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Essay

【No. 0612】Pin kara Kiri made (From Pin to Kiri)

Aug 21, 2016 10:37
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese phrase "pin kara kiri made," which means "from the first to the last" / "whole gamut."

The "pin" comes from the Portuguese "pinta," which means "point."

This became to express "one" of a dice, then became to mean "the first" or "the best."

The "kiri" means "the last" or "the worst."

There are two theories about the etymology: one is that it comes from the Portuguese "cruz," which means "cross," and the other is that it comes from the Japanese "kagiri," which means "limit."

Recently, Japanese people often say just "pin kiri" for short.
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【No. 0611】Marathons at the Olympics

Aug 20, 2016 17:53
The marathon competition of the Rio Olympics will be held tomorrow.

Today, I'd like to talk about trivia about marathons at the Olympics.

Spiridon Louis, who is the winner of the first Olympic marathon, drank wine instead of water at an inn along the way.

Spiridon Belokas, who was the third place of the first Olympic marathon, was disqualified, because he passed through some parts of the course riding a horse-drawn carriage.

The slowest record of Olympic marathons is 54 years 8 months 6 days and 5 hours, which was recorded by a Japanese Kanaguri Siso at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912.

He lost consciousness by a sunstroke in the marathon, and when he came to himself owing to helps of farmers, the competition was already ended.

After that, the Olympic ceremony was held in Stockholm in 1967, then the concerned personnel noticed that Kanaguri wasn't treated as "abstain," but as "missing."

Therefore, he was invited to the ceremony, and finished the marathon officially.
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【No. 0610】Katai (Hard/Solid/Stiff)

Aug 19, 2016 20:16
Today, I will talk about the kanji for the Japanese word "katai."

"Katai" has three different kanji, "固い," "硬い" and "堅い."

I think that it will become easy to remember the differences by understanding these antonyms.

①固い
"固い" is the most common writing among them.
This kanji expresses that something is hard/rigid/firm, and the general antonym is "緩い" (loose/lax).
For example: "結び目が固い" (The knot is hard/tight) / "頭が固い" (He has a hard head)

②硬い
"硬い" expresses that something is strong/hard/stiff.
The antonym is "柔らかい" (soft/flexible).
For example: "硬い石" (a hard rock) / "表情が硬い" (your expression is stiff)

③堅い
"堅い" expresses that something is solid, or has high certainty.
The antonym is "もろい" (fragile/frail).
For example: "私は意思が堅い" (I am stubborn) / "身持ちが堅い" (she is a virtuous woman) / "彼の勝利は堅い" (his victory is stable)

There are many cases where you can use both of them.

By the way, "難い" is also read as "katai," but the meaning is something like "it's difficult/hard to do."

Note that you can't use this kanji instead of other "katai."

(I think it can be exchanged for other "katai" in English, because all of "katai" can be translated into "hard.")
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【No. 0609】Tsukuru (Make/Build/Create)

Aug 18, 2016 16:14
Today, I will talk about the Kanji of "tsukuru," which mainly means "make."

"Tsukuru" has three different kanji, "作る," "造る" and "創る."

①作る
"作る" is the most common writing, and is used for relatively small, intangible, or abstract things.
For example: "朝食を作る" (make a breakfast) / "時間を作る" (make time)

②造る
"造る" is used for relatively big and tangible things.
For example: "高いビルを造る" (make/build a tall building) / "ビールを造る" (make/produce beer)

Note that if you use "造る" for beer, sake, or miso, it means a large scale production. If you make them at home, you should use "作る."

③創る
"創る" is used for new things or works of art.
For example: "新しい制度を創る" (make/create a new system) / "独創的な彫刻作品を創る" (make/create a unique sculpture)

④つくる
If it's intangible and it's difficult to choose one of above kanji, you can use "tsukuru" in Hiragana.
For example: "良好な関係をつくる" (make/establish a friendly relationship) / "町づくり" (urban development)
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【No. 0608】Hito no Uwasa mo Shichijugo-nichi (Gossip Lasts 75 Days)

Aug 17, 2016 02:56
Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb "hito no uwasa mo shichijugo-nichi" (gossip lasts 75 days).

As the term suggests, this proverb means that any gossip doesn't last more than 75 days, and it will be forgotten naturally in due course.

We often use this proverb as comforting words for a person who is depressed due to his/her bad gossip, e.g., "It's okay because gossip lasts less than only 75 days. "

The most acceptable reason why the number 75 is used is that there were five seasons once in Japan, and one season is around 75 days.

That is to say, our ancestors thought that any gossip would faded when seasons change.

【No. 0607】Traffic Jams due to a Return Home

Aug 16, 2016 07:34
For many Japanese people, Bon holidays will end today.

Therefore, people who returned home will come back to areas where they currently work.

Of course, this will cause major traffic jams all over Japan.

By the way, it is said that most traffic jams on Japanese highways occur in sag sections, where the slope is changed from a decline to a uprise.

Actually, I also had to come back to Tokyo today.

However, since I really don't like traffic jams, I set off at around 2:30 A.M., and arrived at around 6:30 A.M.

I will go to bed from now until noon.
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【No. 0606】Seisaku and Seisaku

Aug 15, 2016 22:30
Today, I'd like to talk about the difference between confusing Japanese words, "製作 (seisaku)" and "制作 (seisaku.)"

The readings of them are the same, and the meanings are similar, but the nuances are a little different.

"製作" is mainly used when you create something that is tangible, such as practical products.

For example: "大量のパソコンを製作する。" (I create/manufacture a lot of computers.)

"制作" is mainly used when you create an art work, such as a movie or a painting.

For example: "新しいパズルゲームを制作する。" (I create/produce a new puzzle game.)

Since there are many cases that can use both of them, you don't need to be sensitive too much.
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【No. 0603】0th Floor

Aug 12, 2016 01:44
The US, Japan, and many other countries think of a ground floor as a first floor.

On the other hand, the UK, European countries, and Australia think of a ground floor as a 0th floor.

Therefore, a first floor for the UK corresponds to a second floor for us.

I have never thought that the counting from first floor is wrong, but for basement floors, we count B1 (-1), B2 (-2), ...

Considering the number increases by one each floor, it might make sense that the ground floor is a 0th floor.

Also, counting from zero is approachable for many programmers.
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【No. 0602】Mountain Day

Aug 11, 2016 03:59
Today, August 11th is Mountain Day.

The purpose of Mountain Day is "to obtain an opportunity to become familiar with mountains, and to thank to benefits of the mountains."

Actually, the day is not derived from events related to mountains.

Some organizations such as Japanese Alpine Club had requested the establishment of Mountain Day since 2010, then the day was finally enacted in 2014 and executed from 2016.

Therefore, today is the first Mountain Day.

At first, some people thought that Mountain Day should be June along to the mountain climbing season.

However, since it was convenient for many people to connect the day to Bon vacation, it became August.

By the way, summer vacation of my university has started from yesterday, I have little relevance to Mountain Day.
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【No. 0601】Fu Ni Ochinai

Aug 10, 2016 15:39
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese phrase "fu ni ochinai."

"Fu" means "guts," "ochinai" means "it doesn't fall," and "fu ni ochinai" means "be dissatisfied" or "can't understand."

Since "fu" was thought of as a place where thoughts and minds dwell, we have come to say "fu ni ochinai" (it doesn't fall in my gut) as the above meanings.

Although there is a positive version "fu ni ochiru," which means "I'm satisfied" or "I understand," this is rarely used in recent years.

There are many Japanese phrases that are mainly used with a negative expression like "fu ni ochinai."

【No. 0600】The 600th Post

Aug 9, 2016 11:15
This is my 600th post.

Although there were some dangerous days, I managed to continue to write English without a day off.

Also, my university will have Bon holidays from tomorrow until a week later.

Bon is a Japanese event that enshrines spirits of our ancestors, and we often held festivals and visit graves during Bon.

You may have heard the word "Bon Odori" (odori means dancing), which is often performed in Bon Festival.

Bon Odori was originally performed for recognizing ancestral spirits, but the religious meaning has gradually faded.

Recently, Bon Odori and Bon Festival are popular as entertainment events.
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【No. 0599】Aka no Tanin (A Complete Stranger)

Aug 8, 2016 19:30
Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase "aka no tanin."

"Aka" means "red," "tanin" means "a stranger," and "aka no tanin" means "a complete stranger."

Since the word "aka" comes from "akiraka," which means "obvious" or "clear," it contains such meanings in addition to "red," and is sometimes used for emphasizing a noun as in the above example.

(By the way, "kuro" (black) comes from "kurai," which means "dark.")

As similar examples, there are "makka na uso" (a red lie) and "aka ppaji" (a red shame).

"Makka na uso" means "an absolute lie" or "an utter lie," and "aka ppaji" means "a mortal shame" or "an open disgrace."
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【No. 0598】Olympic Trivia in Japan

Aug 7, 2016 16:39
Rio Olympic Games began yesterday.

Today, I'd like to talk about some Olympic trivia related to Japan.

In the Stockholm Summer Games in 1912, Japan participated in an Olympic for the first time, and the event was men's track and field.

In the Amsterdam Summer Games in 1928, Japan got the first gold medal in a triple jump.

Also, recent Japanese medalists often take a picture while biting the medals.

(The first person to bite a medal was Armstrong, which won the men's swimming 200 m free style in the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988. It is said that the reason why he bit his gold medal is to check whether or not the medal was real gold.)

There are pros and cons about the biting act, but Japanese Olympic Committee decided officially that biting medals is a prohibited act from the Sochi Winter Games in 2014.
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【No. 0597】Ichi ka Bachi ka (One or Eight)

Aug 6, 2016 16:21
Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese idiom "ichi ka bachi ka."

"Ichi" means "one," "ka" means "or," "bachi" means "eight," and "ichi ka bachi ka" means something like "I don't know what the result will be, but I'll take my chances."

(My dictionary says that "ichi ka bachi ka" means "all or nothing," "sink or swim," or "hit or miss.")

This is originally a gambling term, and it's said that "ichi" (一) and "hachi" (八) comes from the top parts of kanji of "cho" (丁) and "han" (半), respectively.

(In the past, we mainly bet on whether the sum of two dice would be even (cho) or odd (han) in gambling places.)

There is another theory that insists "ichi ka bachi ka" comes from "ichi ka batsu ka" (the dice shows one, or you will receive punishment.).

Anyway, the etymology is gambling using dice.
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【No. 0596】Nekojita (Cat's Tongue)

Aug 5, 2016 23:31
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "nekojita" (cat's tongue).

Nekojita means people who can't eat hot food/drink.

The etymology is tied to a fact that cats don't prefer to eat hot things.

However, there are no large individual differences in sensitivities of human tongues, and the main cause of nekojita is a usage of tongues.

People who have nekojita feel hot, because they touch hot things on the tip of their tongues that are very sensitive.

On the other hand, people who don't have nekojita touch food/drink on the center of their tongues while placing the tip of tongues on the back side of the teeth.

Therefore, you might overcome nekojita to some extent by changing the way of using your tongues.
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【No. 0594】Tabasco Sauce

Aug 3, 2016 22:35
Tabasco sauce is a pungent seasoning that is made from a Mexican pepper called Chile Tabasco.

It is often seen as a byword for a hot sauce, and is used for various dishes in many homes all over the world.

Tabasco sauce is made by maturing mashed Tabasco peppers in a oak barrels for three years.

This process has not changed since Tabasco was invented in 1868.

The inventor, Edmund McIlhenny originally formulated the manufacturing method of Tabasco for raw oysters, which are his favorite food.

Japanese people often use it for Italian cuisine, such as pasta or pizza.

However, I heard Italian people don't use Tabasco sauce for Italian cuisine.
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【No. 0593】Dasoku

Aug 2, 2016 22:09
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word "dasoku."

"Da" means "snake," "soku" means "feet," and "dasoku" expresses "superfluous things" or "unnecessary acts."

(Google translate said that dasoku is "icing on the cake.")

The etymology of dasoku is derived from the following Chinese story:

In the country of Chu, alcohol was given to servants in a festival.

However, since it was small in amount, they decided that only the first person who finished drawing a snake can drink all of the alcohol.

A man finished drawing a snake, and he added the snakes feet while grabbing the alcohol, but his victory became invalid because snakes don't have feet.

From this story, dasoku (snake's feet) comes to express "superfluous things."

Japanese people sometimes say "it might be dasoku, but ..." when we state our opinions in a condescending attitude.
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【No. 0592】Botamochi

Aug 1, 2016 21:10
Today, I will talk about a traditional Japanese cake called botamochi.

Botamochi is a rice cake wrapped in sweet bean paste.

This rice cake is made by boiling/steaming sticky rice and non-glutinous rice, pounding them lightly, and making it into a ball.

Also, there is a Japanese cake called "ohagi," which is almost the same as botamochi.

There are several theories that explain the difference between botamochi and ohagi, but I think that the theory, which insists that the name depend on the season, is widely accepted.

Since botan (tree peonies) bloom in the spring, botamochi is a spring mochi (rice cakes).

Since hagi (bush clovers) bloom in autumn, ohagi is an autumn mochi.

By the way, there is a famous saying "tana kara botamochi" (botamochi falls from a shelf into one's mouth), which expresses an unexpected lucky.

This saying is often referred to as "tanabota" for short.
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【No. 0591】Money Recognition in Vending Machines

Jul 31, 2016 18:30
There are a large number of vending machines in Japan.

Although I also use them, sometimes they don't recognize money, and the money comes back.

In such cases, I think people will change the put speed of the coin, or stretch the wrinkles of the bill, but these acts don't work at all.

The speed of coins becomes constant, and the wrinkles of bills are calibrated in the vending machine.

The main reason that vending machines don't recognize money is greasy dirt on the surface.

Therefore, when your money isn't recognized, you should wipe the money using a cloth or something.
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【No. 0590】Seppa-tsumaru

Jul 30, 2016 17:56
Yesterday, I was in a state of "seppa-tsumatta."

Today, I'd like to talk about the Japanese phrase "seppa-tsumaru."

"Seppa" means thin oval metals that are put on both sides of Japanese sword guards, and .

if seppa get jammed (tsumaru), you can't unsheathe the sword.

If you seppa-tsumaru when you are put on the spot, you will be not able to escape, let alone fight.

Therefore, seppa-tsumaru means something like a state that there is an imminent threat, and you can't do anything against it.

Seppa-tsumaru is translated into "under the gun," "in crunch mode," or "in a pinch" in English.