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【No. 2082】The Japanese Youth Slang Term 'Mi' (み) : Part 2

Jul 4, 2023 21:58
The Japanese Youth Slang Term 'Mi': Part 2

Although mi (み) is a suffix used to turn adjectives into nouns, young Japanese people today apply it to various adjectives and even verbs.

The most famous example of using mi to nominalize a verb is wakarimi (わかりみ - "understanding"), which derives from the verb wakaru (わかる - "to understand").

The correct reason why young people began to attach mi to various words is not known, but it is thought to be for reasons such as "to soften the assertion by using euphemistic expressions" or "for the funny and cute sounds of the words."

Here, since using these nouns by themselves is incomplete as a sentence, they are often used with other verbs or adjectives, such as aru (ある - "to exist"), fukai (深い - "deep"), and kanjiru (感じる - "to feel").

Examples:
Wakarimi ga fukai (わかりみが深い - "I totally understand.") *very frequently used
Yabami wo kanjiru (やばみを感じる - "I feel dangerous.")
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【No. 2081】The Japanese Youth Slang Term 'Mi' (み) : Part 1

Jul 3, 2023 20:50
The Japanese Youth Slang Term 'Mi': Part 1

In recent years, young Japanese people often add mi (み) after various words, especially on Twitter.

While mi was originally a suffix used to turn adjectives into nouns, it could be used only for limited adjectives, such as amai (甘い) or tsurai (つらい). These adjectives change to amami (甘み) and tsurami (つらみ), respectively.

Young people then began to apply the suffix mi to various adjectives or words.

Example:
Yabai (やばい - "awesome") → yabami (やばみ) *original: yabasa (やばさ - "awesomeness")
Ureshī (うれしい - "happy") → Ureshimi (うれしみ) *original: ureshisa (うれしさ - "happiness")
Oishī (おいしい "delicious") → Oishimi (おいしみ) *original: oishisa (おいしさ - "deliciousness")

All of these adjectives should originally be turned into nouns using the more common suffix sa (さ), but mi is used instead.
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【No. 2080】Yabai (やばい - Incredible)

Jul 2, 2023 16:09
Yabai

Japanese young people often use the word, yabai (やばい).

Yabai is an adjective that represents a severe or extreme degree, and it can be used in both negative and positive contexts.

Originally, yabai meant a dangerous or inconvenient situation.

It has changed to mean all negative situations and then to have a positive meaning as well.

Yabai, containing both negative and positive meanings, would be translated into English as "incredible," "awesome," or "oh my gosh."

Yabai is also used as an exclamation, and in that case, it sometimes varies as yabaa (やばっ) or yabba (やっば).
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【No. 2079】Tsumoru Hanashi (積もる話 - A Pile of Stories to Tell)

Jul 1, 2023 20:10
Tsumoru Hanashi

When you meet someone after a long time and have a lot of stories you want to tell, you can use the term, tsumoru hanashi (積もる話).

Since tsumoru (積もる) means "a pile of," and hanashi (話) means "talk/story," the literal meaning of tsumoru hanashi is "a pile of stories."

This term expresses the situation where the stories you want to tell to someone by not meeting with them for a long time.

For example, you can say tsumoru hanashi ga takusan arimasu ne (積もる話がたくさんありますね - meaning "We have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?") or tsumoru hanashi ga tsukimasen ga, sorosoro kaeranai to ikemasen (積もる話が尽きませんが、そろそろ帰らないといけません - meaning "We don't seem to run out of stories to share, but I have to go home soon").
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【No. 2078】Momo Kuri San-nen Kaki Hachi-nen (桃栗三年柿八年 - It often Takes Time to Bear the Fruit of One's Actions)

Jun 30, 2023 14:49
Momo Kuri San-nen Kaki Hachi-nen

Achieving goals often takes a reasonable number of years.

The Japanese proverb, momo kuri san-nen kaki hachi-nen (桃栗三年柿八年), expresses such a fact.

Since momo (桃) means "peach," kuri (栗) means "chestnut," san-nen (三年) means "three years," 'kaki" (柿) means "persimmon," and hachi-nen (八年) means "eight years," the literal meaning of this proverb is "peaches and chestnuts need three years, and persimmon needs eight years."

Just like it takes three years to harvest peaches/chestnuts and eight years to harvest persimmons after sowing the seeds, everything takes a reasonable number of years to achieve results.

Please consider using this proverb if you find someone in a hurry because of a lack of results.
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【No. 2077】Omoi Koshi wo Ageru (重い腰を上げる - Bestiring Oneself)

Jun 29, 2023 22:12
Omoi Koshi wo Ageru

Today I finally started working on a task I had been putting off.

Such a situation can be described with the Japanese idiom, omoi koshi wo ageru (重い腰を上げる).

Since omoi (重い) means "heavy," koshi (腰) means "waist," and ageru (上げる) means "to lift," the literal meaning of this idiom is "to lift one's heavy waist."

Of course, if you have a heavy waist, it is difficult to lift it and stand up.

To lift a heavy waist implies that there will be progress in something.
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【No. 2076】Fungiri (踏ん切り - A Drastic Decision)

Jun 28, 2023 19:23
Fungiri

A drastic decision is called fungiri (踏ん切り) in Japanese.

Fun/fumi (踏ん/踏み) means "to step," and giri/kiri (切り) means "to take a drastic action."

That is to say, fungiri implies that someone makes a drastic decision using a reaction of stepping hard on the ground.

You can say something like fungiri ga tsuku (踏ん切りがつく - meaning "to make up one's mind") with tsuku (つく - meaning "to be in a certain state").

Note that fun (踏ん) in fungiri has the same sound as fun (糞/ふん - meaning "poop"), but its meaning is quite different.

【No. 2075】Yowari Me ni Tatari Me (弱り目に祟り目 - Misfortunes Never Come Singly)

Jun 27, 2023 17:23
Yowari Me ni Tatari Me

I had used my iPhone for two years without a case or film, and there was no scratch on it; however, several days ago, I dropped it on concrete, and now it has many scratches.

Even more unfortunately, today I dropped my MacBook Pro, which I bought a year ago for about $350,000, hard on the floor and it is now distorted.

I am very, very sad.

Such a situation can be described with the proverb, yowari me ni tatari me (弱り目に祟り目).

Since yowari (弱り) means "weak/weakened," me (目) means "condition," tatari (祟り) means "curse," the literal meaning of this proverb is "weakened condition, and curse condition."

In other words, it represents a situation where further misfortune happens when one's mind or body is weak.
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【No. 2074】Han-don (半ドン - Half-holiday)

Jun 26, 2023 17:21
Han-don

The Japanese term han-don (半ドン) describes a day when classes or business ends before noon and the rest of the day is off.

Since han (半) means "half," and don (ドン) comes from the Dutch "Zondag," meaning "Sunday," the literal meaning of han-don is "half Sunday."

In the past, in Japan, it was common for schools and companies to have Saturday afternoons off, and han-don was almost synonymous with "Saturday."

However, the five-day workweek system has recently become widespread, and the term han-don is gradually becoming obsolete.

Incidentally, in the Netherlands and some European countries, the four-day workweek (a three-day weekend) system is being introduced.
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【No. 2073】Emonkake (えもんかけ - Hanger)

Jun 25, 2023 14:31
Emonkake

Have you ever heard of the Japanese word emonkake (えもんかけ)?

Even young Japanese may not have heard of it.

Emonkake is a thin rod-shaped tool to hang clothes, and in recent years, it is usually referred to as hangā (ハンガー - literally "hanger").

Since emon (えもん) means "clothes," and kake (かけ) means "hanging," emonkake literally means "hanging clothes."

Traditional Japanese emonkake are made of long rods for hanging kimono (Japanese clothes), and this term is now sometimes used to distinguish traditional them from common hunger.
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【No. 2072】Warau Kado ni wa Fuku Kitaru (笑う門には福来る - Laugh and Grow Fat)

Jun 24, 2023 19:27
Warau Kado ni wa Fuku Kitaru

Happiness naturally comes to those who are always smiling and to homes filled with joy.

To express this, you can use the Japanese proverb, warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru (笑う門には福来る).

Since warau (笑う) means "laugh," kado (門) means "home," fuku (福) means "fortune," and kitaru (来る) means "to come," this proverb literally means "fortune comes to a laugh-filled home."

Even if you are faced with something difficult or sad, you can overcome it with a smile and a positive attitude.
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【No. 2071】Sode Furi-au mo Tashō no En (袖振り合うも他生の縁 - Even a Chance Meetings Are Preordained)

Jun 23, 2023 10:50
Sode Furi-au mo Tashō no En

In Japan, there is a belief that we should cherish every relationship, even a small one.

The proverb sode furi-au mo tashō no en (袖振り合うも他生の縁) expresses this belief.

Since sode (袖) means "sleeve," furi-au (振り合う/触り合う) means "to touch each other," tashō (他生) means "previous/after life," and en (縁) means "fate/karma," the literal meaning of this proverb is "to touch sleeves each other is karma from a previous life."

In other words, this proverb says that we should cherish every encounter and relationship, no matter how trivial, because it is not by chance but karma from a previous life.
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【No. 2070】Mizu wo Eta Uo (水を得た魚 - A Fish to Water)

Jun 22, 2023 19:29
Mizu wo Eta Uo

Have you ever seen someone who has become lively in their areas of expertise or in a situation where they can shine?

Such a person can be described as mizu wo eta uo (水を得た魚) in Japanese.

Since mizu (水) means "water," eta (得た) means "got," and uo/sakana (魚) means "fish," the literal meaning of mizu wo eta uo is "a fish that got the water."

A fish released into the water will swim lively.

That is to say, the phrase mizu wo eta uo is a metaphor for a lively person in their areas of expertise as a fish swimming lively.
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【No. 2069】Ware wo Wasureru (我を忘れる - Losing Control)

Jun 21, 2023 15:34
Ware wo Wasureru

To lose control of oneself by getting excited about something can be expressed with the Japanese idiom ware wo wasureru (我を忘れる).

Since ware (我) means "me/oneself," and wasureru (忘れる) means "to forget," the literal meaning of ware wo wasureru is "to forget oneself."

This idiom implies that you forget even yourself when you get too absorbed in something.

I think that it is good to be enthusiastic about something, but please be careful not to lose control of yourself and cause trouble for those around you.
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【No. 2068】Koshi wo Oru (腰を折る - Interrupting)

Jun 20, 2023 14:33
Koshi wo Oru

To describe interrupting and stopping what someone is doing, you can use the Japanese idiom koshi wo oru (腰を折る).

Since koshi (腰) means "waist," and oru (折る) means "to broke/bend," the literal meaning of koshi wo oru is 'to broke/bend one's waist."

Of course, koshi wo oru can mean its literal meaning, but it is also often used idiomatically.

Koshi (waist) is an important part that supports the body, so the term is also used as a metaphor for an important part of something. Thus, breaking this important part is equivalent to interrupting something.

In actual cases, it is often used with hanashi (話 - meaning "talk") and said hanashi no koshi wo oru (話の腰を折る) to mean "to interrupt a conversation."
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【No. 2067】Chakasu (茶化す - Making Fun of Someone/Something)

Jun 19, 2023 16:41
Chakasu

The Japanese verb chakasu (茶化す) is used when making fun of someone or replying with a joke.

Since cha (茶) means "tea," and kasu (化す/かす) is a suffix creating a verb, the literal meaning of chakasu is "to make tea" or "to be tea."

There are several theories about the etymology of chakasu.

One theory says that it comes from the fact that in former times in Japan, expensive green tea was served to cheat something.

Another theory says that cha in chakasu comes from chari (茶利), which means comical phrases and actions in kabuki or ningyo-joruri (traditional Japanese puppet theater).
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【No. 2066】Chara-o (チャラ男 - Shallow Man)

Jun 18, 2023 15:11
Chara-o

Young men who dress fancy or are shallow in speech, behavior, and character are sometimes described by the slang term chara-o (チャラ男).

Chara-o is short for chara chara shita otoko (チャラチャラした男) or charai otoko (チャラい男).

Here, chara chara (チャラチャラ) is an onomatopoeic word representing the sound of small metal objects clinking together, and it is also used to describe shallow people who wear a lot of accessories.

In addition, o (男) means "man," so the chara-o literally means "shallow man."

I personally wish that chara-o in the world would become shinshi (紳士 - meaning "gentlemen") as much as possible.
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【No. 2065】Chan Chara Okashī (ちゃんちゃらおかしい - Fiddle-faddle)

Jun 17, 2023 11:36
Chan Chara Okashī

To describe something too ridiculous, you can use the slang term chan chara okashī (ちゃんちゃらおかしい).

Okashī (おかしい) means "ridiculous" or "funny," and chan chara (ちゃんちゃら) emphasizes the following okashī.

The most accepted theory about the etymologies of chan chara is that it comes from chari (茶利), which means comical phrases and actions in kabuki or ningyo-joruri (traditional Japanese puppet theater).

However, please note that chan chara okashī does not describe something comical or funny but is used to scoff at something ridiculous.
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【No. 2064】Negatte mo Nai (願ってもない - Heaven-sent)

Jun 16, 2023 20:47
Negatte mo Nai

There are various phrases to express happiness. When you want to express sincere happiness, you can use the phrase negatte mo nai (願ってもない).

Since negatte/negau (願って/願う) means "wish," and nai (ない) is a negative suffix, the literal meaning of negatte mo nai is "I do not wish that."

For clarity, this phrase can be expanded as follows:

"I have a sincere desire for something, but it is very difficult to realize, so I have never wished for it openly. However, I am very happy that it has fortunately come true this time."
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【No. 2063】Yamiochi (闇落ち - Falling to the Dark Side)

Jun 15, 2023 19:34
Yami-ochi

Do you like situations where a right-minded character falls to the villain's side in anime, manga, and video games?

Such a situation can be described by the slang term, yami-ochi (闇堕ち/闇落ち) in Japanese.

Since yami (闇) means "dark," and ochi (堕ち/落ち) means "fall," the literal meaning of yami-ochi is "falling to the dark."

It is almost the same as the English phrase, "falling to the dark side."

Incidentally, in the real world, the term yami-ochi is sometimes used to describe people whose negative emotions are extremely magnified.