Skip to content

Article archives

  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1142】Heppiri Goshi (へっぴり腰 - Full of Fear)

Feb 2, 2018 16:07
Have you ever seen a person who has a extremely diffident attitude or is full of fear?

Such a person is called へっぴり腰 (heppiri goshi) in Japanese.

へっぴり (heppiri) comes from へひり (hehiri) or 屁をひる (he wo hiru), which means "to fart," and 腰 (koshi) means "hip."

Therefore, the literal meaning of "heppiri goshi" is "one's hip (posture) when farting."

In fact, this term originally meant such a half-crouching posture that is unstable.

Later, since people have such a posture when they have less confidence, "heppiri goshi" has come to also mean a diffident attitude.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1141】Iki wo Korosu (息を殺す - Holding/Bating One's Breath)

Feb 1, 2018 01:20
If you don't want anyone to find you, you will keep your body still and depress breathing.

Such an act is called 息を殺す (iki wo korosu) in Japanese.

息 (iki) means "breath" and 殺す (korosu) means "to kill," so the literal meaning of this "iki wo korosu" is "to kill one's breath."

It is thought that this idiom comes from the fact that if you kill (stop) your breath, it will be very quiet.

Also, some thought that the etymology is that "iki" means "life" or "soul," and if you kill it, it will be very quiet.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1140】Jigyaku-fū Jiman (自虐風自慢 - Humblebrag)

Jan 31, 2018 04:12
There is a Japanese slang term: 自虐風自慢 (jigyaku-fū jiman), which was born from the Internet.

自虐 (jigyaku) means "self-condemnation," 風 (fū) means "sounds like," and 自慢 (jiman) means "brag."

Therefore, "jigyaku-fū jiman" means one's brag that sounds like self-condemnation.

For example, it's something like the following utterances.

"Oh, I received ONLY $10,000 as a bonus in summer, it's terrible."

"These days various men try to ask me out almost every day, sigh.., I'm tired of refusing them."

Since "jigyaku-fū jiman" makes people uncomfortable, please be careful not to say it.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1139】Arikitari (ありきたり - Predictable)

Jan 30, 2018 09:06
If you are called ありきたり (arikitari), you will feel a little sad.

"Arikitari" means that something or someone is ordinary, commonplace, and you can find it everywhere.

This word was born by conjugating a verb: ありきたる (arikitaru).

あり (ari) of "arikitari" means "to exist" and きたり (kitari) means "to continue to the present", so this verb mean that something has existed as always.

Because of this, "arikitari" derived from "arikitaru" has come to means something ordinary, commonplace or predictable.

However, note that these days the verb "arikitaru" is rarely used.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1138】Kubi wo Nagaku-suru (首を長くする - Waiting Eagerly)

Jan 29, 2018 13:07
There is a Japanese idiom: 首を長くする (kubi wo nagaku-suru).

首 (kubi) means "neck" and 長くする (nagaku-suru) means "to lengthen something," so the literal meaning of this idiom is "to lengthen one's neck."

However, it actually means to wait for something eagerly.

If you are looking forward to meet someone, you will stretch yourself or lengthen your neck in order to look into the far distance.

Because of this, "kubi wo nagaku-suru" has come to be used in the above meaning.

If you want to express you're waiting for something explicitly, you can say 首を長くして待つ (kubi wo nagaku-shite matsu), by using the verb 待つ (matsu - waiting).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1137】Kubi wo Hineru (首をひねる - Twisting One's Neck)

Jan 28, 2018 02:35
I 首をひねりました (kubi wo hineri mashita).

This Japanese expression, "kubi wo hineru" has two different meanings.

(首 (kubi) means "neck" and ひねる (hineru) means "to twist.")

The one meaning is literally, to twist and strain one's neck physically.

Unfortunately, I physically twisted my neck.

The other meaning is a kind of behavior when you doubt something, or you're dissatisfied with something.

In English, you can express it as "angle/lean/tilt one's head" by using "head" instead of "neck."

If you want to explicitly express the meaning of doubt or dissatisfaction, you should say 首を傾げる (kubi wo kasigeru - tilting one's neck).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1136】Itsutsu no Fukuro (五つの袋 - Five Bags)

Jan 27, 2018 04:21
Yesterday, I introduced you to 三つの袋 (mittsu no fukuro - three bags), which is often told in Japanese weddings.

I said that there are three important bags in married life, but these days 五つの袋 (itsutsu no fukuro - five bags) are sometimes mentioned.

Today I'd like to talk about the additional two bags.

The fourth one is 胃袋 (ibukuro), which means "stomach."

Delicious meals are indispensable for a happy married life.

The fifth one is 金玉袋 (kintama bukuro), which means "scrotum."

It is also important to have sex life and have children.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 1135】Mittsu no Fukuro (三つの袋 - Three Bags)

Jan 26, 2018 09:39
There is a classic story called 三つの袋 (mittsu no fukuro), which is used in a Japanese wedding.

The literal meaning of "mittsu no fukuro" is "three bags," and these bags are often mentioned as important things in married life or keys to matrimonial harmony.

The first one is 給料袋 (kyuryo bukuro), which means "pay envelope."

Economic stability is of course important.

The second one is 堪忍袋 (kannin bukuro), which means a limit of patience.

Sometimes you should endure something for your happy married life.

The third one is お袋 (ofukuro), which means "mother" or "mother-in-law."

This implies that you must not to forget that your parents raised you, and have to take good care of your parents.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1134】Kusawake (草分け - Pioneer)

Jan 25, 2018 16:17
A person who did something for the first time is called 創始者 (soushisha).

創 (sou) means "creation," 始 (shi) means "first," and 者 (sha) means "person," so I don't think that it's necessary to explain the etymology of this term.

On the other hand, there is another term, 草分け (kusawake), which has the similar meaning of "soushisya."

草 (kusa) means "grass" and 分け (wake) means "to mow," so the literal meaning of 草分け (kusawake) is "to mow grass."

nOriginally, this term meant to develop a foundation of a village or town by opening a grassy land.

Deriving from it, this term has come to mean development of a new field, or a pioneer.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1133】Nechigae (寝違え - Sprained Neck)

Jan 24, 2018 22:56
Yesterday, maybe I got a bad symptom called 寝違え (nechigae).

"Nechigae" refers to a symptom accompanied with pain (especially around the neck) like muscle ache, which is caused by unnatural posture while sleeping.

Here, 寝 (ne) means "sleep," and 違え (chigae) means "difference" or "disagreement."

Therefore, it is thought that this term implies that the sleeping is different from the correct way.

If you want to this term as a verb, you can say 寝違える (nechigaeru).

Since the pain of "nechigae" this time is really strong, I will go to a hospital if it continues until tomorrow.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1132】Okotoba ni Amaete (お言葉に甘えて - If You Insist)

Jan 23, 2018 10:56
Today I'd like to talk about the convenient Japanese expression, お言葉に甘えて (okotoba ni amaete), which can be used in various situations.

"Okotoba ni amaete" is used when you want to accept someone's kind offer willingly.

お (o) in お言葉 (okotoba) is a polite prefix, and 言葉 (kotoba) means "words."

Also, 甘えて (amaete) means "to depend on somsething."

Therefore, the literal meaning of "okotoba ni amaete" is "I depend on your words."

Here, "your words" implies "your kind offer," so this expression actually means "I'll take you on that" or "If you insist."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1131】Osoreirimasu (恐れ入ります - Thanks/Sorry)

Jan 22, 2018 20:45
Yesterday and the day before yesterday, I introduced you to Japanese expressions that mean the feeling of apology or appreciation.

In addition, I'd like to talk about another term that has the similar meaning, 恐れ入ります (osoreirimasu).

"Osoreirimasu" is the polite form of 恐れ入る (osoreiru).

The literal meaning of "osoreiru" is "I’m scared of you," but it can also mean "I can't stand against you" or "I'm awed by you."

Later, it has come to contain the current meanings.

"Osoreirimasu" is more polite than "sumimasen," and is often used when you want to say sorry/thanks with awe.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1130】Katajikenai (かたじけない - Thanks)

Jan 21, 2018 16:18
Yesterday, I introduced you to the expression すみません (sumimasen), which is used when expressing the feeling of apology or appreciation.

There is another expression, かたじけない (katajikenai), which can express your feeling as similar to "sumimasen" or ありがとう (arigatou - Thank you).

"Katajikenai" originally meant something like "humbled" or "afraid," but now it also means the feeling of appreciation.

There are several theories about its etymology, but the truth hasn't cleared yet.

"Katajikenai" was used as a word of thanks in various situations before "arigatou" became popular, but these days it's rarely used in everyday conversation.

(You can find this expression in Japanese period films/dramas.)
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 1129】Sumimasen (すみません - Sorry/Thanks)

Jan 20, 2018 14:48
Japanese people often say すみません (sumimasen) when they want to express their feelings of apology or appreciation.

"Sumimasen" is a polite form of すまぬ (sumanu), and "sumanu" is composed of the verb 済む (sumu) and the negative word ぬ (nu).

Here, "sumu" originally means "to be finished" or "to be solved," and it can also mean "to feel cheerful" or "to feel comfortable."

That is to say, "sumimasen," the negative form of "sumu," means that "you don't feel cheerful."

If you bring trouble to someone, or are helped by someone while taking much time, your feeling won't be cheerful/comfortable.

Because of this, "sumimasen" has come to be used to express the feeling of apology or appreciation.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1128】Hashigo (はしご - Ladder)

Jan 19, 2018 18:24
はしご (hashigo) is a kind of tool that is used to go up to high places, and is referred to as "ladder" in English.

In Japan, we sometimes say はしごする (hashigo suru), the literal meaning of which is "I do ladder," but do you know the actual meaning?

Here "hashigo" is short for はしご酒 (hashigo zake - ladder alcohol), which means to go on a pub crawl.

This term comes from the fact that we called going familiar bars one by one just like climbing up a ladder step by step "hashigo zake."

These days, "hashigo" can mean to visit the same kind of shops or facilities continuously.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1127】Mimicchii (みみっちい - Stingy)

Jan 18, 2018 15:44
Have you ever stuck to a small amount of money of or a small thing?

Such a person is referred to as みみっちい (mimicchii) in Japanesr.

みみ (mimi) is short for ミミズ (mimizu), which means "earthworm," and っちい (cchii) means that it looks like something.

That is to say, this term implies that someone has thin and small personality like a earthworm.

I don't care about a small amount of money, but I often stick to a small thing, so I might be called みみっちい人間 (mimicchii hito - stingy person).
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 1126】Monuke no Kara (もぬけの殻 - Completely Empty)

Jan 17, 2018 11:01
If there are completely no people in a building, the situation is called もぬけの殻 (monuke no kara) in Japanese.

もぬけ "monuke" comes from the Japanese verb: もぬける (monukeru), which means that cicadas or snakes cast their shells/skins.

殻 (kara) means "shell" or "slough," so "monuke no kara" originally meant "cicada shell" or "snake's slough."

Later, this has come to be used for buildings where no one is present or containers with nothing.

Also, it is thought that も (mo) of "monukeru" comes from 身 (mi - body) or 裳 (mo - kimono/clothes), so "monukeru" implies that "one's body leave" or "one leave by clothes."
(Note that 抜ける(nukeru) of "monukeru" means to leave by somewhere.)
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1125】Kugi wo Sasu (釘を刺す Warning against Someone)

Jan 16, 2018 13:24
To give someone a warning in advance in order not to cause a problem later is referred to as 釘を刺す (kugi wo sasu) in Japanese.

釘 (kugi) means "nail" and 刺す (sasu) means "to drive," so the literal meaning of "kugi wo sasu" is "to drive a nail (into someone)."

This expression comes from the construction method in Japan.

In the past, Japanese people built buildings only by assembling timbers, but later we have come to drive nails to fix them for the sake of safety.

Because of this, "kugi wo sasu" has come to mean to warn against someone for safety purposes.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1124】Kacchīn (カッチーン)

Jan 15, 2018 13:33
Can you imagine the meaning of カッチーン (kacchīn), which is one of the Japanese onomatopoeia?

This word is used to express your feeling of anger against someone's behavior.

"Kacchīn" was made by emphasizing another onomatopoeia; かちん (kachin).

"Kachin" represents the sound that a small and hard thing hit something, but it can also mean one's feeling of anger.

It is thought that the reason is because an impact that something hits to your head or heart is similar to the feeling of anger.

Incidentally, when you want to use "kachin" to mean your feeling of anger, it is usually used as かちんとくる (kachin to kuru), the literal meaning of which is "the sound kachin is coming."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1123】Ii Kimi and Ii Zama (「いい気味」と「いい様」)

Jan 14, 2018 20:52
The Japanese adjective いい (ii) usually means "good" or "nice," but it sometimes implies the reverse and converys irony.

The Japanese term いい迷惑 (ii meiwaku) that I introduced you yesterday is one of the example.

There are other terms that use ironic "ii" -- for example, they're いい気味 (ii kimi) and いい様 (ii zama).

"Kimi" means "feeling" and "zama/sama" means "figure," so the literal meaning of "ii kimi" and "ii zama" are "good feeling" and "good figure," respectively.

However, actually "ii kimi" implies someone's failure or misfortune, and "ii zama" implies someone's stupid/disgraceful figure.