CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jul 28, 2023Jan 02, 2024 bunsuirei, Japanese, literal meaning, meanings, metaphor, ridge, separate, turning point, water, watershed Bunsuirei (分水嶺 – Watershed) Bunsuirei 分水嶺 In Japanese, we sometimes refer to the critical turning point where the direction of things is determined as Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Jul 27, 2023Jan 02, 2024 ā ie ba kō iu, acceptance, communication, counterargument, dialect, disagree, Japanese idiom, literal meaning, open-minded, persuasion Ā Ie ba Kō Iu (ああ言えばこう言う – Having a Smart Mouth) Ā Ie ba Kō Iu ああ言えばこう言う The Japanese idiom, “ā ie ba kō iu” (ああ言えばこう言う), describes a situation where someone Read More
EssayFoodScienceUncorrected Toru Jul 26, 2023Jan 02, 2024 0 degrees Celsius, freeze, liquid, oolong tea, phenomenon, refrigerator, supercooling, temperature, vibrations, water Supercooling Supercooling 過冷却 Have you ever seen water that starts to freeze when poured or vibrated? 注いだり振動を与えると途端に凍り始める水を見たことはありますか? Such water is in Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbUncorrected Toru Jul 25, 2023Jan 02, 2024 ba, challenging, Japanese expressions, koeru, mountain, norikiru, overcome, peak, yama, yamaba Yamaba (山場 – A Challenging Situation/Climax) Yamaba 山場 Today, I overcame the most challenging day in recent months. 私は今日、恐らくここ数ヶ月で最も厳しい時期を、なんとか乗り越えました。 In such situations, you can use the Read More
CultureEssayHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Jul 24, 2023Jan 02, 2024 first experiences, learning, moment to moment, Muromachi period, old age, proverb, shoshin wasuru bekarazu, success and failure, traditional performer, Zeami Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず – Don’t Forget Your First Resolution) Part 2 Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu: Part 2 初心忘るべからず Part 2 The other day, I introduced the proverb, shoshin wasuru bekarazu (初心忘るべからず), which Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Jul 21, 2023Jan 02, 2024 attitude, begin, forget, heart, humble, Japanese, learning, mind, proverb, shoshin wasuru bekarazu Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu (初心忘るべからず – Don’t Forget Your First Resolution) Part 1 Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu: Part 1 初心忘るべからず Part 1 Today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite proverbs, shoshin Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Jul 20, 2023Jan 02, 2024 action, effort, grow, Japanese, literal meaning, negative suffix, proverb, results, seed, sow Makanu Tane wa Haenu (蒔かぬ種は生えぬ – Nothing Comes of Nothing) Makanu Tane wa Haenu 蒔かぬ種は生えぬ We should not expect to get good results without taking action or making an effort. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected Toru Jul 19, 2023Jan 02, 2024 banishment, Edo period, expel, gate, Japanese, magistrate, monzen barai, phrase, undesirable situation, visitor Monzen Barai (門前払い – Turned Away at the Gate) Monzen Barai 門前払い The action of turning away a visitor without meeting them is called monzen barai (門前払い) in Japanese. Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbUncorrected Toru Jul 18, 2023Jan 02, 2024 burden, idiom, Japanese, kata, metaphor, ni, oriru, relieved, responsibility, shoulder Kata no Ni ga Oriru (肩の荷が下りる – Taking a Load off One’s Mind) Kata no Ni ga Oriru 肩の荷が下りる Today, I felt relieved of one’s burden a little. 今日、私はほんの少しだけ、負担が軽くなりました。 The concept of having Read More