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【No. 1002】Warikan (割り勘 - Dutch Treat) Part 2

Sep 15, 2017 23:40
Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese term "warikan" (割り勘), which means that after you had a meal with several people, everyone pays the same amount or each person pays for their own meal.

"Warukan" is very common in Japan, but there are many countries that such a payment style hasn't penetrated.

In English, you can say "Dutch treat" or "Going Dutch" to mean "warikan."

It is said that such phrases come from the fact that British people tried to fix a stingy image to Dutch people in the Age of Exploration.

Also, "splitting the bill" is a more general English phrase to mean "warikan."

Since this post will be a little long, I'd like to talk about the the remaining part (phrases to mean "warikan" in other countries) tomorrow.
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【No. 1001】Warikan (割り勘 - Dutch Treat) Part 1

Sep 14, 2017 20:46
When you have a meal with several people, especially share the dish on a large platter, the payment will usually become "warikan" (割り勘).

"Warikan" means that everyone who had meals together pays the same amount, which is the total cost of the meal divided by the number of people.

The word "warikan" is short for "warimae kanjō" (割り前勘定), here the "warimae" (割り前) means "amount to be allocated," and the "kanjō" (勘定) menas "to pay for something."

From a global viewpoint, it seems that there are many cases where one representative pays the full amount.

I heard that some countries don't have a word directly referring to "warikan," and some countries don't have the concept of "warikan."

Tomorrow I'd like to introduce the way of thinking and expressing for "warikan" in some countries.
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  • 8 min read

【No. 1000】Self-Introduction Updates for the Second Time

Sep 13, 2017 19:58
Since the number of my entries, 1000, is a round figure, I rewrote my self-introduction a bit as follows. Note that there are many overlapping parts.

------------------------------------

Hi, I'm a teacher at a university in Tokyo, Japan. I'm engaged in some studies related to non-destructive inspection/diagnosis in X-ray CT imaging. On this Lang-8, I've written about a Japanese idiom, Japanese culture or a trivial matter every day. I hope these posts will be useful for foreigners who learn Japanese.

Please feel free to send a friend request. :)

[ Hobby ]
My hobbies are watching American dramas, solving math and programming problems and riding my road bike. I think that I've watched a lot of American dramas, for example, Friends, Dr. House, Numbers, Ugly Betty, Breaking Bad, Person of Interest, Suits, Lie to Me, FLASH, The Big Bang Theory, The Mentalist, Modern Family, and so on (sometimes UK dramas like SHERLOCK are included). If there is a drama that you can recommend, I want you to tell me.

[ Dream ]
My dream is to study in a university in the US and to become a professor of a university.
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【No. 0999】The 1000th Post

Sep 12, 2017 17:41
Today the number of my posts on Lang-8 finally reached 1000.

Since I tend to slack off or goof off my work, it was really hard for me to continue writing articles every day.

Also, today I was received a letter of appointment -- it means that I officially promoted to assistant professor on September 1, 2017.

Incidentally, the day, September 1, 2017 was my 30th birthday.

Furthermore, on that day, the domain of my personal homepage expired.

The day was an unusual day when various events overlapped.

Next, I will do my best to post 2000 entries and become an associate professor.
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【No. 0998】Okera ni Naru (おけらになる - Cleaned Out)

Sep 11, 2017 17:22
Recently, I bought some expensive devices and items for my study.
(I once paid the expense, and it will be returned to me as a study spending after about two months.)

Because of this, unfortunately I am about to "okera ni naru."

"Okera ni naru" means to lose almost all your money.

"Okera" (おけら) is a common name for "kera" (ケラ), which means "Gryllotalpa orientalis," and "ninaru" means "to become something."

The view of the Gryllotalpa orientalis from the anterior looks like as if it's rasing the both hands.

Also, the gesture rasing both hands means that he/she can't do anything or is distressed.

Therefore, "okera ni naru," the literal meaning of which is "becoming Gryllotalpa orientalis," has come to have the current meaning.
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【No. 0997】A Solution to the Lang-8 Bug

Sep 10, 2017 12:43
Yesterday, I wrote about a bug that you can't see posts on Lang-8.

After that, I received some comments and messages about the solution to the bug.

According to the messages, when you post your entry, if you set the access settings to "Share with all Lang-8 users" or "Share with My Friends only" (not "Public"), such a problem will be eliminated.
(The bug would also be solved if you set it to "Privat - Just Me," but there is almost no meaning to post on Lang-8 in the setting.)

I really appreciate the information.

I'd like to share it on this post as well.

However, since it does not a fundamental solution, I hope that this site will be modified in the near future.
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【No. 0996】Bug in Lang-8

Sep 9, 2017 19:14
Recently I can't see my posts on Lang-8.

I tried to see them with various web browsers, such as Chrome, FireFox, Safari, and EDGE, and re-login several times, but the results were the same.

I have no idea about the cause, but other Lang-8 users seem to be unable to see my posts as well.

Only when I used a smartphone, I could browse them.

I'm very sad.

This post is containing a test.

I think that if I write sentences without my native language (Japanese), such a sad bug may be removed.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that it won't work.

If you have any solution, please let me know it.
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【No. 0995】Tsuki to Suppon (月とスッポン - As Different as Day and Night)

Sep 8, 2017 18:13
Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese phrase, "undei no sa," which means a very big difference.

In Japanese, there is another phrase, "tsuki to suppon" (月とスッポン), which has the similar meaning of it.

Here, "tsuki" (月) means "moon," "to" (と) means "and," and "スッポン" means "soft-shell turtle."

Both the full moon and a shell of a soft-shell turtle are round.

However, in Japan, the moon is a symbol of beauty, whereas it's said that the soft-shell turtle lives in dirty and has ugly face.

Because of this, "tsuki to suppon" has come to mean something two that are very different from each other, though they have one thing in common.
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【No. 0994】Undei no Sa (雲泥の差 - A World of Difference)

Sep 7, 2017 19:57
You will feel "undei no sa" (雲泥の差) for various things, as long as you live a life.

"Undei no sa" means a very big difference or a huge gap of something.

The "un" (雲) means "cloud," the "deo" (泥) means "dirt," the "sa" (差) means "difference," so the literal meaning of the combination is "differences between cloud and dirt."

Here the cloud implies the sky, and the dirt implies the ground.

That is to say, the phrase "undei no sa" represents a big difference/gap, like the distance between the sky and the ground.
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【No. 0993】Tarafuku (たらふく - Having Enough)

Sep 6, 2017 12:52
These days, since I eat meals until I become a state called "tarafuku" (たらふく), I am getting a little bit fat.

"Tarafuku" is a word that represents a state that you can't eat any more due to a feeling of fullness, or an act of eating or drinking a lot.

"Tarafuku" is written as "鱈腹" in Kanji, where the "鱈" (tara) means "cod/codfish," and the "腹" (fuku) means "stomach."

In fact, the stomach of cod is swollen, but this kanji is a kind of phonetic equivalents, and the etymology of "tarafuku" isn't related to cod.

The actual etymology is more simple -- the adverbial suffix "ku" (く) has been added to the verb "tarafu" (足らふ), which means that something is enough.

In Japan, it's generally said that eating moderately is better than eating until "tarafuku."
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【No. 0992】Hūzen no Tomoshibi (風前の灯火 - Hang by A Thread)

Sep 5, 2017 10:30
If you want to say that a thing or a person is in danger, or it is about to disappear, you can use the phrase, "hūzen no yomoshibi" (風前の灯火) in Japanese.

The "hūzen" (風前) means "front of wind," that is to say, "a windy place."

The "tomoshibi" (灯火) means a light with fire, such as a flaring candle, in a literal sense.

If there is a flaring candle in a windy place, obviously the fire will be about to go out, so this phrase has come to have the current meaning.

It seems to be similar to the English phrase, "hang by a thread."
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【No. 0991】Shinsetsu (親切 - Kindness)

Sep 4, 2017 21:44
It is very important to be "shinsetsu" (親切).

"Shinsetsu" is a word that represents kindness and compassion toward other people.

Generally, the "shin" (親) means "parents," the "setsu" means "cut," but it doesn't mean to cut parents.

The kanji "親" (shin) means not only "parents," but also "being familiar."

Also, the kanji "切" (setsu) can mean to fit well or reach, because if you want to cut something using a knife or something, the knife will touch the object.

That is to say, "shinsetsu" implies that you become familiar with someone and reach his/her heart.
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【No. 0990】Hitohada Nugu (一肌脱ぐ - Giving Someone A Helping Hand)

Sep 3, 2017 17:33
Have you ever give assistance to someone in earnest?

Such an act is called "hitohada nugu" (一肌脱ぐ) in Japanese.

The "hito" (一) means "one," "hada" (肌) means "skin," and "nugu" (脱ぐ) means "to take off clothes/something."

In the past, Japanese people wear kimonos that have wide sleeves.

Also, when they did something in earnest, they took off one the kimono from one side of the shoulder, in order not to be disturbed by the sleeve of the kimono.

Because of this fact, "hitohada nugu" has come to be used the current meaning.
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【No. 0989】Sightseeing in Kumamoto

Sep 2, 2017 17:31
Today I will return to Tokyo.

I decided to visit some sightseeing spots in Kumamoto city before getting on an airplane.

First, I went to Kumamoto Castle.

Unfortunately, many areas in Kumamoto Castle were restricted because of the impact of the great earthquake occurred last year.

When I watched some collapsed or crumbling buildings, I felt sad.

For lunch, I ate delicious horse meat steak and marbling horse meat sashimi.

After that, I went to Suizen-ji Jōju-en.

There were a lot of green, a beautiful pond, and beautiful scenery.

Now I am relaxing in a lounge in an airport while drinking alcohol.
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【No. 0988】Conference Presentation

Sep 1, 2017 18:45
Today I presented my study in an academic conference for the first time in six months.

The material for presentation was completed about one hour before my presentation.

Since I couldn't finish it until just before my session, I have never could practice my presentation.

I was very nervous, but I could speak better than I thought, it doesn't terrible too much.

However, in the question and answer session, I became a little panicked, said some weird things.

I was very embarrassed and felt miserable.

I'd like to devote myself further to studying so that I can answer more smartly.
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【No. 0987】Getting Lost

Aug 31, 2017 23:23
Today I got lost in Kumamoto University.

I'm often confused about the direction I'm heading when I go to a new land.

In the university, I watched a map made of paper, thought like "okay, I understand the route," and started walking.

However, the destination was in the completely opposite direction.

Recently I may depend on Google Map too much.

There are many places where Google Map doesn't work, such as premises of universities or underground, I think that I have to do practice to be able read paper maps.

Anyway, I will be careful not to get lost in my life.
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【No. 0986】A Cockroach in Kumamoto

Aug 30, 2017 22:26
Today, I came to Kumamoto city, Kumamoto Prefecture, in order to participate in an academic conference that will be held tomorrow.

The distance from Tokyo to Kumamoto is around 1000 km, but I arrived within two hours by using an airplane.

Then, when I was about to ride a bus to Kumamoto city, I accidentally encountered my mentor -- he came from Nagano Prefecture for the same reason as me.

We talked a lot in the bus and ate dinner.

I was very lucky.

However, when I was doing my work at my hotel after dinner, I found a huge cockroach crawling around my feet.

Since I rarely see cockroaches, it was so terrifying.

I told it to a hotel worker, then my room was changed.
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【No. 0985】Kai ni Naru (貝になる - Saying Nothing)

Aug 29, 2017 09:11
I often do "kai ni naru" (貝になる).

The "kai" (貝) means "shellfish," the "naru" (なる) means "become/be," so the literal meaning of "kai ni naru" is to become a shellfish.

Since shellfishes close their shells tightly, it's hard to open them.

Because of this, "kai ni naru" (becoming a shellfish) has come to mean to close your mouth and say nothing, just like a shellfish.

Incidentally, there is the Japanese movie and drama, titled "watashi ha kai ni naritai" (私は貝になりたい - I'd Rather Be a Shellfish).

I haven't watched them, but according to the Internet, the title "kai ni naritai" just literally means to want to be a shellfish living at the bottom of the sea.
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【No. 0984】Setsuna (刹那 - Moment)

Aug 28, 2017 10:50
We usually use "second," "minute" and "hour" as units of time, and this fact is worldwide.

Apart from such general units in the world, Japanese people sometimes use "setsuna" (刹那) when expressing just a moment.

"Setsuna" is one of the concepts of time in Buddhism, and it refers to an extremely short time.

There are several detailed definitions -- one of most famous definitions is that the moment of flicking your fingers is equal to 65 setsuna.

Also, in countries that use the Chinese writing system, setsuna is used as a numerical unit that represents 10 to the power of -18.
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【No. 0983】Gou wo Niyasu (業を煮やす - Getting Irritated)

Aug 27, 2017 15:04
Have you ever gotten angry because things didn't go well as you expected?

Getting angry like this is called "gou wo niyasu" (業を煮やす) in Japanese.

The word "gou" (業) of "gou wo niyasu" is a Buddhism term, meaning an act by the body, the mouth, or the mind (it especially means an act by the mind here).

Also, the literal meaning of "niyasu" (煮やす) means to boil something, but since the act heats something using fire, it can also mean to strengthen feelings or emotions.

Therefore, "gou wo niyasu" means to get angry/irritated, and the feeling is strengthened.