowers feel inferior and get shy.

For example, this adjective is used as: "hana mo hajirau otome," or "hana mo hajirau otoshigoro."

"Otome" means a maiden, and "otoshigoro" means puberty, but I think that both of above example sentences can be translated into "a girl in the first flush of youth" in English.

As of this adjective, the Japanese language often uses flowers when describing the beauty of women.
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【No. 0626】Hige

Sep 4, 2016 03:32
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "hige."

Hige means human's (especially man's) hair that grows above his upper lip (mustache), jaw (beard), or cheek (sideburn).

"髭" is often used as the kanji of "hige," but strictly speaking, "髭" means "mustache," "鬚" means "beard," and "髯" means "sideburn."

There are also three different words in English as well as the kanji.

The word "hige," which can show three different hair, seems to be unique to Japan.

By the way, it was considered that mustache bushi (Japanese samurai) in medieval Japan should grow their mustache, and bushi who have less mustache wore a false mustache.
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【No. 0625】Ookini

Sep 3, 2016 08:41
Today, I come back to the Kanto region from the Kansai region.

In western Japan (Kansai), it's natural but I often heard that people speak in a Kansai dialect.

I will the Japanese word "ookini," which is often used by people live in the Kansai region.

"Ookini" sometimes could mean just "big," but it's used as the meaning of "thank you" there.

The etymology is "ookini arigatashi" ("ookini" means "very much," and "arigatashi" means "thank you"), and it became to say just "ookini" by omitting the latter part.

By combining the word "maido," which means "always," you can say "maido ookini" (thank you always).
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Sep 2, 2016 23:48
The Japanese language has less syllable than that many other languages have, but has a plenty of onomatopoeia, which are often used in conversation.

Today, I will talk about some onomatopoeia that are related to touch.

"Sara-sara" ･･･ This shows that something is dry and beautiful, and there is no moisture.
For example: "Sara-sara no kami" (silky hair)

"Fuwa-fuwa" ･･･ This shows that something is very soft.
For example: "Fuwa-fuwa no makura" (a fluffy pillow)

"Zara-zara" ･･･ This shows that something is rough and not smooth.
For example: "Zara-zara no kami" (a rough/harsh paper)

"Kasa-kasa" ･･･ This shows that something has no moisture, grease, and polish, and is dry.
For example: "Kasa-kasa no hada" (a dry skin)

"Gowa-gowa" ･･･ This shows that something is hard, stiff, and isn't smooth.
For example: "Gowa-gowa no fuku" (a stiff cloth)

"Gotsu-gotsu" ･･･ This shows that something is hard and bumpy.
For example: "Gotsu-gotsu shita iwa" (a rugged rock)
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【No. 0622】Utau

Aug 31, 2016 21:22
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "utau," which has several different kanji.

"Utau" is normally written as "歌う" in kanji, and it means "sing" in English.

Basically, there is no problem if you can read/write this kanji.

There are two other kanji that mean "sing": "唄う" and "謡う."

"唄う" is often used for traditional Japanese songs or twitters of birds.

"謡う" is often used for Japanese nursery rhymes and folk songs.

Also, "詠う" is used for waka and tanka (traditional Japanese poem).

"謳う" is also read as "utau," but this is used when you praise something, or you want to emphasize your words.
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【No. 0621】Shikii ga Takai (The Threshold is High)

Aug 30, 2016 02:25
Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "shikii ga takai," which seems to be misunderstood by more than half of Japanese people.

"Shikii" means a threshold that is located in an entrance or gate, and you have to cross the shikii to enter the house.

If you feel the threshold is high (shikii ga takai), it implies that you don't want to enter the house.

That is to say, "shikii ga takai" means "it's difficult to enter the house BECAUSE I made trouble there in the past."

However, many Japanese people use this phrase to mean "it's difficult," "it's too high level," or "it's out of my league."

In such cases, it's correct to use "ハードルが高い" (the hudedle is high) or "分不相応" (it's out of my league).

If you find someone improperly using "shikii ga takai," please point it out.

【No. 0620】Expressions of Sadness

Aug 29, 2016 20:29
Today, a really sad thing happened to me.

Hence I will talk about two Japanese expressions of sadness.

"Ten o aogu" ･･･ The literal meaning is "to look up to the sky."

This phrase expresses a person who trying to call for something on the God due to despair or grief.

"Unadareru" ･･･ The literal meaning is "to bow one's nape of the neck."

This phrase expresses a person dropping his/her head due to despair, sadness, or embarrassment.

Both of these expressions mean a kind of sadness, but the direction of the face is opposite to each other.

【No. 0619】Japanese Language Proficiency Test and The Japanese Language Examination

Aug 28, 2016 16:14
Today, I tried to solve exam problems of Japanese language on the Internet.

However, I made one mistake among five problems in the second grades.

I couldn't believe that foreign people trying to take N2 solve such difficult problems, but it was not "Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)," but "The Japanese Language Examination" for native Japanese people.

To be honest, I'm relieved.

By the way, the problem that I made a mistake is related to "閑話休題 (kanwa kyudai)."

"閑話" means "digression," "休題" means "to stop the topic," and "閑話休題" means "to return to the main topic from the digression," which is translated as "but I digress" in English.

However, I thought that "閑話休題" means "to stray from the main topic and make a digression," which is something like "by the way" or "as an aside."

I heard that many Japanese people have misunderstood as I did, but I'd like to be more careful.
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【No. 0618】The Figure of Raindrops

Aug 27, 2016 03:37
Today, I learned figures of raindrops.

I thought that the figure of raindrops while dropping is just a teardrop-shaped, which is something like '💧.'

However, actual raindrops don't have such a shape.

If the diameter of the raindrop is less than 3 mm, it will be an almost perfect sphere.

If the diameter is around 4-5 mm, the bottom of the raindrop will become flat by the air resistance, and it will be similar to a shape of a steamed meat bun.

If the diameter is more than 6 mm, the bottom of the raindrop will be hollowed and a cup-shaped, and eventually split into smaller raindrops.

Since diameters of typical raindrops are around 1 mm, most of shapes of raindrops that we usually see have a sphere shape.
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【No. 0617】Utsusemi (Cicada Shell)

Aug 26, 2016 14:07
Today, I will talk about the Japanese "空蝉 (utsusemi)."

"空" menas "empty," and "蝉" menas "cicada," and "空蝉" expresses "cicada shell."

Actually, this word originally comes from "現人 (utsushiomi)."

"現人" means "people who live in the world" or "this ephemeral world."

These meanings of "現人" are also included in "空蝉."

I think that it's interesting to describe "living" or "the world" as "空蝉."

By the way, since "semi" (cicada) is the summer insect, "空蝉" is a summer season word.
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【No. 0616】Various Facial Expressions

Aug 25, 2016 14:33
There are four different facial expressions in the Doraemon's song called "hug shichao" (let's hug).

Today, I will describe the meanings of them.

"Fukurettsura" ･･･ A displeased face puffing one's cheeks.

"Shikamettsura" ･･･ A frowning face with a knot between one's brows.

"Nakittsura" ･･･ A crying or tearful face.

"Bucchozura" ･･･ A sulky and sullen face.

Most the etymologies are simple: "tsura/zura" means "face," "fukureru" means "to swell/puff up," "shikameru" means "to furrow/knit one's brow," and "naku" means "to cry."

Also, Bucchozura comes from the face of a dignified Buddha called "Bucchoson," who has a sulky and sullen face.

By the way, I think that the antonym of all of these facial expressions is "egao," which means "smile."
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【No. 0615】Saba wo Yomu (Fudge the Number)

Aug 24, 2016 20:48
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese word "saba wo yomu," which means "to fudge the number/count to advantage."

This phrase is often used for one's age, height, or weight.

The literal meaning of "saba wo yomu" is "to count chub mackerel," and there are several theories as the etymology.

One is that we count chub mackerel quickly and roughly because they are caught in large numbers and are perishable.

In addition, some says it comes from "魚市場読み (izana-yomi)," which means to count fish with a fast mouth at a fish market, and others say it's because we treat two piece of sashimi (sliced row fish) of chub mackerel as one piece.

By the way, to fudge the number/count to disadvantage is called "gyaku saba" (reverse chub mackerel).
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【No. 0614】Tsutomeru

Aug 23, 2016 12:56
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "tsutomeru," which has three different kanji.

① 努める
"努める" means "to attempt something in an effort."
(For example: I study hard / I attempt to realize my dream.)

② 勤める
"勤める" means "to take on a job" or "to work at somewhere."
(For example: I take service with the hospital / I work at a big company.)

③ 務める
"務める" means "to fulfill a given role/mission."
(For example: I will play a major role in the show / I accomplished my duty as a parent.)

It is said that both "勤める" and "務める" comes from "努める," which expresses "effort."

However, note that there are many cases that you can't replace these kanji because each kanji for "tsutomeru" has clear and different meaning.
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【No. 0613】Ashita and Asu and Myonichi

Aug 22, 2016 13:12
The Japanese word "明日," which means "tomorrow," has three different readings, "ashita," "asu," and "myonichi."

In general, Japanese people often use either "ashita" or "asu."

"Ashita" originally meant "朝 (asa)," which means "morning," and used as an antonym of "夕べ (yube)," which means "evening."

Then the meaning came to change to "next morning," "next whole morning," and "next day."

On the other hand, "asu" means "tomorrow" from the beginning, and it seems to come from the abbreviation of "akasu," which means "dawn," or "asa," which means "morning."

Also, "asu" sometimes means "in the near future."

"Myonichi" is the just reading of "明日" in on-yomi (Chinese reading).

The most formal reading is "myonichi," the second place is "asu," and the most casual reading is "ashita."