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【No. 2242】Muga Muchū (無我夢中 - Becoming Engrossed)

Dec 11, 2023 19:57
Muga Muchū

The four-character idiom muga muchū (無我夢中) describes a situation where someone is so engrossed in something that they lose themselves.

Since mu (無) neas "none" or "losing," and ga (我) means "self," muga (無我) means "losing oneself."

In addition, mu (夢) means "dream," and chū (中) means "in," so muchū (夢中) means "to be engrossed in something as if in a dream."

Here, muga is used to enhance muchū.

In other words, this idiom indicates a state of being completely absorbed in something and forgetting oneself.
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【No. 2241】Ata Futa (あたふた - Feverishly)

Dec 10, 2023 21:53
Ata Futa

When someone is very flustered and upset, the state can be described as the term ata futa (あたふた).

Ata futa is treated as an onomatopoeic word, but its etymology is an abbreviation of the phrase awate furameku (慌てふためく).

Sinve awate (慌て) means "to panic," and futameku (ふためく) means "to be flustered," the literal meaning of awate furameku is "to panic and be flustered."

Its simple abbreviation would be awa futa (あわふた), but it is believed that it became atafuta for better for a better sound.
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【No. 2240】Hashiyasume (箸休め - Palate Cleanser)

Dec 9, 2023 13:38
Hashiyasume

In Japanese cuisine, small dishes like pickles or vinegared vegetables served between main dishes are called hashiyasume (箸休め).

Since hashi (箸) means "chopsticks," and yasume (休め) means "resting," the literal meaning of hashiyasume is "resting chopsticks."

By giving your chopsticks a rest with the above small dishes (i.e., 'hashiyasume'), you can enhance your enjoyment of the main dish.

In addition, the term hashiyasume can also be used metaphorically in some situations as well as for a dish.

For example, it can mean "aside" or "side stories" in a discussion, implying a break from the main topic.

【No. 2239】Hone Yasume (骨休め - Relaxation)

Dec 8, 2023 16:14
Hone Yasume

The concept of resting one's body and healing fatigue is sometimes described as hone yasume (骨休め) in Japanese.

Hone (骨) means "bone," and yasume (休め) means "resting." Thus, the literal meaning of hone yasume is "resting one's bones."

In this context, hone is used as a metaphor for one's entire body.

You can also say kyūkei (休憩) or kyūka (休暇) to mean rest. However, using hone yasume can specifically imply a nuance of resting one's body exhausted from work or daily activities.

Recently, I took some time for hone yasume at a hot spring.
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【No. 2238】Daihen (代返 - Proxy Attendance)

Dec 7, 2023 10:51
Daihen

Yesterday, I introduced the slang term pinige (ピ逃げ), which refers to registering attendance and running away from a lecture.

When I was a university student, the term pinige did not exist, but there was something similar called daihen (代返).

Since dai (代) means "substitute," and hen is short for henji (返事), meaning "response," the literal meaning of daihen is "substitute response."

In other words, daihen refers to a kind of dishonest act where someone else responds on your behalf when your name is called during attendance checks.

Please do not waste your tuition fees by conducting pinige or daihen.
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【No. 2237】Pi-nige (ピ逃げ - Registering Attendance and Running Away)

Dec 6, 2023 18:51
Pi-nige

Recently, the lang term pi-nige (ピ逃げ) has been coined and used among university students.

Pi (ピ) represents the sound of an IC card being tapped on a card reader, and nige (逃げ) means "to run away."

Recent university student IDs have been digitized into IC cards, and many universities confirm attendance at lectures by having students tap their student ID cards on an IC card reader.

Therefore, pi-nige refers to the act of tapping a student ID card on the card reader to register attendance and then running away from the lecture.
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【No. 2236】Usomatsu (嘘松 - Fabricated Story)

Dec 5, 2023 23:45
Usomatsu

On Japanese social media, posts that seem like lies are sometimes referred to as usomatsu (嘘松).

The word uso (嘘) means "lie."

The word matsu (松) usually means "pine," but in this context, it refers to the character Osomatsu (おそ松) from the anime Osomatsu -san (おそ松さん).

The slang term usomatsu originated from a post on Twitter (now "X") about an unbelievable experience related to Osomatsu-san, or the fact that users who frequently posted fake stories used icons of Osomatsu-san.

As an antonym for usomatsu, hontōmatsu (本当松) is sometimes used, incorporating hontō (本当 - meaning "truth").
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【No. 2235】Hakushu Kassai (拍手喝采 - Cheering and Clapping)

Dec 4, 2023 22:15
Hakushu Kassai

The act of clapping hands and praising someone with loud voices is referred to as hakushu kassai (拍手喝采) in Japanese.

Since hakushu (拍手) means "clapping," and kassai (喝采) means "acclamation," hakushu kassai literally means "clapping and acclamation."

This four-character idiom is usually used to express admiration or emotion for an outstanding performance or a wonderful event.

However, note that using this idiom frequently on social networking sites such as X (Twitter) could give an impression of being fictional.

In Japanese SNS, people sometimes use exaggerated expressions to give a strong impression to their messages, and hakushu kassai is one of them.
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【No. 2234】Nariwai (生業 - Occupation)

Dec 3, 2023 23:57
Nariwai

The Japanese term nariwai (生業) refers to one's occupation or work that supports their livelihood.

Nari (生) means "life" or "living," and wai/waza (業) means "work" or "occupation." Thus, the literal meaning of nariwai is "work for a living." Originally, nariwai meant the cultivation of crops or the efforts to make them.

It evolved to mean any work that provides income for living, not just agriculture.

For example, you can say e wo kaku koto wo nariwai to shiteimasu (絵を描くことを生業としています - "I make my living by painting pictures").

【No. 2233】Attakē (あったけぇ - Heartwarming)

Dec 2, 2023 23:11
Attakē

Today, I played The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes.

This game is designed for online cooperative play.

Since it was released over eight years ago, it took me a long time to find other online players. However, the players I met were very kind and cooperative, even to a beginner like me.

During this time, I thought attakē (あったけぇ) to the kind players.

Attakē is a casual way of saying atatakai (温かい - meaning "warm") and is also a slang phrase derived from a manga. It is used when you are touched and warmed by someone's kindness.
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【No. 2232】Hyappatsu Hyakuchū (百発百中 - Deadly Accuracy)

Dec 1, 2023 19:05
Hyappatsu Hyakuchū

The four-character idiom hyappatsu hyakuchū (百発百中) describes a situation where a bullet or an arrow always hits the target, or every plan or prediction turns out exactly as intended.

Since hya/hyaku (百) means "hundred," hatsu/patsu (発) means "shot," and chū (中) means "hit," the literal meaning of hyappatsu hyakuchū is "a hundred shots, a hundred hits."

This idiom originates from the legendary archer Yang Youji, who appears in the ancient Chinese text "Strategies of the Warring States."

In the story, Yang shot a hundred arrows from a hundred paces away from a willow tree, and all the arrows hit the willow leaves.
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【No. 2231】Issho Kenmei / Isshō Kenmei (一所懸命と一生懸命 - With All One's Might)

Nov 30, 2023 19:01
Issho Kenmei / Isshō Kenmei

The four-character idioms issho kenmei (一所懸命) and isshō kenmei (一生懸命) are both used to describe engaging in something seriously with all one's might.

Since i/ichi (一) means "one," sho (所) means "place," and kenmei (懸命) means "with all one's might," the literal meaning of issho kenmei is "with all one's might in one place."

This idiom was derived from the fact that samurai defended a single territory with their lives.

Later, shō (生 - meaning "life") came to be used instead of sho, leading to the idiom isshō kenmei.

In recent years, the term issho (一生 - meaning "a lifetime") is more familiar than issho (一所 - meaning "one place" ), so isshō kenmei is used more often than issho kenmei.
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【No. 2230】Hitamuki (ひたむき - Single-Minded)

Nov 29, 2023 08:20
Hitamuki

The Japanese term hitamuki (ひたむき) is used to describe a person who is single-mindedly devoted to a particular thing.

Hita (ひた/直) means "single-minded" or "straight," and muki (むき/向き) means "direction."

In other words, hitamuki implies that someone's mind is directed single-mindedly and straight toward something.

In addition, hitamuki includes various positive meanings such as shinshi (真摯 - "sincerity"), nintai zuyosa (忍耐強さ - "perseverance"), and jōnetsu (情熱 - "passion").

I think that a hitamuki person is cool and beautiful.
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【No. 2229】Bake no Kawa ga Hagareru (化けの皮が剥がれる - Showing One's True Colors)

Nov 28, 2023 19:49
Bake no Kawa ga Hagareru

When someone's hidden secret or nature is revealed, the situation can be described as bake no kawa ga hagareru (化けの皮が剥がれる).

Since bake (化け) means "disguise," kawa (皮) means "skin," and hagareru (剥がれる) means "to be peeled off," the literal meaning of this idiom is "one's skin of the disguise is peeled off."

In this idiom, bake no kawa metaphorically represents a false appearance to hide one's true nature.

Note that this idiom is typically used in a negative context.
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【No. 2228】Aritei ni Moushi Masu to (有り体に申しますと - To Be Honest)

Nov 27, 2023 17:42
Aritei ni Moushi Masu to

In a formal situation, when you want to say something honestly, you can use the Japanese phrase aritei ni moushi masu to (有り体に申しますと).

Since aritei (有り体) means "as it is," and moushi/mousu (申し/申す) is a humble form of "to say," aritei ni moushi masu to literally means "if I say it as it is."

If you want to use a more common phrase, you can use the terms shōjiki (正直 - "honest") and iu (言う - "to say") and say shōjiki ni iu to (正直に言うと - "to be honest with you").

There are several other phrases that can be used when trying to say something honestly, but I think that aritei ni moushi masu to is the most formal expression.

【No. 2227】Hito Shigoto / Hito Anshin (一仕事 / 一安心 - A Substantial Task / Temporary Relief)

Nov 26, 2023 18:37
Hito Shigoto / Hito Anshin

Today, I finished hito shigoto (一仕事) and am now in a state of hito anshin (一安心).

Since hito (一) means "one," and shigoto (仕事) means "task" or "job," the literal meaning of hito shigoto is "one task."

The term hito shigoto can mean a small amount of task or a substantial task, depending on the context.

In addition, anshin (安心) means "relief," so the literal meaning of hito anshin is "one relief."

The term hito anshin can mean relief for the moment, used when an anxious situation is temporarily resolved.

In my case, the above hito shigoto was a major anxiety, and completing it has allowed me to feel hito anshin.
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【No. 2226】Geta wo Azukeru (下駄を預ける - Leaving the Matter)

Nov 25, 2023 19:43
Geta wo Azukeru

The act of entrusting someone with the handling and responsibility of something is referred to as geta wo azukeru (下駄を預ける) in Japanese.

Since geta (下駄) is a traditional Japanese wooden footwear, and azukeru (預ける) means "to entrust," the literal meaning of geta wo azukeru is "to entrust one's geta to someone."

When one entrusts their geta to someone, the person without geta cannot move freely.

In other words, everything depends on the person to whom the geta are entrusted.

The idiom geta wo azukeru can represent trust in the other person or irresponsibility.
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【No. 2225】Geta wo Hakaseru (下駄を履かせる - Inflating)

Nov 24, 2023 19:50
Geta wo Hakaseru

The act of inflating quantities or prices of something is referred to as geta wo hakaseru (下駄を履かせる) in Japanese.

Since geta (下駄) is a traditional Japanese wooden footwear, and hakaseru (履かせる) means "to put on," the literal meaning of geta wo hakaseru is "to put geta on someone."

Typical geta are designed with two wooden blocks on the bottom so that they can be used in paddy fields and wetlands.

Therefore, wearing geta makes one look taller, like elevator shoes today. This is why the idiom was coined.

【No. 2224】Super Mario RPG

Nov 23, 2023 22:00
Super Mario RPG

Today, I completed the remake of Super Mario RPG, which was released last week.

The original version was a collaborative production between Nintendo and Square, released in 1996 for the SNES.

In other words, this remake comes 27 years after the original version.

Super Mario RPG is a unique entry in the Super Mario series, featuring an interesting story and integrating various action elements into its battle system.

Playing this game made me feel like watching a comical puppet show; it was adorable, funny, and enjoyable.

I really loved the TV commercial that aired about 27 years ago, in which the enemy character, Piranha Plant, sings an attractive song. I can still remember and sing the song even now.

Unfortunately, I did not have an SNES and could not play it. However, through this remake, I have discovered what a wonderful game it is.

【No. 2223】Gowasan de Negai Mashite wa (ご破算で願いましては - Starting Afresh)

Nov 22, 2023 21:39
Gowasan de Negai Mashite wa

Have you ever used soroban (そろばん - "Japanese abacus")?

In one of the Japanese abacus calculation exercises, a student adds numbers read aloud by an instructor. This exercise usually begins with the phrase gowasan de onegai mashi-mase (ご破算で願いましては) or simply negai mashite wa (願いましては).

Go (ご) is a polite prefix, wasan/hasan (破算) means "to reset the abacus to zero," and negai mashite (願いまして) means "please." Therefore, the literal meaning of gowasan negai mashite wa is "please reset your abacus to zero (for a new calculation)."

As a child, I heard this phrase almost every day in abacus classes.

By the way, now I am almost in the state of hasan (破産), meaning "bankruptcy."