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【No. 0962】HoloLens

Aug 6, 2017 15:54
Last week, I bought Microsoft HoloLens by using my research expense.

HoloLens is a head mounted display for MR (Mixed Reality).

Here, MR is a technology to show a new real world in which digital contents are embedded in real time.

You can also say that MR is a technology made by evolving AR (Argmented Reality), which is used in applications such as "Pokémon GO."

For example, since MR considers distances to real objects, virtual objects placed behind obstacles such as a desk would not be displayed on the HoloLens.

It is a very interesting technology, but I feel that it takes some time to get used to use it.
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【No. 0961】Otassha De (お達者で - Look After Yourself)

Aug 5, 2017 15:06
I think that there are various parting greetings in many countries.

The most common one in Japan is "sayōnara" (さようなら - goodbye), but we often say "ogenki de" (お元気で) or "otassha de" (お達者で) for a person who will not meet with us for a long time.

Here, "genki" means that your body condition is good, and "tassha" means that your body is strong.

That is to say, both "ogenki de" and "otassha de" are a phrase that is used to wish for someone's health.
(The "de" here means something like "please be ...")

I like the phrase "otassha de," but nowadays, it's rarely used by young people.
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【No. 0960】Ohiya (お冷 - Cold Water)

Aug 4, 2017 20:49
Yesterday I wrote about a drinking party.

In Japanese drinking spots or Japanese-style bars, we often order "ohiya" (お冷) at the end of the party.

"Ohiya" is composed of the polite prefix "o" (お) and the "hiya" (冷や), meaning "cold," and it usually refers to "cold water."

It was once called as "ohiyashi" (お冷やし), and as used as a polite term that means "mizu" (水 - water) by women in the imperial court.

After the Edo period, it has come to be used regardless of gender, and now it's often used in Japanese-style bars/pubs.

Note that if you omit the prefix "o" and just say "hiya," it will mean cold/room-temperature Japanese sake.
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【No. 0959】Shoki Barai (暑気払い - Beating the Summer Heat)

Aug 3, 2017 13:15
Yesterday, my colleagues and I conducted "shoki barai" (暑気払い).

"Shoki" of "shoki barai" means "heat," and "harai" means to take something off.

Therefore, "shoki barai" literally refers to taking heat that is accumulated in our bodies off by drinking cold drinks or eating cold food in the hot summer.

However, if you say "shoki barai" in our time, it usually means just a banquet or a drinking party that is held for beating the heat, reducing stress, and relieving fatigue.

As far as I know, beer garden etc. are often planned as the "shoki barai."
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【No. 0958】Tsuba (唾 - Saliva)

Aug 2, 2017 17:55
Yesterday, I introduced "yodare" (よだれ), which means saliva dribbling unconsciously from a mouth.

If you want to mention about just saliva in Japanese, you can use the word "daeki" (唾液), but "tsuba" (つば) is often used as a spoken language.

"Tsuba" is a term omitted "ki" from "tsubaki."

"Tsubaki" was originally "tsuhaki" -- "tsu" means "saliva," and "haki" means to spit something.

From this etymology, "tsuba" often refers to saliva spit out from a mouth.

I'm sorry for posting the dirty topic for the second successive day.

Incidentally, now "tsubaki" usually means Camellia that blooms in winter.
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【No. 0957】Yodare (よだれ - Saliva)

Aug 1, 2017 20:37
Today, I found a student who was sleeping while dribbling "yodare" (よだれ).

"Yodare" means saliva dribbling unconsciously from a mouth.

This term was called "yodari" (よだり) or "yotari" (よたり) until the Heian period.

Here, "tari" is a noun form of the verb "taru" (垂る), which means to dribble.

There are several theories about the etymology of "yo" -- one of them is that it comes from "yoyomu," which means to become an old person.

Incidentally, if you say "yodare wo tarasu" (よだれを垂らす - dribbling yodare), it could literally mean to dribble saliva, but it also used as a phrase that means to have a hunger to eat/do something.
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【No. 0956】Ageashi wo Toru (揚げ足を取る - Catching Someone Tripping)

Jul 31, 2017 16:46
In most cases, people don't like a person who often blame or tell a joke about someone's minor mistake or fluff.

Such an action is called "ageashi wo toru" (揚げ足を取る) or "ageashi tori" (揚げ足取り) in Japan.

The literal meaning of "ageashi wo toru" is "picking a raised foot up."

Here, "ageashi," which was translated into "a raised foot," refers to a foot when attacking an opponent in judo or sumo.

If you pick someone's raised foot up, you can defeat him/her, so "ageashi wo toru" has come to the current meaning.
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【No. 0955】Debu (でぶ - Fat)

Jul 30, 2017 13:46
Recently I might have become a little bit "debu" (でぶ),

"Debu" is a slang term that refers to a fat person or animal, and is often used as an ironic expression.

The most accepted theory about its etymology is that the onomatopoeia, "deppuri" (でっぷり), which means fat, chenged to "debu debu" (でぶでぶ), and finally became "debu."

There are other theories, for example, one of them is that "double chin" changed to "debu chin" (でぶちん), then changed to "debu."

Please be careful not to say "debu" to other people inconsiderately.
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【No. 0954】Gamushara (がむしゃら - Headlong)

Jul 29, 2017 14:50
Have you ever taken an adventurous action towards a purpose?

Such an action is called "gamushara" (がむしゃら) in Japan.

This term is composed of "gamusha" (がむしゃ) and the suffix "ra" (ら).

"Gamusha" is written as "我武者" in kanji, and its literal meaning is "self-assertive samurai," so this is often thought as the etymology of "gamushara."

Besides, there are several theories about the etymology of "gamushara," for example, it comes from "gamusho," which means to feel an irresistible desire to do something, or "musha kusha," which is a onomatopoeia that refers to something uncomfortable and restless.
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【No. 0953】Natsu (夏 - Summer)

Jul 28, 2017 19:22
In the northern hemisphere, "natsu" (夏) has approached.

"Natsu" is a kind of seasons, and it can be translated as summer in English.

Astronomically "natsu" is defined the period between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, but in Japan, it usually means three months -- June, July and August.

There are several theories about the etymology of "natsu," such as that is comes from "atsui" (暑い - hot) or "netsu" (熱 - heat), but the truth remains to be identified.

Needless to say, natsu (summer) is the season when people become the most active in the year for many countries.

In Japan, various events like summer festivals and fireworks festivals will be held.
  • in Diary
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【No. 0952】Mid-term Graduation Research Presentation

Jul 27, 2017 22:24
Today, a mid-term graduation research presentation (poster presentation) of senior students was held in my university.

I was very busy because I had to prepare and manage the venue, collect and arrange Fast Forward (1 minute presentations for posters), and go out for giving a class several times.

Yesterday, I was working until midnight, and finally stayed at my university.

It was a very difficult day, but the presentation went very well, so I'm satisfied.

However, although there were many interesting posters, I could check only some of them because of my class.

I have a regret only about that.
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【No. 0951】Nashi no Tsubute (梨の礫 - Getting No Reply)

Jul 26, 2017 09:29
Have you ever received no reply/response after you give a letter or try to make contact?

If you don't get any response like this situation, it is called "nashi no tsubute" (梨の礫) in Japan.

"Tsubute" of "nashi no tsubute" means a pebble that is mainly used as throwing weapon.

Since thrown pebbles (tsubute) never come back to your hand, getting no reply has come to be called "nashi no tsubute."

"Nashi" of "nashi no tsubute" use the kanji, "梨," which means a kind of fruits, "Pyrus pyrifolia," but it just a metaphor for "nashi" (無し), which means nothing.
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【No. 0950】Hi no Kuruma (火の車 - Dire Straits)

Jul 25, 2017 11:12
I am in a little bad economic situation now.

If your household economy becomes extremely terrible, the situation will be called "hi no kuruma" (火の車).

"Hi" (火) means "fire," and "kuruma" (車) means "car," so "hi no kuruma" means a burning car.

Also, "hi no kuruma" (火の車) comes from "kasya" (火車), which is a Buddhist term.

"Kasya" also means a burning car, and it is used when Gokusotsu (prison guard) ogres in hell carry a dead person who committed a crime.

Since criminals put in the burning car would suffer terribly, "hi no kuruma" has come to mean a difficult economic situation.
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【No. 0949】Ashi ga Hayai (足が早い - Spoil Rapidly)

Jul 24, 2017 23:13
I bought a Costco's new cake, "Strawberry Trifle" yesterday.

Since cakes are "ashi ga hayai" (足が早い), I have to eat all of them by tomorrow.

Here, the literal meaning of "ashi ga hayai" is that something's legs are quick, and it means that food or something is spoil quickly.

"Ashi" (legs/feet) could represent changes in movements or states of things, and perishable things change quickly (hayai - 早い), so they have come to be called "ashi ga hayai."

Also, based on the same etymology, "ashi ga hayai" can mean that a product or something sells fairly well.
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【No. 0948】Splatoon 2

Jul 23, 2017 15:55
Yesterday, I bought Splatoon 2 and played it.

Since I have watched playing videos of the previous title several times, I understand some strategies, but I couldn't move the character as I thought.

Especially in match battles with other players, I was badly defeated.

Furthermore, I became a 3D sickness by using the gyro operation, so I felt very bad.

It was fun, but it may not suitable for my body.

I hope that I get used to the three dimensional movement in the near future...

From now on, I will play this game for one hour or less a day.
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【No. 0947】Tetsuya (徹夜 - All Night)

Jul 22, 2017 10:15
Since yesterday was a deadline for a speech manuscript at an academic conference, I did "tetuya" (徹夜).

"Tetsuya" means to do activities such as work or entertainment all through the night without sleep.

"Tetsu" (徹) of "tetsuya" means to go/become through, and "ya" (夜) means night.

Therefore, "tetsuya" means to stay awake through the night.

If work goes well by doing tetsuya, you can receive a sense of accomplishment, but you will increase mistakes due to a lack of concentration, and you will be in bad physical condition, you should avoid doing tetsuya as much as possible.

Incidentally, young people often say "all" (ォール) instead of tetsuya.

"All" is short for "all night," and it is used as "All suru" (オールする - do all).
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【No. 0946】Emoi (エモい)

Jul 21, 2017 02:49
A Japanese publishing company named "Sanseidō," which is known for publishing dictionaries, announces "Kotoshi no Shingo" (New Words of the Year) every year.

Today, I learned the new term "emoi" (エモい), which was selected as the second most important word on the Kotoshi no Shingo 2016.

"Emoi" is an adjective that represents something passionate or emotional, and is mainly used by young people and music lovers.

As you would guess, "emoi" comes from the English word "emotion."

"Emoi" was born by shortening "emotion" and adding the suffix, "i," which can change a noun to an adjective.

Incidentally, "emoi" was also used around 2000 by mainly young women, but it was short for "eroi kimoi," which means "dirty and gross."
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【No. 0945】Noppiki Naranai (のっぴきならない)

Jul 20, 2017 10:28
Now I'm in a situation of "noppiki naranai" (のっぴきならない).

"Noppiki naranai" is a term that represents that you can't run away or avoid something -- you are in a pinch.

"Noppiki" (のっぴき) comes from "noki hiki" (退き引き), which means to pull back and avoid something.

By adding the negative word, "naranai" (ならない), it has come to the current meaning.

Please note that "noppiki" is always used with "naranai."

Even in a situation of "noppiki naranai," I don't want to stop posting on Lang-8.

Incidentally, this term is similar to "seppa tsumaru" (切羽詰まる), which is introduced on the following URL:
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/169229349258527539552022635198685499088
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【No. 0944】Yancha (やんちゃ - Nauthy)

Jul 19, 2017 06:29
Previously, I introduced the words, "otenba" (おてんば) and "jajauma" (じゃじゃ馬), which means a spirited girl.
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/93203187067698255124691996531191743534
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/102929135995241882173136911457932184524

Also, if you want to mention about a spirited child (not only a girl), you can use the word, "wanpaku."
http://lang-8.com/kanotown/journals/194354005577006834071988660160038308429

Furthermore, especially if you want to mention about a spirited and selfish child who beyond control of adults.

There are two theories about the etymology of "yancha."

One is that it comes from the term, "iyaja" (嫌じゃ), which is used when you want to refuse something.

The other is that it comes from the term, "yanicha" (脂茶 - literally means "resin tea"), which means a spirited child.
(The reason why "yanicha" means a spirited child is because natural resin is sticky and is difficult to treat as such a child do.)
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【No. 0943】Koke ni Suru (コケにする)

Jul 18, 2017 10:58
Japanese people sometimes say "koke ni suru" (コケにする) when taunting someone.

Here, "koke" is written as "虚仮" in kanji, which is not "苔" meaning "moss."

"Koke" (虚仮) is a Buddhist term, and means that something is empty/insubstantial, or a mind/act is fake.

That's why "koke ni suru" (making someone be koke) has come to be used as a term for mocking people.

There is another term, "koke odoshi" (虚仮威し), which use the same "koke."

"Odoshi" means to bluff, and "koke odoshi" means something that has good appearance but is empty.