Skip to content

Article archives

  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1102】Yoi Otoshi wo (良いお年を)

Dec 24, 2017 14:16
This year will be over in about a week.

There is a Japanese parting greeting that is used only during this time of year.

It is 良いお年を (yoi otoshi wo).

The 良い (yoi) means "good" and the お年 means "year."

This expression is short for 良いお年をお迎えください (yoi otoshi wo omukae kudasai), where the お迎えください (omukae kudasai) means something like "to wish you a prosperous something."

I think that the most similar English expression to 良いお年を is "Have a happy new year."

【No. 1101】Bounenkai (忘年会)

Dec 23, 2017 12:22
During this time of year, a lot of 忘年会 (bounenkai) are held in Japan.

A bounenkai is a drinking party that is held at the end of the year, in order to forget the past year.

There is no religious meaning or particular style.

The 忘 (bou) means "to forget," the 年 (nen) means "year," and the 会 (kai) means "party," so 忘年会 (bounenkai) literally means "forget the part year party."

I think that End of the Year Party is very similar to bounenkai.

Incidentally, today I will participate in a bounenkai - this is the third time this week.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1100】Mizu wo Sasu (水を差す - Casting a Damper)

Dec 22, 2017 21:38
Yesterday, I introduced you to the Japanese expression 話の腰を折る
(hanashi no koshi wo oru), which means to interrupt others when theyare talking.

Today I'd like to talk about the similar expression, 水を差す (mizu wo sasu).

The 水 (mizu) means "water" and the 差す (sasu) means "to put in/pour," so the literal meaning of this expression is "to put water in something."

If you put water in hot water or tasty dish, they will become tepid or thin, then they can be ruined.

Because of this, 水を差す (mizu wo sasu) has come to be used the currect meaning.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 1099】Hanashi no Koshi wo Oru (話の腰を折る - Interrupting when Someone is Talking)

Dec 21, 2017 20:35
Today, I sometimes interrupted others in the middle of talking.

Such an action is called 話の腰を折る (hanashi no koshi wo oru) in Japanese.

The 話 (hanashi) means "story/conversation," the 腰 (koshi) means "a lower back/waist," and the 折る (oru) means "to break," so the literal meaning of this term is "to break a lower back of conversation."

"A lower back" is a very important part of the body, and if it's hurt, it will become difficult to support your body.

Because of this, 話の腰を折る has come to mean to interrupt when someone is talking.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 1098】How to Go to the Bathroom: Part 2

Dec 20, 2017 09:40
Yesterday, I introduced you to a common expression that is used when you want to go to the bathroom.

Today I'd like to talk about other Japanese expressions implying that you will go to the bathroom.

*お花摘みに行く* (*ohana tsumi ni iku* - I will go picking flowers): This is an expression for women.

*雉撃ちに行く* (*kiji uchi ni iku* - I will go pheasant hunting): This is an expression for men.

Originally, it seems that these expression was used to imply urinating/defecating on climbing.

This is because the posture of urinating/defecating in the grass is similar to the posture of flower picking or pheasant hunting.
  • in Essay
  • 3 min read

【No. 1097】How to Go to a Bathroom Part 1

Dec 19, 2017 16:37
I posted an entry about how to use a toilet yesterday.

Today I'd like to tell you about how to express in Japanese that you want to go to a bathroom.

The most simple expression is that "toile ni ittekimasu" (トイレに行ってきます - I will go to a toilet).

However, such a direct expression is not elegant.

In my opinion, the most common and accepted expression is "otearai ni ittekimasu" (お手洗いに行ってきます - I will go to an otearai), here the "otearai" (お手洗い) is a place where you wash your hands.

Japanese people have been sure to wash their hands carefully after urinating/defecating since a long time ago.

Because of this, "to go to a bathroom" has come to be expressed as "otearai ni iku" (お手洗いに行く - I will go to an otearai).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1096】Toilet Lids

Dec 18, 2017 14:55
Of course you will flush a toilet after using it.

At this time, do you run the water in the sink after closing the lid of the toilet?

Or do you close the lid of the toilet after running the water in the sink?

(Please don't say that you don't close lids of toilets.)

According to the study at University of Leeds,if you flush a toilet while opening the lid, pathogens called Clostridium difficile contained in your feces will become aerosol, and they will scatter to 25 cm above the toilet seat.

It was also reported that the contamination was detected within 90 min after flushing.

From now on, all we should flush toilets after closing the lids.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1095】Guchi (愚痴 - Moaning)

Dec 17, 2017 14:54
I want to say some "guchi" (愚痴) now.

However, in most cases, since "guchi" makes others feel bad, I shouldn't say it.

"Guchi" means to say something silly or complain about something people have no power over.

Originally, this is a Buddhist term, which means that someone has no heart to understand the truth, or is ignorance.

After the beginning of the Edo period came, "guchi" came to be used to mean "to say something silly," and since the middle of the Edo period, it has come to mean "to complain about something people have no power over."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1094】Asappara (朝っぱら - First Thing in the Morning)

Dec 16, 2017 15:58
These days, I'm annoyed with a neighborhood resident for singing loudly first thing in the morning.

If you want to express "in the morning," you can use the Japanese "asa kara" (朝から) or "asa ni" (朝に).

However, especially if you want to emphasize that it's early morning or it's a lack in common sense, you can imply it by using "asappara kara" (朝っぱらから) instead of "asa kara."

The "asappara" (朝っぱら) comes from "asahara" (朝腹) -- where the "asa" (朝) means "morning," the "hara" (腹) means "stomach," and the "asahara" means something like "one's empty stomach in the early morning (before breakfast)."

Because of this, "asappara" can imply that something happens early in the morning.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1093】Enryo (遠慮 - Constraint)

Dec 15, 2017 16:59
Japanese people often take an act called "enryo" (遠慮).

"Enryo" means "to refrain from words or deeds to others" or "to decline something."

The "en" (遠) means "far" and the "ryo" (慮) means "to give adequate consideration," so originally "enryo" meant "to give adequate consideration to far future."

If you give too much thought to your far future, you may not move into action soon.

Because of this, "enryo" has come to mean "to refrain from your attitude."

To take "enryo" is translated into English as "behave with modesty" or "respect someone's feeling."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1092】Mi kara deta Sabi (身から出た錆 - You Asked for It)

Dec 14, 2017 10:44
Have you ever suffered from a bad deed that you did?

Getting into such a situation can be expressed using the Japanese proverb "mi kara deta sabi" (身から出た錆).

Here, the "mi" (身) means "sword blade" and the "sabi" (錆) means "rust," so the literal meaning of this term is "rust generated from a sword blade."

If you neglect to take care of your sword, rust will be generated from the blade, and you may lose your life in a critical moment.

Because of this, "mi kara deta sabi" has come to be used to mean to suffering from your own bad act.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1091】Superstition concerning Swallow

Dec 13, 2017 21:18
There are many superstitions in Japan.

Almost all of them have no scientific basis, but some have make sense.

For example, it is said that "It will rain if swallows fly at low altitude."

As a low pressure system approaches, small bugs/flies get less able to fly at high altitude, because moisture attaches to their wings.

Since these small bugs/flies are baits of swallows, when they fly at low altitude, swallows also fly low to catch them.

I heard that the rain forecast based on the behavior of swallows is reliable in many cases.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1090】Ichiru no Nozomi (一縷の望み - A Ray of Hope)

Dec 12, 2017 15:45
Have you ever experienced a situation that it was desperate, but there certainly was a hope.

Such a little hope is sometime called "ichiru no nozomi" (一縷の望み) in Japanese.

The "ichi" (一) means "one" and the "ru" (縷) means "slender thread" or "slight," so the "ichiru" (一縷) means "something slight like a slender thread."

Also, since the "nozomi" (望み) means "hope," "ichiru no nozomi" means something like "a spark of hope" or "a ray of hope."

The "nozomi," which means "hope," is commonly used in daily conversation, but the is only used in the expression "ichiru no nozomi" in most cases.
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1089】Naisho (内緒 - Secret)

Dec 11, 2017 09:52
The English word "secret" is usually translated into Japanese as "himitsu" (秘密), but it's can also translated as "naisho" (内緒).

"Naisho" is more colloquial and casual than "himitsu."

This word comes from a Buddhism term, "naishō" (内証), and it's a Chinese translation of a Sanskrit word, which means to tell the truth in your own mind.

Later, "naishō" came to mean "a secret that can't be known from the outside," then it changed to "naisho."

Incidentally, in the series of the Legend of Zelda, if you find a secret room and talk to a non-player character there, he said "minna ni naisho dayo" (ミンナニ ナイショダヨ - This is a secret between us) and give you a lot of Rupees (money).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1088】Dotakyan (ドタキャン - Cancelling at the Last Minute)

Dec 10, 2017 10:10
Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese word "dotanba," which means the last moment that you're required to make a decision.

There is the slang term "dotakyan," which was derived from this "dotanba."

"Dotakyan" is short for "dotanba de kyanseru (cancel)," and it means to cancel an appointment (to meet someone) at the last minute.

Originally, this term was a jargon used among the entertainment industry and the travel industry, but it has come to be used commonly (especially among young people) since around 1990.

Since "dotakyan" not only hurts someone but also makes you lose your trust, be careful not to do "dotakyan."
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1087】Dotanba (土壇場 - Critical Moment)

Dec 9, 2017 16:12
I don't like a situation called "dotanba" (土壇場) very much.

"Dotanba" means a critical moment or the last moment that you're required a decision.

The "do" (土) means "earthen," the "tan" (壇) means "platform," the "ba" (場) means "place," so the literal meaning of "dotanba" is "an earthen platform place."

Before the Edo period, "dotanba" was used in the literal meaning.

However, in the Edo period, criminals were made lie down on "dotanba" and were executed, so it has come to mean an execution place, and changed to the current meaning.
  • in Essay
  • 1 min read

【No. 1086】Poka Poka (ぽかぽか)

Dec 8, 2017 14:32
Today I would like to introduce the Japanese onomatopoeia "poka poka" (ぽかぽか), which has two different meanings.

Can you imagine what "poka poka" express?

In most cases, "poka poka" means comfortable warmth that you feel.

For example, "Haru no youki de karadaga poka poka suru" (春の陽気で体がぽかぽかする - I feel a comfortable warmth because of the spring sun.)

Also, this onomatopoeia is sometimes used to mean repeated tapping sounds in comical manga.

For example, "Kanojo ga kareshi wo poka poka to tataite iru" (彼女が彼氏をポカポカと叩いている - She is hitting her boyfriend repeatedly).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1085】Dada wo Koneru (駄々をこねる - Acting like a Baby)

Dec 7, 2017 09:24
Have you ever acted like a spoiled child or say selfishness to your parents when you couldn't obtain what you wanted?

Doing such an act is called "dada wo koneru" (駄々をこねる) in Japanese.

The "koneru" (こねる) means just something like "to say," but there are several theories about the meaning of the "dada" (駄々).

The most accepted theory is that the "dada" comes from "da" of "jidanda" (地団駄), which means to stamp your feet in frustration.

Another theory said that it comes from "iyada iyada" (いやだいやだ - No, no).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1084】Unubore (うぬぼれ - Egotism)

Dec 6, 2017 12:48
Yesterday, I used the Japanese term "unubore" (うぬぼれ), in order to admonish a student.

"Unubore" means that you convince yourself that you are a better person than you actually are -- in other words, it means that you get overconfident.

The "unu" means "oneself" and the "bore/hore" means "to fall for someone," so the literal meaning of "unubore" is "to fall for oneself."

You know, when you fall for yourself, you would believe that you are a great person/ you have a great ability.

Also, a person who has such a character is called "unubore-ya" (うぬぼれ屋).
  • in Essay
  • 2 min read

【No. 1083】Kōcha (紅茶 - Black Tea)

Dec 5, 2017 09:53
I'm drinking "kōcha" (紅茶) right now.

The "kō" (紅) means "red" and the "cha" (茶) means "tea," so the literal meaning of "kōcha" is "red tea."

The etymology is very simple -- the "red" in "red tea" describes the color of the liquid.

In English, it is called just "tea" in most cases, but it's also called "black tea" due to the color of the oxidized leaves.
(I also heard that "black tea" implies tea without milk, sugar or lemon.)

Incidentally, in the UK famous for tea, around 98% of tea is drank with milk.