【No. 1042】Tonton Byōshi (とんとん拍子 - Swimmingly)
The "tonton" (とんとん) of "tonton byōshi" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sound of stepping on the floor rhythmically while aligning with clapping of his/her teacher.
Therefore, just "tonton" can mean that things go well, but this term also has other meanings, such as the sound of hitting something or that profits/losses between two are the same.
If you add the term "byōshi" (拍子), which means rhythm, it can clearly mean that things go as you expect.
For example, you can use it like "Kōshō ga tonton byōshi ni susumu" (交渉がとんとん拍子に進む - The negociation is going along swimmingly).
物事が思い通りに進むとき、私はよく「とんとん拍子」という表現を使います。
「とんとん拍子」の「とんとん」は、舞台で師匠の手拍子に合わせて踊る際に、調子良く床を踏む音を表す擬音語です。
このため「とんとん」だけでも、「順調に進む」の意味を有しますが、「とんとん」は「物を叩く音」や「二つの損得がほぼ同じ事」などの意味も有します。
具合や調子を表す「拍子」をつけると、「物事が順調に進む」という意味に限定されます。
例えば「交渉がとんとん拍子に進む」のように使います。
Corrections (2)
- Tonton Byōshi (とんとん拍子 - Swimmingly)
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- I often use the Japanese term "tonton byōshi" (とんとん拍子), when things go as I want them to.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- The "tonton" (とんとん) of "tonton byōshi" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sound of stepping on the floor rhythmically while aligning with clapping of his/her teacher.
- The "tonton" (とんとん) of "tonton byōshi" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sound of stepping on the floor rhythmically along with with clapping of his/her teacher.
- Therefore, just "tonton" can mean that things go well, but this term also has other meanings, such as the sound of hitting something or that profits/losses between two are the same.
- Therefore, just "tonton" can mean that things go well, but this term also has other meanings, such as the sound of hitting something or that profits/losses between two are the same. (I don't understand).
- If you add the term "byōshi" (拍子), which means rhythm, it can clearly mean that things go as you expect.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- For example, you can use it like "Kōshō ga tonton byōshi ni susumu" (交渉がとんとん拍子に進む - The negociation is going along swimmingly).
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
Very well written. And you taught me a new word!
I don't understand the English or the Japanese in the "two losses" part though.
Thank you so much for correcting my post!
> I don't understand the English or the Japanese in the "two losses" part though.
Sorry for my confusing English.
I think that I should have said something like
"profits are almost the same as losses."
Ah, that makes sense.
- I often use the Japanese term "tonton byōshi" (とんとん拍子), when things go as I want them to.
- This sentence is perfect! No correction needed!
- The "tonton" (とんとん) of "tonton byōshi" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sound of stepping on the floor rhythmically while aligning with clapping of his/her teacher.
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The "tonton" (とんとん) of "tonton byōshi" is an onomatopoeia that represents the sound of stepping on the floor rhythmically while aligning with the clapping of the/one's teacher OR the sound of someone stepping [...] with the clapping of his/her teacher.
Since you haven't explicitly mentioned an individual that "his/her" could refer to, it's a little strange to get to that part and think, 'Who is this his/her?' "One" is a general placeholder for a person/people."The" doesn't point to an individual (in this case, the student of that teacher), so you wouldn't need to mention an individual. Adding "someone" provides an individual to attach "his/her" to, so that would work as well.
- Therefore, just "tonton" can mean that things go well, but this term also has other meanings, such as the sound of hitting something or that profits/losses between two are the same.
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Therefore, just "tonton" can mean that things go well, but this term also has other meanings, such as the sound of hitting something or two sides that are evenly matched.
When making lists, English flows better when the list items are consistent grammatically. In this case, "the sound..." is a noun, so I'd recommend changing the second item to a similar format ("two sides..."). There's probably a better way to phrase it, though.
- For example, you can use it like "Kōshō ga tonton byōshi ni susumu" (交渉がとんとん拍子に進む - The negociation is going along swimmingly).
- For example, you can use it like "Kōshō ga tonton byōshi ni susumu" (交渉がとんとん拍子に進む - The negotiation is going along swimmingly).
Interesting! You learn something new every day. :)
I'm not the best at explaining, so if there's anything in my comments that's confusing, I'd be happy to (try to) clarify.
Thank you very much for the corrections!
I learned something new. And I believe that I understand your helpful comments well :)